Comau (Consorzio Macchine Utensili) is an Italian multinational company in the automation field based in Turin, Italy. It is a part of the automaker Stellantis. The company is present in 13 countries and employs 4,000 people.
Comau was established in 1973 as the COnsorzio MAcchine Utensili. It was formed by the same Torino-based engineers and companies that helped build the Soviet landmark VAZ (Lada) Plant in Togliatti, Russia.[2] In 1977 the company was renamed Comau Finanziaria S.p.A.[3]
Growth and expansion
In 1984, Comau Productivity Systems Inc. was formed.
It started the development of commercial and industrial activities in North America. Comau Finanziaria S.p.A. gained a majority interest in Italtech S.p.A.[citation needed]
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, an injection molds manufacturer 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. The following year, a French branch was formed. That year the company officially changed its name to 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, which was 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. acquired Progressive Tool and Industries Co. (PICO), a U.S. company experienced in body systems manufacturing, and was subsequently renamed Comau Pico. In the UK, the Pico Estil in Luton became Comau Estil; in South Africa, Aims in Uitenhage was renamed Comau South Africa Pty. Ltd.
In 2000, Comau Automotive Equipment Colt., was opened in Shanghai, 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 opens 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 produces 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. In 2013, Comau expanded its presence in China with three new sites. Comau Turkey and Comau Czech were also opened to better serve the Middle and Eastern European markets. Soon after, Comau established a new office in Munich, Germany which expanded into Mexico.
Comau São Paulo and Comau Thailand are established in 2015, while in 2016, Comau opened its HUMANufacturing Innovation Center in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy. The company also opens a new location in California, United States, in 2016. Comau expands its activities in the United Kingdom in 2017, by opening a new engineering facility in North East England.[4]
In these years the Comau Academy is founded, with which the company began to organize master, technical and managerial training courses, and then with the educational platform e.DO™ Experience, Comau began to offer educational activities for learning STEM subjects, robotics, coding and soft skills based on the use of educational and open source robots and.DO™.[5]
In 2020 Comau signed the technological collaboration agreement with TIM for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industries[6] and collaborated with FCA and the Fiat brand in the production of the new electrical Fiat 500,[7] supported SME manufacturing companies at the MADE competence center in Milan,[8] cooperated with the Artes 4.0 in Pisa, collaborated with the CIM 4.0 in Turin[9] and joined the Innovation Community EIT Manufacturing.[10]
In 2021 the company joined the European Battery Alliance (Eba) and the Batteries European Partnership Association (Bepa). There it contributed to the European Technology & Innovation Platform (Etip) for batteries and[11] collaborated with the UK Battery Industrialisation Center along[12] with Rockwell Automation for the creation of unified robot control solutions and[13] additional support of the Fincantieri and llika plc. to develop prototypes of robotized steel welding solutions.[14][15]
In 2022 Comau assisted to expand the manufacturing lines in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco to produce the new 7-seat Jeep Commander SUV. This helped to increase process optimization and control,[16] and at the same time supported Ilika plc. in a study for an All-Solid-State Battery Technology.[17]
In June 2020 Alessandro Nasi was selected as the chairman of Comau, alongside Paolo Carmassi as CEO.[18]
In April 2022 Comau announced the appointment of Pietro Gorlier as the new CEO.[19]
Products, technologies and services
AGILE 1500 Comau Robot at MADE Competence Centre in Milan.
Body assembly
Production of:
assembly and welding systems for car bodies, frames and components;
junction technologies (e.g. laser and plasma cutting, welding clamps, point welding machines, brazing applications).[20]
Powertrain and machining
Analysis, development, industrialization, design and supply of technologies for mechanical processing in manufacturing sectors:
Technologies for automotive and transport sector.[21]
Robotics and automation products
In 1979 the company built the first robotic assembly line, which was supplied to the Fiat plant in Mirafiori for the production of the famous car model FIAT 131.
In the late '70s and early '80s Comau started to produce the first industrial robots and launched the Robogate system in the European and world markets - an assembly system designed to carry out multiple operations at the same time with the joint use of several robots.
In the second half of the 80s, as a massive development of laser technology begins, Comau started to design laser robots.
In the following years robots and automation products were developed:
anthropomorphic robots for different industrial applications (SCARA robotics arms, robots for special processing, hollow wrist);[20]
collaborative robots to work in close contact with humans (Racer-5-0.80 COBOT,[22] AURA,[23]);
exoskeleton to support the upper limbs of operators to facilitate their work and reduce physical fatigue (MATE-XT);[24]
Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) to manage logistics more easily within the factory (Agile 1500);[25]
educational robots designed to facilitate the learning and teaching of STEM subjects, robotics, coding and enhancing soft skills[26] (e.DO);[27]
factory automation products 4.0 (Lhyte,[28] the hybrid laser system that combines fiber and diode laser sources, a wide range of welding pliers and the Spot Welding Machine,[29] a special robot integrated with a point welding clamp).
Electrification
Comau also specializes in the development of products and automation processes for electrification, such as, mechanical machining centers, assembly systems, digital products for Industry 4.0 and integrated logistics services: production and assembly of rechargeable modules and batteries, and electric motors. Comau initiated the Flexible Battery Dismantling (Flex-BD) project to automate all battery dismantling operations.[30]
Other services
Comau also specializes in the services of concept development, plant design, improvement of production processes, project management and[31] system integration services [32]
Presence
Comau's headquarters are in Turin, Italy, and the company is present in 14 countries around Europe, Asia, South America and North America – with 7 innovation centres, 5 digital hubs and 8 production plants,[33] where over 9.000 people work.[34]
Corporate structure
As part of Stellantis, 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.[35]
Key people
Alessandro Nasi, Chairman – in 2005 he joined the Fiat Group, following professional experiences in the banking and finance sector. He held senior roles at Fiat Powertrain Technologies and CNH Industrial, a company that produces machinery for agriculture and construction. Currently he is member of the Board of Directors of CNH Industrial, Chairman of Iveco Defence Vehicles and member of the Lego Group's advisory board. Nasi is also vice-chairman of the Board of EXOR.[36]
Pietro Gorlier, CEO. He was Chief Parts and Services Officer worldwide at Stellantis, President and CEO of MOPAR, CEO of Magneti Marelli, COO of the Region EMEA at FCA and since 2011 he has been a member of the FCA Group Executive Council (GEC).[37]
Related Research Articles
Fiat S.p.A., or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, was an Italian holding company whose original and core activities were in the automotive industry, and that was succeeded by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA). The Fiat Group contained many brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, the Chrysler Group, and many more. On 29 January 2014, it was announced that Fiat S.p.A. was to be merged into a new Netherlands-based holding company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA), taking place before the end of 2014. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles became the new owner of Fiat Group. On 1 August 2014, Fiat S.p.A. received necessary shareholder approval to proceed with the merger. The merger became effective 12 October 2014.
Maserati S.p.A. is an Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer. Established on 1 December 1914 in Bologna, Italy, the company's headquarters are now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. The company has been owned by Stellantis since 2021. Maserati was initially associated with Ferrari. In May 2014, due to ambitious plans and product launches, Maserati sold a record of over 3,000 cars in one month. This caused them to increase production of the Quattroporte and Ghibli models. In addition to the Ghibli and Quattroporte, Maserati offers the Maserati GranTurismo and two SUV models, the Maserati Levante and the Maserati Grecale. Maserati has placed a yearly production output cap at 75,000 vehicles globally.
The PSA Group, legally known as Peugeot S.A. was a French multinational automotive manufacturing company which produced automobiles and motorcycles under the Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall brands. On 18 December 2019, PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced that they had agreed to the terms of a binding $50 billion merger. On 16 July 2020, both companies announced the new name for their merged operations, Stellantis. The deal closed on 16 January 2021. As of 2022, Stellantis is fourth largest automaker by sales behind Toyota, Volkswagen Group, and Hyundai Motor Group.
The Fiat Ducato is a light commercial vehicle jointly developed by FCA Italy and PSA Group, and mainly manufactured by Sevel, a joint venture between the two companies since 1981. It has also been sold as the Citroën C25, Peugeot J5, Alfa Romeo AR6 and Talbot Express and later as the Fiat Ducato, Citroën Jumper, and Peugeot Boxer, from 1994 onwards. It entered the North American market as the Ram ProMaster in May 2014 for the 2015 model year.
Robot welding is the use of mechanized programmable tools (robots), which completely automate a welding process by both performing the weld and handling the part. Processes such as gas metal arc welding, while often automated, are not necessarily equivalent to robot welding, since a human operator sometimes prepares the materials to be welded. Robot welding is commonly used for resistance spot welding and arc welding in high production applications, such as the automotive industry.
Brampton Assembly Plant is a Stellantis Canada automobile factory located at 2000 Williams Parkway East Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Originally built by American Motors Corporation (AMC) for US$260 million, in the former Bramalea area of Brampton, the manufacturing plant was specially designed for building the Eagle Premier. Its role since has primarily been to assemble full-sized Chrysler products.
Fiat Serbia – formerly "FIAT Automobiles Serbia" (FAS) from 2008 to 2014, then "FCA Serbia" (FCAS) until 2021 – is a Serbian automotive manufacturing company based in Kragujevac, Serbia. It is a joint venture (JV) between the ex-Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), merged into Stellantis in 2021, which owns 67% of the operation, and the Republic of Serbia, which owns the remainder.
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division Stellantis Europe. Fiat Automobiles was formed in January 2007 when Fiat S.p.A. reorganized its automobile business, and traces its history back to 1899, when the first Fiat automobile, the Fiat 4 HP, was produced.
Sevel S.p.A. is an Italian automotive company which produces light commercial vehicles. It was first established in 1978 by Fiat S.p.A. and PSA Group. Formerly, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Talbot were also part of the joint venture. Sevel Sud in Italy began manufacturing in 1981. Sevel Nord in France started in 1993. Fiat sold its share of Sevel Nord to PSA in 2012 and re-entered it through the merger of FCA and PSA into Stellantis in 2021. A joint venture extension for Sevel Sud was agreed upon by both automakers in February 2019, preceding the merger of both companies into Stellantis.
Opel Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o. is an automobile manufacturer in Poland. It assembles light commercial vehicles in a factory in Gliwice and builds engines in Tychy. Opel Manufacturing Poland is a subsidiary of Opel Automobile GmbH in Rüsselsheim, Germany which in turn is a subsidiary of Stellantis.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA), now part of Stellantis, was an Italian-American multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, commercial vehicles, auto parts and production systems. At the time it was the world's eighth largest automobile maker. The group was established in 2014 through the merger of Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. Its corporate headquarters were domiciled in Amsterdam and its financial headquarters were in London. The holding company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Milan's Borsa Italiana. Exor, an Italian investment group controlled by the Agnelli family, owned 29% of FCA and controlled 44% through a loyalty voting mechanism, the largest block of shares.
Stellantis Europe S.p.A., formerly known as Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. from 2007 to 2014 and FCA Italy S.p.A. from 2014 to 2023, is the Italian subsidiary of the multinational automaker Stellantis, dedicated to the production and selling of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and headquartered in Turin, Italy.
Teksid S.p.A. is an Italian company based in Carmagnola which specialises in the production of iron and castings for the automotive industry. Originally known as Ferriere Piemontesi, Teksid is owned by Stellantis, and was owned by its predecessors Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (2014-2020) and Fiat S.p.A. (1978-2014). The company was renamed Teksid in January 1978.
FCA Bank S.p.A., is an Italian financial institution that focuses on car financing, it a structured as joint venture between FCA Italy and Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance.
The Cassino Assembly Plant is a car assembly plant owned by Stellantis. It is located in the town of Piedimonte San Germano, three kilometers from Cassino, in the province of Frosinone, Italy. The car assembly plant started in 1972 with the production of Fiat 126. Today, it has a total surface area of 2 million square meters, of which 400 thousand are covered. The plant currently employs around 4,300 people.
FCA Poland S.A. is an automobile factory belonging to Stellantis formed on May 28, 1992, after Fiat acquired Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) in Bielsko-Biała and Tychy. At that time, Fiat Auto took over 90% of the company's shares. The takeover of FSM by Fiat has been considered hostile and controversial. The plant has been part of Stellantis since 2021, following the merger of FCA and PSA Group. As of 2020, the facility had 2,500 employees.
Michael Manley, often known as Mike Manley is an English businessman and current CEO of American automotive retailer AutoNation. He previously served as managing director of the North American operations of Stellantis. In 2018 Manley was appointed as CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), following the announcement that previous CEO Sergio Marchionne would step down for health reasons.
The Fiat New 500, also known as the Fiat 500e is a battery-electric car by Italian manufacturer Fiat. The New 500 city car is manufactured at the Mirafiori plant in Turin and is sold alongside the conventionally-powered Fiat 500 (2007), which continues to be manufactured in Tychy, Poland. It was scheduled to be launched at the Geneva Motor Show but that event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was unveiled on 4 March 2020 in Milan.
Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed from the merger in 2021 of the Italian–American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam.
Stellantis Argentina S.A. is the Argentine subsidiary of international conglomerate Stellantis which produces and markets Citroën, Fiat, and Peugeot vehicles in the country. Established in 2021, the company is successor of several firms that had operated in Argentina as subsidiaries or licensors for these brands, such as Fiat Argentina, and Groupe PSA Argentina.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
