AI-powered robotic painting promises to reduce the workload on skilled workers and make painting processes more reproducible. But how do professionals view this technology? Oliver Bayer, branch manager at Gohm + Graf Hardenberg in Aach, and Giuseppe Palopoli, body and paint shop manager, took a look at the AI revolution in practical use at the Sehon workshop.
For Bayer, the shortage of skilled workers is the primary reason to take a close look at automated painting processes. In his view, whether the investment pays off depends largely on a facility’s throughput and the condition of the existing painting system. At the same time, he sees an opportunity to relieve qualified employees of parts of the actual painting process and deploy them more heavily for preparation, finishing, and other demanding tasks.
Giuseppe Palopoli assesses the painting results from the perspective of an experienced bodywork and paint specialist. He was particularly impressed by the finish on the edges of a bumper and the robot’s smooth, even movement. He sees high process reliability as a key advantage. However, he notes that the technology does not render the painter redundant: experience and the ability to assess deviations and defects remain tasks for humans.
In the video, both explain where they see the strengths of AI-supported robotic painting, where there is still room for development, and for which businesses adopting this technology could prove particularly beneficial.