THE KIRCHHOFF GROUP MAGAZINE

KIRCHHOFF Automotive // 46
Crossmember (floor middle
and rear seat rail) for the
VW Touran 33
In Attendorn, Germany we produce for
our customer Volkswagen the crossmember
(floor middle and rear seat rail)
for the Touran. It is part of the modular
transverse matrix (MQB) of VW. The
weight-optimized tailor rolled crossmember
consists of a hot formed part as
well as various cold formed parts. Nine
different plate thicknesses allow an adjustment
of individual areas of the part
to high loads. For the assembly a new
welding system has been purchased,
which is engineered and designed in a
way that also crossmembers for future
vehicle models can be produced on this
system—without big set-up efforts. The
system includes 13 robots in different
variations: handling robots, spot welding
robots and 7-axis robots installed on
a linear motion unit. Complex gripper
systems with automated changing units
support a version change in a few minutes.
In addition to 113 welding spots
we use an adhesive compound for the
assembly. Subsequently an integrated
packing unit automatically stacks the
components in special load carriers.
Tobias Halbe
Left: Overall 113 welding spots are
used. Top right: Application of a compound
adhesive during the assembly.
Bottom right: Integrated automated
stacking unit which puts the crossmembers
in special load carriers.