Nissan applies innovative technologies in paintshops

Nissan Motor Company Ltd. will apply a series of breakthrough technologies in its manufacturing paintshops worldwide. This will translate to a lower impact on the environment through reduced energy consumption, CO2 emission and waste-solvents (VOC*) compared to existing methods.

Utlizing a more efficient spray gun painting process and reducing the number of painting lines, this new methodology is both more space-efficient and twice as fast in the total paint-process. This breakthrough also allows Nissan to achieve the world's most compact body-panel paintshop operations.**

Paintshop operations will now use approximately one-fourth of the plants’ energy consumption in the heating, cooling and humidifying processes. The energy currently needed to operate the industrial air-conditioners used for the humidification process creates approximately 13,000t of CO2 emissions annually. Water-based painting is better for the environment but more energy is consumed in the water evaporation process.

Downsizing the physical size of the paintshop reduces energy consumption and the resulting CO2 emissions. More efficient painting methodologies achieve up to 50 percent reduction of waste-solvents such as VOC.*** The line itself will be reduced to one instead of the current two-line system.

A key challenge in metal surface painting process is to maintain color consistency. The new methodology employs a flexible paint application for different body parts which helps to improve speed and efficiency while reducing waste. This is done by utilizing advanced technology that controls the application on the metal surface. The process involves a well calculated speed in which the paint particles are distributed, making for a more consistent application.

Under the Nissan Green Program 2010 mid-term environmental plan, the company, as an "ECO First Company" endorsed by Japan's Ministry of Environment on July 1, 2008, aims to develop new technologies, products and services that can lead to reductions in CO2 emissions, cleaner vehicle emissions, and increased recycling of resources. The technology will be progressively applied to all Nissan painting facilities in the near future.

* VOC is volatile organic compound.
** Based on Nissan's own calculating methodology.
*** CO2 emission reduction rate differs according to the different processes.