HMC Achieves Automated Painting to Boost Sustainable Aviation Manufacturing

By MCXD Team

During project execution, HMC confronted multiple challenges: limited established industry references and in-house automated-application experience, constraints within existing paint-booth facilities, and the requirement to maintain current full-rate production. The project team addressed these constraints through expertise-driven collaborative problem-solving. Customized top-level robot design was delivered within confined physical space. Leveraging short non-production windows during the third shift and weekends, the team completed process parameter calibration and spray-trajectory optimization. Optimal performance was achieved for coating thickness, spray uniformity and complex-surface adaptability, ensuring consistent and reliable product quality.

Per project schedules, A350 rudder has passed customer First Article Inspection (FAI) and entered serial production. FAI for A320 rudder is scheduled to kick off in November this year, with serial production targeted by year-end. A350 elevator is planned for launch into production in Q1 2027.

The newly-introduced high-end painting robots will progressively replace conventional manual painting. They substantially improve on-site working conditions and reduce personnel exposure to hazardous fumes, effectively safeguarding employees’ occupational health and driving full-scale precision and standardization across painting operations. For roughly 14 days of extreme haze events per heating season, automated painting paired with equipment internal-circulation air intake effectively avoids production shutdown risks and secures production continuity, while delivering notable reductions in natural-gas consumption. Meanwhile, front line operators build competencies in robot programming, equipment operation and maintenance, advancing their overall skill sets and expanding career development pathways.

Aligned with the “Fit For Growth” strategy and sustainability objectives, the Automated-Painting Project serves as a major milestone for HMC in advancing smart manufacturing and reinforcing core competitiveness. Going forward, HMC will continue process innovation and technical upgrades, strengthen high-end aviation-component manufacturing capabilities, and contribute to high-quality development of the aviation industry.