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Paintshops are among the main contributors to emissions
and pollution in the factory environment – but all that is
changing, according to Italian automotive coating plant
specialist Geico.
The company says paint-shops consume around 70% of
electrical energy and 80% of heat energy necessary for vehicle
production. Painting a vehicle body produces about 235 kg of
CO2, but this estimate only takes into account the measurable
electric, heating and refrigeration consumption. In addition, the
energy consumption of a paintshop of 300,000 jobs/year is about
250 GWh. This is the same amount needed to power a city of
50,000 inhabitants.
The solutions which have been developed to date range from tried
and trusted technologies to innovative renewable energy sources,
says Geico. All solutions are developed with an integrated approach
which acknowledges not only the pure painting process needs,
but also analyzes the paintshop as a global integrated system. All
heat sources and heat wells are used to mutually promote energy
recovery, thus reducing consumption and environmental impact.
Together, these technologies allow Geico to install paintshops with
a 30% reduction in environmental impact when compared with the
Inauguration of Pardis Innovation Center
Focus on greening
the paintshop By: Jon Knox
existing facilities, and with a 10% contribution of renewable sources.
In October 2009, Geico opened the doors of the Pardis
Innovation Center. This center houses Geico’s new prototypes
such as J-Jump, J-Flex, Amir booth, the new liquid booth Caleidos,
J-Dry booth and Ergo Roll. The innovation center seeks to develop
innovative and concrete technological solutions for the automotive
paintshop. A great challenge for the automotive industry is to find
paintshop solutions that cut costs, lower energy usage and are
more eco-friendly, all whilst maintaining superior quality.
“The name of the new center comes from Geico’s internal division,
Pardis. Its main activity is the development of technological solutions
which meet sustainability requests, protection of the environment,
and energy efficiency in automotive coating plants. The name is
emblematic and once more highlights Geico’s mission in realizing
paintshops with a zero impact on the environment,” says Luigi Lazzari,
Geico’s vice president of Innovation.
Many of these innovative solutions are currently installed in paintshops
around the world, including some in India, China, Brazil and
Africa – showing Geico’s capabilities to develop and fit new technologies
in dramatically different environmental and industrial scenarios.
The Pardis Innovation Center will help Geico towards its goal of
De-Dust compact: Geico’s new blow-off & feather duster.
becoming the leader in technological advancements. “The Pardis
innovation centre will allow Geico to achieve its goal of reaching zeroenvironmental
impact paintshops on Energy Independence Day,
June 16, 2020. All we need are undoubting belief and dedication to
Geico,” says Ali Reza Arabnia, president and CEO of Geico S.p.A.
Automotive Industries spoke to Ali Reza Arabnia,
president and CEO of Geico S.p.A. and asked him how he
expects the Pardis Innovation Center to help the company
keep its technological lead?
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