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200,000 wheel hubs per year
Automated and robotized production
VDL TIM Hapert has signed a long-term contract with Volvo for the annual production of 200,000 wheel hubs. A wheel hub is located at the end of a truck's axle and serves as the mounting point for the wheel.
Because the wheels of a truck must run smoothly for years and many miles, the wheel hub is a crucial safety component.
This means that VDL TIM Hapert is responsible for approximately one third of the total number of wheel hubs used annually within the Volvo Group. In addition, the wheel hubs for the new electric trucks will also be produced at VDL TIM Hapert.
Watch our video to see the production line in action!
A revolution in production
The production process at VDL TIM Hapert is an example of advanced automation, designed and supplied by VDL Steelweld. From an automated warehouse, raw castings are removed from a bin by robots, a process known as ‘bin picking’. They are then transported to one of eight large machining centers, which can perform both turning and milling operations to process the raw castings into finished products.
Precision and efficiency
After processing, the products are checked by an advanced measuring system to ensure they meet strict requirements. If everything is in order, the products are moved by robots to the next step in the production line. For more than 50 years, VDL Steelweld has been supporting companies worldwide in developing automated production lines, with the goal of producing products as quickly and efficiently as possible with a high degree of automation.
From machining to painting
When machining the raw castings, chips are released that are recycled. We are currently investigating whether these chips can be briquetted, which would make recycling even more efficient. After machining, the products are washed in large washing machines and checked for porosity. A camera checks whether small holes are visible after machining. The products are also laser-coded, linking all production data for the specific wheel hub. This is necessary to ensure that everything can still be traced even after many years.
Once all processing is complete, the wheel hubs are transported on self-driving robots to VDL Laktechniek, where they are spray-painted. After painting, the wheel hubs return to Hapert and enter the assembly process via the automated warehouse.
