Kuka receives large order from Donghee for robotic welding systems

Industrial robot manufacturer Kuka says it has received an order in the “single-digit million euro range” from the Korean automotive supplier Donghee Industrial.

The order was booked in the second quarter of 2019.

Donghee relies on robot-based friction stir welding from Kuka in the area of electric mobility.

The technology is being used at different Hyundai plants for the production of battery carriers – finding use, among other places, in the Kona electric vehicle model.

Here, automation specialist Kuka supplies robotic equipment for the process-reliable joining of components made of different aluminum alloys.

Together, Donhee’s expertise in the machining of aluminum components and the robot-supported friction stir welding cell supplied by Kuka create the necessary conditions for the successful production of battery supports.

A production system developed for this purpose has been running in series production for over a year at a Korean plant of Donghee.

Now a master contract has been signed for the supply of further systems for the production of Hyundai electric vehicles.

Sales of electric cars and hybrid vehicles are steadily increasing. But vehicle range and performance are not the only important factors for sales.

The selling price is also key, says Kuka, adding “this is why there is also a focus on cost-effective production”.