Integrators & Process Designers

DV Automation (DVA), a wholly owned subsidiary of KUKA an IWKA Group Company, produces an unrivalled range of complete hemming systems and solutions for the automotive industry. UK-based DVA was established in 1989 and is renowned for its superior automotive hemming technology and expertise, as well as versatile engineering skills and extensive design capabilities. The company recently relocated from its original South of England base in Surrey to KUKA UK's headquarters in central England. DVA's core business activity has always been innovative engineering, research and development, to continually improve its product range. Being at the forefront of automotive hemming technology, DVA is currently using its knowledge and experience to forge the way in the development of a new electromechanical flexible hemming system.

DVA's client base has included Bentley, BMW, Fiat, and GM, among others, and one of its most recent orders has come from Renault: the carmaker has chosen to replace traditional spot welding with DVA's electro-mechanical machines for the hemming of the bodyside wheelhouses at its manufacturing facilities in both France and Spain. DVA's hemming machines require very little maintenance because of the uncomplicated mechanical operation and limited electrical control, hence upkeep is easy and can be carried out by the customer's own maintenance engineers.

The company's strategy is to offer a complete range of hemming solutions from Table Top to Robot Hemming Systems, to meet its customers; specific requirements. DVA originally developed its leading Electro-mechanical External Hemming machine in 1991 - some of these machines are still used in automobile plants across the globe today. The electric drive system ensures a clean, efficient and low-cost solution when compared against hydraulic systems. Following the development of an internal window aperture hemming machine in 1995, DVA devised a combined Peripheral and Internal hemming machine. A combination machine of this type eliminates the need for part transfer between a two- hemmer solution with the advantage of being a single geometric hemming station in the same floor area as one machine.

Strategic objectives

As a result of the changing trend within the automobile industry for more models or variants of particular car models, DVA has developed a fully flexible system. This is designed and built to the same successful formula as the DVA electro-mechanical system, but with the flexibility of a cassette tooling system that can be loaded and unloaded for different parts/variants in a short cycle time.

The use of standard industrial robots for roller hemming applications is another speciality hemming capability that DVA can offer its customers. The combined hemming and robot knowledge amassed by DVA and its parent company KUKA allows it to offer unrivalled experience as regards robot hem solutions. The DVA robotic hemming cell is a highly flexible and cost-effective production facility for low- to medium-volume production. As well as individual hemming machines DVA also offers complete turnkey closure assembly systems, including welding and sealant applications.

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