Dürr and Mercedes-Benz agree on strategic partnership

Press Release Jul 31, 2023

Long-term cooperation for CO2-free painting

Bietigheim-Bissingen, July 31, 2023 — The Dürr Group and the automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz have entered into a long-term strategic partnership in the field of painting technology equipment. The aim is to make vehicle painting CO₂-free, thus jointly setting new standards in sustainability. Subject to the fulfillment of all contractual conditions, the Mercedes-Benz paint shop in Sindelfingen is to be equipped with the latest technologies from the world market leader Dürr in the coming years. Further projects may follow.

The partnership agreement, which has been concluded for several years, is a premiere in the decade-long cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and Dürr. It includes a declaration of intent to jointly plan and implement the renewal of painting technology in the German plants. The first project is the new construction of a sustainable paint shop in Sindelfingen. Planning for this has already begun, and Dürr is expected to receive the supply order from Mercedes-Benz next year. On this basis, orders for further paint shops may follow.

Within the framework of the partnership, it is planned to reduce energy consumption per painted car body to less than 400 kilowatt hours. This represents an absolute record level and corresponds to less than half the current consumption. Dürr software applications for energy management and exceptionally energy-efficient technologies, for example for the economical and intelligent operation of paint booths and car body ovens, are to contribute to the reduction. In addition, painting will be done without fossil fuels in the future. Instead, energy needs are to be met by green electricity. This enables CO₂-free operation and is an important step toward decarbonizing automotive production.

Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, CEO of Dürr AG: “Optimizing energy consumption in the painting process is the key prerequisite for being able to build cars in a climate-neutral way. That is why the development of energy-efficient and climate-neutral technologies is at the top of our innovation agenda. The strategic partnership with Mercedes-Benz is an important lighthouse project in Germany as an industrial location: Together, we are implementing climate-friendly production processes on a large scale and are thus also playing a pioneering role internationally.”

Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain Management: “By 2039, we intend to cover the energy needs of our global production network of Mercedes-Benz entirely with renewable energies. Together with Dürr, we will take decisive steps in this direction in the coming years and take painting to a whole new level in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency.”

Press photos

Painting of a car body — The Dürr Group and the automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz have set themselves the joint aim of making vehicle painting CO2-free.

About the Dürr Group

The Dürr Group is one of the world's leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with extensive expertise in automation, digitalization and energy efficiency. Its products, systems and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes in different industries. The Dürr Group primarily supplies the automotive industry, producers of furniture and timber houses as well as the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical devices and electrical engineering sectors. It generated sales of €4.3 billion in 2022. The company has about 18,700 employees and 123 business locations in 32 countries. The Dürr Group operates in the market with the brands Dürr, Schenck and HOMAG and with five divisions:

Paint and Final Assembly Systems: paint shops as well as final assembly, testing and filling technology for the automotive industry, assembly and test systems for medical devices
Application Technology: robot technologies for the automated application of paint, sealants and adhesives
Clean Technology Systems: air pollution control, coating systems for battery electrodes and noise abatement systems
Measuring and Process Systems: balancing equipment and diagnostic technology
Woodworking Machinery and Systems: machinery and equipment for the woodworking industry

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