Hanover, Germany based Continental’s Bangalore plant, which is the company’s largest electronics manufacturing plant in India, exemplifies a smart factory. Technologies like Cobots, augmented reality, artificial intelligence (AI), automated replenishment systems, automated optical inspection, automated guided vehicles, and big data applications ensure operational efficiency, precision, and transparency.
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These smart manufacturing processes adopted by Continental provide a strategic advantage both in rapid localization and also in faster product-to-market solutions. Additionally the plant is Green Plant Label Gold certified, aligning with Continental’s sustainability ambition.
Continental recently expanded the production of its Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for passenger cars at its Bangalore plant The new TPMS line is an expansion of the existing one, with further growth plans for the line in the near future. Advancing Continental’s smart manufacturing initiatives, this state-of-the-art TPMS line features fully automated processes with nominal manual intervention. With this expanded line, Continental stays committed to supporting local OEMs while also targeting export markets, primarily Korea.
The second generation of TPMS is much more accurate for measuring tire pressure, temperature, and motion from inside the tire. It transmits this information via radio frequency and the vehicle communication network to display it in the instrument cluster. Precise and timely information about tire conditions is vital to sustaining optimal air pressure, thereby ensuring vehicle safety and improving efficiency. The new TPMS line will initially begin by assembling the wheel units locally, and in the second phase the plan is to localize child parts.
Phanindra Karody, Head of Bangalore Plant, Continental Automotive India added, “The newly expanded TPMS line also features cutting-edge smart manufacturing processes, including collaborative robots (Cobots) and digital traceability systems.”
Continental’s TPMS has substantial benefits including optimized tire usage, enhanced driving safety, lower CO? emissions, reduced fuel consumption, and extended battery range for electric vehicles. TPMS’ advanced features like ‘problem tire’ localization and user-friendly smartphone apps like the Filling Assistant and Tire Data further enhance its usability and value for end consumers. It has a reliable lifespan of up to ten years and is a lightweight design, setting industry standards high.
