The BMW Group is setting new standards in sustainability by powering exhaust purification in its paint shops electrically. This breakthrough method enables the high temperatures needed for the thermal purification of exhaust from paint booths and drying areas to be generated solely by electricity, eliminating the need for natural gas in this production process.
Michele Melchiorre, Head of Production System, Planning, Tool Shop, Plant Construction at the BMW Group, stated, “For other energy-intensive paint shop processes, such as vehicle drying and water heating, solutions already exist for working without natural gas. So, electric exhaust purification is the final steppingstone for the BMW Group to run its paint shops on regenerative energy in the future.”
The innovative electric regenerative thermal oxidation (eRTO) system, a gas-free alternative, has already been tested at Plant Regensburg and BMW Brilliance in China. Plant Dingolfing has converted a painting line to the new system, which will be implemented in series production. When the BMW Group’s newest plant goes on stream in Debrecen in 2025, it will exclusively use this pioneering method.
The eRTO process involves burning off gaseous or vaporous substances at temperatures up to 1,000° Celsius using only electricity. This system is installed between the painting booth, drying process, and chimney. Thermal energy is recovered by a ceramic bed that retains heat, requiring only a few hundred kilowatts to operate efficiently.
Initially, the eRTO system was function-tested in ongoing operations at BMW Group Plant Regensburg and is being further validated at BMW Brilliance Plant Lydia in China. Plant Dingolfing is the first European facility to implement this technology in series paint shop operations, with the first of four paint lines already converted. The BMW Group plans to expand this system across its production network, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices.
With the implementation of the eRTO system, the BMW Group is poised to revolutionize paint shop processes, showcasing a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future in the automotive industry.
