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Press, 28 November 1979, Page 16

West Germany is forging ahead in the use of industrial robots. This is one of the many used by Daimler-Benz. It handles

the 10 kilogram wheel centres, lifting them from various heights at a rate of eight to 10 seconds per item and places them cn a conveyer belt. The

robot is equipped with a special searching device, so that It can be recognise gaps in the stacking system and find wheel trims that have been misplaced. Daimler-Benz also uses robots extensively in welding. Sixty multi-point welding machines automatically put together

Mercedes models in the 200 D to 280 E range. Other robots are used for spraying on under-floor anticorrosion coats, and pressing out sections of body work. The firm also makes much use of computer techniques in production co-ordination. At its Sin-

delfingen plant, the centra computer controls produo’ tion flow in the making O 42 different types of cai; with 220 special versions,’ 190 variations in interiatt design, 30 different colons'! finishes, and no few^ ! than 1350 different typer of engine. t-i