The Mercedes-Benz Truck plant in Wörth, Germany, has announced the introduction of a new painting process that the company says can reduce energy requirements by up to 40%. 

The new set-up means that over 400 truck cabs can be produced each day, but with the use of fewer systems and greatly reduced resource consumption, making it more environmentally friendly. 

Painting is the largest single energy consumer within production of the trucks and the new process will save 40% of the energy consumed in this area.

Ultra-high-solid paint materials are the key to the new painting process. This allows wet-on-wet application of the paints with drying between the applications no longer necessary. After priming, subsequent coats of paint can be applied completely in just one single paint booth. At the same time, the new systems are extremely efficient when applying the paint and require significantly less material. The number of painting stations required and the associated energy consumption are also significantly reduced. This allows five space and energy-saving booths and two dryers to replace 15 painting stations and four dryers in the future. 

In the new system, which use no fossil fuels, will be introduced in stages and fully operational next year. 

Wörth is the largest truck assembly plant of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. It produces Actros, Arocs and Atego series, as well as the Econic, Unimog and Zetros series and Mercedes E-Trucks.