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Comau

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Comau S.p.A.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomation
Founded1973 (1973)
HeadquartersTurin, Italy
Key people
Alessandro Nasi - Chairman Paolo Carmassi - CEO
ProductsIndustrial automation products, systems and services
Number of employees
9,000 (2017)
ParentStellantis
Websitewww.comau.com

Comau (COnsorzio MAcchine Utensili) is an Italian multinational company based in Turin, Italy and is part of automaker Stellantis.

History

Formation

Comau began in 1973 as the COnsorzio MAcchine Utensili. The following year, Comau S.p.A. was founded officially , 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, Comau Productivity Systems Inc. was formed. It started development of commercial and industrial activities in North America. Comau Finanziaria S.p.A. gained a majority interest in Italtech S.p.A., a company that 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 takes over TEA, an injection molds manufacturer 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.

In 1996, a French branch was formed. The company officially changes its name, it become 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, which was 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. acquired Progressive Tool and Industries Co. (PICO), a U.S. company experienced in body systems manufacturing, and was subsequently renamed Comau Pico. In the UK, the Pico Estil in Luton became Comau Estil; in South Africa, Aims in Uitenhage was renamed Comau South Africa Pty. Ltd.

In 2000, Comau Automotive Equipment Colt., was opened in Shanghai, 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 opens 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 produces 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 merges with Comau Deutschland GmbH.

In 2007, Comau-Germann Intec GmbH was started in Germany with a focus on engineering activities. In 2013, Comau expanded its presence in China with three new sites. Comau Turkey and Comau Czech are also opened to better serve the Middle and Eastern European markets. Soon after, Comau establishes a new office in Munich, Germany and expands into Mexico.

Comau São Paulo and Comau Thailand are established in 2015, while in 2016, Comau opened its HUMANufacturing Innovation Center in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy. The company also opens a new location in California, United States in 2016. Comau expands its activities in the United Kingdom in 2017, by opening a new engineering facility in North East England.[2]

In 2020, Comau signed the technological collaboration agreement with Tim for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industries, by exploiting the potential offered by 5G connectivity technologies, Edge cloud, data analysis, robotics and artificial intelligence. The first result of the collaboration is the launch of a solution[buzzword] which allows the monitoring and diagnostics of industrial production machinery – even remotely – and highlights maintenance and assistance needs using preventative and predictive systems.[3] In the same year the Company helps FCA and the Fiat brand in the production of the new electrical Fiat 500,[4] and supports SME manufacturing companies at the MADE competence center in Milan,[5] found and cooperates with the Artes 4.0 in Pisa, collaborates with the CIM 4.0 in Turin for the development and integration of the Digital Factory,[6] and joins the Innovation Community EIT Manufacturing.[7]

New Leadership

In June 2020 Alessandro Nasi was selected Chairman of Comau, with Paolo Carmassi as CEO.[8]

From April 2022 Pietro Gorlier became the new CEO. [9]

Products and technologies

Body assembly

Production of assembly and welding systems for car bodies, frames and components. Design and development of junction technologies (laser and plasma cutting, welding clamps, point welding machines, solutions[buzzword] for brazing applications).[10]

Powertrain and machining

The company develops technologies for mechanical processing in multiple manufacturing sectors: integrated universal machining centers Iot (Industrial Internet of Things), flexible systems, complete and customized production lines, crankshaft machines, thermal spray coating. For automotive and transport sector, Comau offers solutions[buzzword] for the processing and assembly of traditional engines and electric cars: from gearboxes, transmissions and internal combustion engines, to rechargeable batteries and electric motors (edrive).[11]

Robotics and automation products

Comau has been developing robotics solutions[buzzword] since 1978.[12] In 1979 the company built the first robotic assembly line, which is supplied to the Fiat plant in Mirafiori for the production of the famous car model FIAT 131. In the late '70s and early '80s, Comau started to produce the first industrial robots and launched the Robogate system on the European and world market: a flexible assembly system that allows to carry out multiple operations at the same time thanks to the joint use of several robots. In the second half of the 80s, as a massive development of laser technology begins, Comau designs laser robots. In the following years, Comau the develops other robots and automation products:

  • anthropomorphic robots for different industrial applications, like SCARA robotics arms (6-AXIS robots with small, medium and large payloads), robots for special processing and hollow wrist (Hollow Wrist);[10]
  • collaborative robots, suitable to work in close contact and in total safety with humans (Racer-5-0.80 COBOT,[13] a small compact cobot, and AURA,[14] industrial cobot with high payload);
  • exoskeleton (MATE-XT, able to support the upper limbs of operators to facilitate their work and reduce physical fatigue);[15]
  • Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV), as Agile 1500, a self-driving robotic vehicle designed to manage logistics more easily within the factory, in safe collaboration with humans;[16]
  • educational robots, like [17] e.DO, a small 6-axis robot, modular and open source, easy to program, designed to facilitate the learning and teaching of STEM subjects, robotics, coding and enhancing soft skills;[18]
  • factory automation products 4.0, including Lhyte,[19] the hybrid laser system that combines fiber and diode laser sources, a wide range of welding pliers and the Spot Welding Machine,[20] a special robot integrated with a point welding clamp.

Electrification

Development of products and automation processes for electrification, from mechanical machining centers and assembly systems to digital solutions[buzzword] for Industry 4.0 and integrated logistics services: production and assembly of rechargeable modules and batteries, up to electric motors.

Presence

Comau's headquarters are in Turin, Italy, and the company is present in 14 countries around the world – spread over Europe, Asia, South America and North America – with 7 innovation centres, 5 digital hub and 8 production plants,[21] where over 9.000 people work.[22]

Key People

• Alessandro Nasi, Chairman - in 2005 he joined the Fiat Group, following professional experiences in the banking and finance sector. He held senior roles at Fiat Powertrain Technologies and CNH Industrial, a company that produces machinery for agriculture and construction. Currently he is member of the Board of Directors of CNH Industrial, Chairman of Iveco Defence Vehicles and member of the Lego Group's Advisory Board. Nasi is also Vice-Chairman of the Board of EXOR.[23]

• Paolo Carmassi, CEO - since 2016 he has held a leadership role at Malvern Panalytical, and first he was in charge of the aerospace sector in the EMEA area of Honeywell.[24]

Corporate structure

As part of Stellantis, 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.[25]

Shareholdings

Comau is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Stellantis Group.

References

  1. ^ "History". Comau.com. 5 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-09-28.
  2. ^ "History". Comau.com. 6 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-09-28.
  3. ^ "TIM and COMAU collaboration aims to accelerate IoT". Automation Fair. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-07.
  4. ^ "COMAU technology for the new FIAT 500 and the mobility of the future". Pronounce Media. 6 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29.
  5. ^ "COMAU TECHNOLOGIES FOR INDUSTRY 4.0 SUPPORT SME MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AT THE "MADE" COMPETENCE CENTER IN MILAN". Industry Asia Pacific. 3 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Le tecnologie innovative di Comau per la smart factory nel Competence Center CIM 4.0". 26 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Comau a Bruxelles per l'Innovation Community EIT Manufacturing". automazionenews.it. 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  8. ^ "FCA prepares Comau for spin-off". Just Auto. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Stellantis robotics unit Comau picks Gorlier as CEO".
  10. ^ a b "Al servizio del cliente in ogni parte del processo produttivo".
  11. ^ "Motori Lineari e Centri di Lavoro: Soluzioni".
  12. ^ "Industrial automation and robotics".
  13. ^ "New Comau Racer-5 COBOT". 20 March 2021.
  14. ^ "AURA Collaborative Robot".
  15. ^ "MATE-XT, nuovo esoscheletro Comau per una maggiore produttività". Robotica News. 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23.
  16. ^ "Agile1500, il veicolo a guida automatica per la smart factory". 16 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Robotica educativa e Coding: e.Do Comau - Braccio Robotico Antropomorfo". www.siadsrl.net. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  18. ^ "e.DO: compact and modular robots | Comau". Archived from the original on 2019-11-26.
  19. ^ "LHYTE".
  20. ^ "RSW Aluminum Welding Guns".
  21. ^ "Global presence in the automation sector".
  22. ^ "Leader mondiali nel campo dell'automazione industriale".
  23. ^ "New leadership named at Comau". FCA. 5 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  24. ^ "New leadership named at Comau in preparation for its future as a publicly-listed company". Intrado GlobeNewswire. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10.
  25. ^ "Corporate Governance". Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
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