ABB Robotic Waterjet Cutting Solutions Continue to Gain Traction in Automotive Interiors, with Overhead Workstations and Repeat Purchases as Highlights

The application of ABB robotic waterjet cutting technology in automotive interior manufacturing has shown an accelerating trend recently. From the commissioning of overhead workstations to repeat purchases by overseas customers, multiple project milestones indicate that this technological route is gaining market validation.

Overhead Workstation Officially Commissioned, Targeting Large Irregular Workpieces

A new generation of ABB overhead robotic waterjet cutting workstations has completed development, commissioning, and been put into application. This solution integrates ABB six-axis robots mounted upside down inside an enclosed workstation, specifically targeting three-dimensional irregular workpieces such as automotive headliners, carpets, instrument panels, and door panels, providing integrated trimming, hole cutting, and slot cutting capabilities. The inverted layout allows the robot's working envelope to extend fully downward, covering large cover parts and complex curved surfaces, with repeat positioning accuracy reaching ±0.01mm, enabling interference-free processing of deep cavities and undercut structures. The accompanying servo-driven dual-station shuttle table supports alternating cyclic operation, creating conditions for unmanned continuous production.

Overseas Customer Repeat Purchase, IRB 4600 Solution Recognized

An automotive interior manufacturer in Southeast Asia completed its second purchase of the ABB IRB 4600 seated waterjet cutting system in September 2025. The customer first introduced the equipment in 2023 for cutting soundproof headliners, and during operation the equipment has been stable with consistent cutting quality. This expansion purchase is based on comprehensive recognition of equipment quality and service system, further expanding the scale of the robotic waterjet cutting production line. The IRB 4600 features a 2.55-meter reach and ±0.05mm repeat positioning accuracy, with IP67 protection rating suitable for the humid waterjet cutting environment.

Cold Cutting Process Matches Interior Material Characteristics

Waterjet cutting is a room-temperature cold cutting process that produces no heat-affected zone, does not burn interior plastics or foam materials, and leaves cut edges free of burrs, requiring no secondary grinding. The equipment uses water as the cutting medium, with cutting noise below 75dB, meeting the environmental protection and safety requirements of automotive parts workshops. For multi-layer interior parts such as foam, plastic, leather, and composite materials, this process offers clear advantages in avoiding thermal deformation and preserving the original properties of materials.

Currently, ABB robotic waterjet cutting solutions cover multiple models including IRB 2400, IRB 2600, and IRB 4600, with applications established in automotive interiors, home appliance manufacturing, and rail transit composite material processing fields.