Repeatable processes can be achieved through automation—a topic Tobias Eid, Head of Innovation and Technology at Asis GmbH in Landshut, explored in his presentation at the DFO European Automotive & Plastics Coating conference. He outlined three automation approaches for surface technology, covering paint approvals in the laboratory, end-of-line quality control, and automatic finishing.
Asis has developed an automated measuring table using a robot as a manipulator for paint approvals. “We use a robot instead of portal axes, which makes the process more accurate and faster. Service and support are also easier,” says Eid.
Speed and flexibility through robotic measurement
With the robot, measurements are significantly faster than with a traditional X-Y coordinate table, especially when measuring points are close together. The system also allows measuring devices to be positioned freely on the surface, even at any angle—something a classic measuring table cannot do. For series production in the automotive sector, Asis has created Surface Detect cells for OEMs and suppliers. These enable high-precision color measurement for add-on parts, eliminate manual errors, reduce labor costs, detect supplier color deviations early, and provide outgoing goods inspections with documented quality reports.
Automating the finishing process
Eid’s third example of automation is finishing, which was traditionally a manual process for removing visible defects in paintwork. “Manual work causes fluctuating quality and is not truly repeatable. We also lack data: we don’t know exactly where defects occur, what type they are, or how they were fixed,” explains Eid. Finishing is also physically demanding. “For us, this process was crying out for automation,” he adds. Asis has since installed multiple automated finishing systems for OEMs.
Added precision with edge angle measurement
Dr. Maximilian Krötz, Business Development Manager at Innotech Marketing und Konfektion Rot GmbH in Mühlhausen, also spoke at the DFO conference about surface analysis and quality assurance using edge angle measurement. This method assesses a surface’s adhesion potential by observing the wetting behavior of liquids: the greater the contact area, the smaller the contact angle. High-quality coatings require good wetting—meaning the ability to form a wide contact area—indicating high surface energy.
Conclusion
In surface technology, combining robotics, automated measurement systems, and supplementary analysis methods delivers maximum quality, stable processes, and reduced costs. These innovations integrate seamlessly into daily production workflows—and deliver measurable benefits on multiple levels.
Reading tip
Read a detailed version of this article in mo 8-9 / 2025 and on oberflaeche.de in September.