Comau

Products and Technologies

Comau designs and develops advanced technology solutions that enable digital manufacturing. Its products combine technological know-how with innovative engineering to offer increased performance, precision and long-term reliability. Its assembly and powertrain technologies range from 3D laser systems and robotized cutting processes to advanced joining solutions, roller hemming, palletizing and transfer systems^[3], and from the machining of parts and manual, semi-automated or automated assembly to the testing of components.^[4]

Solutions

Comau solutions are intuitive, easy to understand and use, and help keep automation simple while increasing productivity and quality. Its body assembly solutions range from flexible high-speed vehicle manufacturing, including multi-material, to the use of simulation techniques that shorten overall program timeframes. Its pallet conveyor, in-line fast transfer, and closed loop assembly systems are designed to combine high precision with performance and configurability.^[5]

For Powertrain needs, the company also offers machining systems and assembly lines with a wide range of modular systems that span the entire Powertrain production chain.^[6]

Services

Comau has an international network of expert technicians that provide comprehensive management and maintenance support. Its service offerings range from industrial process maintenance and support areas, including building and utility maintenance, through to developing projects for improving production line equipment and increasing the productivity and efficiency of assets. ^[7]

Systems Integration

Comau has the capacity to participate in any point of the project phase: from developing the concept and creating the business plan to the design and manufacturing of an entire plant. This includes performing the process engineering and using 3D development and simulation tools to test the concepts and plan the factory.^[8]

Education and Training Academy

Comau Academy offers courses dedicated to training and designed for companies, professionals and young talents. From Project and Risk Management to hands-on Masters programs, the complete offer focuses on developing the technical and managerial skills needed to design and manage the advanced industrial automation solutions of the future.^[9]

Innovation

Comau innovation focuses on easy to use solutions, value-added manufacturing and human-robot collaboration. Led by the concepts of co-creation and open-innovation, the company has collaborated for over 40 years with universities, organizations and institutions to generate disruptive innovations to products and solutions.^[10] Comau employs more than 9,000 people in 17 countries – Italy, Russia, China, India, Thailand, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom – and has more than 600 registered patents.^[11][12]

Project Management

Comau Project Management has PMI certified senior-level project managers who work on multinational projects through an interconnected project management office (PMO).^[13] Services include strategy development, planning and implementation for businesses, as well as contract management, risk management and portfolio governance. In 2007, the Comau Project, Program and Leadership Academy was founded to provide internal company support for highly technological processes and maximize project profitability.^[14] The PM Academy later became an external project management system to help other businesses manage large-scale, global projects. Localized training is offered worldwide for individuals and organizations; it is based on PMI tools and guidelines and is meant to strengthen program and project management skills. It is a PMI - Project Management Institute, REP - Registered Education Provider.^[15]

Formation

Comau began in 1973 as the COnsorzio MAcchine Utensili to unite all the businesses based in Turin and the surrounding area that were supplying equipment to the Togliattigrad VAZ plant in Russia. In 1977, MST S.p.A., Morando S.p.A., I.M.P. S.p.A. and Colubra Lamsat S.p.A. merged into a single company named Comau Industriale S.p.A. The following year, Comau S.p.A. was officially founded, bringing together all the plants and industrial activities of Comau Industriale S.p.A. It was later renamed Comau Finanziaria S.p.A.^[1]

Growth and Expansion

In 1984, the company branched out of Europe as Comau Productivity Systems Inc. was founded to start development of commercial and industrial activities in North America. Comau Finanziaria S.p.A. gained a majority interest in Italtech S.p.A., which specialized in injection molding machines for plastic materials in 1988. The following year, it acquired Berto Lamet, a sheet metal die producer, and U.T.S., which specialized in product and process engineering. Berto Lamet then took over TEA, a company that manufactured injection molds and, in 1990, it took over the Spanish company, Mecaner S.A., which specialized in producing sheet metal dies. In 1995, the company grew throughout South America, Europe, North America and Asia. Comau do Brasil Ind e Com. Ltda and Comau Argentina S.A. were launched with all Comau Business Units joining the Mercosur market. In Germany, Comau Deutschland GmbH was established. Comau Productivity Systems expanded its structure and the name was changed to Comau North America Inc. Additionally, a representative office in Beijing, China, was set up. In 1996, Comau France S.A. was founded. The company officially changed its name, it became Comau S.p.A. In 1997, the company gained a majority interest in Geico S.p.A., a producer of painting systems within the automotive industry. Comau India Pvt. Ltd. in Pune was set up as the company's headquarters in Southeast Asia. Comau Poland Sp.z.o.o., a production plant for sheet metal dies, began operation in Tychy and, later that year, began offering maintenance services as well. In the same year, Comau Service was launched to provide full maintenance services to customers worldwide. In 1999, Comau took over the French company Sciaky S.A., a producer of body systems and welding guns, and the company is renamed Comau Sciaky S.A. Also that year, Comau S.p.A. gained a majority interest in Renault Automation S.A. of France, a company specializing in engineering, metal cutting, mechanical assembly and body final assembly. In the same year, Fiat S.p.A. acquires Progressive Tool and Industries Co. (PICO), a U.S. company experienced in body systems manufacturing, and it was subsequently renamed Comau Pico. In the UK, the Pico Estil in Luton became Comau Estil; in South Africa, Aims in Uitenhage is renamed Comau South Africa Pty. Ltd.

In 2000, Comau Automotive Equipment Colt., in Shanghai was opened, Comau Belgium N.V. was established to develop maintenance services in Northern Europe and Comau Systems Services S.L. began operations in Madrid. The next year, Comau S.p.A. acquired two companies in automotive product and process engineering and industrialization, Germann-Intec GmbH and Team Resources Romania, which became Comau România S.A. Comau Australia opened in Adelaide in 2001. In 2002, Comau Ingest Sverige AB was established in Sweden; in 2003, Comau Russia Srl and Comau (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd. began operations with a focus on import-export activities. Comau Sciaky SA became the full owner of Gerbi & Sciaky, a company in France that produced electrical welding guns, changing its name to Sciaky S.A.S. in 2004. The next year, Comau Service France and Comau Sciaky and Sciaky S.A.S. were consolidated within Comau France S.A. In 2005, Comau Germann-Intec GmbH merged with Comau Deutschland GmbH. In 2007, Comau-Germann Intec GmbH was started in Germany with a focus on engineering activities. [5]

In 2013, Comau expanded its presence in China with three new sites. Comau Turkey and Comau Czech were also opened to better serve the Middle and Eastern European markets. Soon after, Comau established a new office in Munich, Germany and expanded into Mexico. Comau São Paulo and Comau Thailand were established in 2015, while in 2016, Comau opened its HUMANufacturing Innovation Center in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy. The company also opened a new location in California, United States in 2016. Comau expanded its activities in the United Kingdom in 2017, by opening a new engineering facility in North East England.^[16]

Management

As part of the FCA Group, Comau is managed by a board of directors and a board of statutory auditors. The board of directors oversees the company's performance both directly and through committees charged with specific advisory functions. It is supported by a body made up of members, who are attributed independent responsibilities and powers.^[17]

Key business areas

Comau develops and provides products and services in a wide variety of industries including automotive, commercial vehicles, heavy duty (i.e. mining, construction, agriculture), aerospace, public transportation, defense (land defense vehicles, artillery), recreational (i.e. maritime vehicles, campers, mobile homes, motorcycles) and energy (wind, solar, fuel cells, batteries).^[18]

Body Assembly

Comau designs, produces, tests and services body welding equipment for vehicle bodies and body components.^[19] Body welding systems are made for low, medium and high production volumes and for any size component or vehicle. Products include framing systems, accumulated pallet conveyors (APC), break-away end effectors, vision systems, welding guns and line feeding systems.^[20]

Powertrain Machining

Comau develops, produces and services manufacturing systems, modular machining systems for powertrain components, assembly systems for engines, transmissions and components, automated modules, product performance simulations and testing systems that are customized to specific production facilities.^[21][22]

Robotics and Automation Products

Comau has been designing and producing integrated robotic solutions since 1978 and is currently a leading international producer of industrial robots.^{[23][24][25][26][27]} They manufacture industrial robots for a variety of industries. Integrated robotics, turn-key systems and robotized cells are implemented mainly in the automotive industry. In 2000 Comau Robotics developed SMART, robotized cells and process-integrated solutions for all payload categories, which have reduced dimensions, increased working volume, high-precision movements and positioning accuracy for spot welding,^[28][29] arc welding, foundry, laser welding, press-to-press automation, handling/palletizing and sealing/gluing.^[30] Their industrial robot products handle small, medium and high payloads. They also produce robot control units.^[18] The company is member of the International Federation of Robotics.

Service

Comau provides industrial maintenance services in many markets for equipment and production processes, as well as asset management.^[33] Services include after-sales assistance, maintenance packages, facility management and planning.^[13] There are 7,000 employees worldwide who are involved in providing services according to professional maintenance partnerships using a modular approach.^[34]