Comprehensive modernisation of Czech ŠKODA AUTO plants during factory holidays

ŠKODA AUTO used factory holidays in Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí to maintain

and expand production facilities; production now back in full swing

› Another stage of the modernisation of production in line with ‘Industry 4.0’ concept

successfully completed

› Newly built infrastructure relieves congestion around the Kvasiny site

Mladá Boleslav, 27 July 2018 – Production at ŠKODA AUTO has resumed after the annual

factory holidays. In line with the ‘Industry 4.0’ concept, the car manufacturer has made full

use of the three-week summer break at all three Czech sites to modernise, maintain and

inspect production facilities, as well as improve infrastructure.

At the Mladá Boleslav plant, several hundred employees optimised the production and service

technologies in particular. This included checking the ventilation systems, cleaning the waste

basins and carrying out necessary repairs to transport routes on the factory site. Given the high

level of utilised capacity, maintenance and repair work in the production areas can only be carried

out during the summer break.

During the factory holidays, the Kvasiny plant was equipped with a new painting line. It operates

using the ‘Bell-Bell’ process, which improves efficiency when applying different topcoat colours and

reduces the amount of materials used per body by almost a kilogramme – a significant contribution

to the ecological balance sheet that maintains a high-quality finish and excellent body protection.

ŠKODA AUTO is also following the ‘Industry 4.0’ trend by increasing the robotisation, automation

and digitalisation of production. At Kvasiny, this is demonstrated particularly clearly in the body

shop, which was fitted with new production robots. During the factory holidays, the company has

implemented over 40 projects for the optimisation of production at this location alone.

The three-week break in production has also helped with the modernisation of infrastructure. In

Kvasiny, the central roundabout in front of the main gate has been given an additional connecting

lane and a third lane has been added to the exit from the company premises – measures that, in

conjunction with the recently opened cycle path, will relieve congestion around the site.

At the high-tech plant in Vrchlabí, specialist companies from both the Czech Republic and abroad

focused on the maintenance and setting up of the state-of-the-art production equipment that

manufactures the DQ200 automatic gearboxes. As with every year, the focus was on the overhaul

of the helium heat-treatment shop.