Comau

Comau S.p.A

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automation
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Turin, Italy
Products	Industrial robots
Employees	14,500 (2012)
Parent	Fiat
Website	www.comau.com

Comau (COnsorsio MAcchine Utensili) is an Italian multinational company based in Turin, Italy and is part of the Fiat Group. Comau is an integrated company, including 20 companies, which develops and produces process automation, manufacturing and service solutions and specializes in welding robots. Established in 1973, it currently has 23 different operative centers, 15 manufacturing plants, and 3 research and development centers throughout the world.^[1] It employs more than 14,500 people in 13 different countries – Italy, Russia, China, India, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Romania, Poland, Germany, France, the United States and the United Kingdom.^[2][3] The company has more than 100 patents and all major automotive manufacturers use Comau systems and machinery at facilities in Europe, America and Asia.^[2]

History

Formation

Comau began in 1973 as the COnsorsio MAcchine Utensili to unite all of 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.^[4]

Growth & 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.^[4]

Diversification

In 2009, Comau Aerospace was launched, bringing the company into a new field where it began providing systems for drilling and riveting. Following this, between 2010 and 2011, Comau expanded its product lines with eComau, manufacturing products and providing services in the energy industry, and Comau Adaptive Solutions, supplying industrial automation technologies for industries including commercial vehicles, construction, agriculture, mining, passenger rail, freight rail, solar power and wind power.^[4]

Corporate Structure

Management

As part of the Fiat 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.^[5]

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).^[6]

Sustainability

Comau has taken many steps towards improving the energy efficiency and reducing the greenhouse gases produced by their offices and plants. On March 16, 2010, Comau became the first company in Italy and one of the first companies in Europe to gain ww EN 16001 certification,^[7] a standard set for energy management, recognizing the improved level of energy efficiency and decreased amount of polluting emissions at their headquarters in Turin. It also promotes aspects of sustainable development and social sustainability among its practices and employees.^[8]

Product and Service Divisions

Body Welding

Comau designs, produces, tests and services advanced body welding equipment for vehicle bodies and body components. 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.^[6][9]

Powertrain Systems

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.^[10]

Robotics

Comau has been designing and producing integrated robotic solutions since 1978 and is currently a leading international producer of industrial robots.^[7] 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, arc welding, foundry, laser welding, press-to-press automation, handling/palletizing and sealing/gluing.^[11] Their industrial robot products handle small, medium and high payloads. They also produce robot control units.^[6] The company is member of the International Federation of Robotics.

Industrial Robot Products^[11][12]

The ATHOMO cell for arc welding includes two Smart5 ARC4 robots with arc welding dressing, a Smart PTDV positioner and a rigid fork-liftable base.^[11]

Service

Comau provides industrial maintenance services in many markets for equipment and production processes, as well as asset management.^[13] Services include after-sales assistance, maintenance packages, facility management and planning.^[14] There are 7,000 employees worldwide who are involved in providing services according to professional maintenance partnerships using a modular approach.^[15]

Adaptive Solutions

Comau Adaptive Solutions designs, engineers and produces industrial automation technologies.^[16] Technical solutions for production processes and facilities are based on the concepts of Lean Manufacturing to reduce waste (wasted time, space, transportation and resources) and improve efficiency.^[17]

Aerospace

Since 1989, Comau has been creating, supplying and installing production process optimization, integrated manufacturing equipment and assembly systems for the aircraft industry worldwide in the civil, military, fixed wing, rotor wing, exterior, interior and engine manufacturing sectors.^[18] The company provides airframe assemblies, manufacturing process development, automated tooling (drilling and fastener insertion) and transfer systems, mobile platforms, automated engine component inspection and assembly jigs and stations for civil aircraft manufacturers.^[19] It is also involved in the aerospace field through research and development projects.

eComau

Through eComau®, the company uses its experience from making its own offices and plants more environmentally friendly to provide consultations to other companies, including development and application of energy-saving options for production systems, Green-Fit™ modifications, green automation solutions (for material handling, welding, metal cutting and assembly systems)^[14] for existing and new equipment as well as other products and services to increase efficiency and reduce consumption related to automated manufacturing processes. eComau® was one of the first companies in Europe ^[7] and the first company in the United States ^[20] to be recognized for its energy management practices by gaining ww EN 16001 certification.

Project Management

Comau Project Management has PMI® certified senior-level project managers who work on multinational projects through an interconnected project management office (PMO).^[14] 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.^[21] 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.^[22]

References

1. ↑ Comau SpA Facts and Figures. Comau, 2012, http://www.comau.com/eng/group/glance/Pages/facts.aspx
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "At a Glance". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
3. ↑ "Global Presence". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "History". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
5. ↑ "Corporate Governance". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Company Profile". Retrieved 2012-04-29. 
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Comau Corporate Press Kit English". Retrieved 2012-04-29. 
8. ↑ "Fiat Code of Conduct. Fiat SpA, p.10". Retrieved 2012-04-29. 
9. ↑ "Body Welding". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
10. ↑ "Powertrain Systems". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Robot Family". Retrieved 2012-04-29. 
12. ↑ "Robotics". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
13. ↑ "Service". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Comau Corporate Presentation. Comau SpA, April 2011, p.10
15. ↑ "Comau Service Unit". Retrieved 2011-11-16. 
16. ↑ "Adaptive Solutions". Retrieved 2012-05-01. 
17. ↑ "Adaptive Solutions Business Presentation". Retrieved 2011-11-22. 
18. ↑ "Aerospace Production Systems". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
19. ↑ [1.pdf "Aerospace Brochure"]. Retrieved 2011-12-01. 
20. ↑ McLeman, Amanda; Control Engineering, www.controleng.com (November 2, 2010). "U.S. Company Obtains EN 16001 Energy Certification". CFE Media. Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
21. ↑ "Project Management Academy". Retrieved 2012-04-30. 
22. ↑ "Project Management Academy Presentation". Retrieved 2012-04-29. 

External links

• Official website