TPV AUTOMOTIVE received 10 awards for innovation
13. 7. 2024
On June 10th and 13th, regional selections for the best innovations were held at Rajhenburg Castle in Brestanica and Otočec, organized by the Posavje Chamber of Commerce, Krško, and the Chamber of Commerce of Dolenjska and Bela krajina. TPV AUTOMOTIVE received one gold and nine silver awards.
The GOLD award was received by the following innovation:
Simulation-based sustainable development of a battery pack component
Innovators: Robert Strahinić, Janez Hočevar, Vili Malnarič, Rajko Marinčič, Patricia Šašek, and Jurij Švegelj.
Brief innovation description: Using numerical simulations and in line with the guidelines for sustainable lightweight design, the company developed a modular structure for the installation support within the battery pack. The latter was a replacement for the existing design, which was much inferior from both a strength and material consumption point of view. By introducing an innovative redesign, all the strength requirements were met, while at the same time a significant saving in material consumption was achieved.
The SILVER awards were received by the following innovations:
Unique, self-learning clamp and rubber bearing control
Innovators: Tomislav Klarić, Boris Antolović, Žiga Nadu, Peter Pšeničnik, Martin Povše, Uroš Rangus, and Kristjan Kežman.
Brief innovation description: To determine the sealing adequacy of the product which TPV Automotive d.o.o. produced for a BMW customer, TPV Automotive d.o.o. has developed a unique, self-learning program to control complete clamping and the appropriateness of the rubber bearing rotation. The innovation represents an improvement of the existing control process and compression settings. It is the result of the expertise of TPV Automotive d.o.o.’s employees and it is purpose-built.
Optimisation of a component within the vehicle chassis geometry setting system
Innovators: Davor Tramte, Jurij Švegelj, Patricia Šašek, Miran Penič, Marko Malnarič, Luka Abramović, and Janez Jereb.
Brief innovation description: At TPV AUTOMOTIVE we have, based on increased requirements, successfully improved the design of an existing solution of a limiting element for vehicle geometry setting. By selecting a more appropriate material we have increased the load capacity of the component and the welded joint it forms with the trailing arm. By implementing process improvements on the new solution we have successfully reduced its costs and negative impacts on the environment.
Development of an automatic measuring system integrated in the output part of the welding line for 100% control of all characteristics processed by CNC machines
Innovators: Tomaž Špan (Conphis d.o.o.), Marko Malnarič, Jure Naglič, Gregor Levak, Jurij Švegelj, Vili Malnarič, and Franci Dolinšek.
Brief innovation description: With the development of an automatic measuring system, we relieved the production workers by withdrawing the go/no-go gauge at the output of the welding line and ensured 100% control of all characteristics processed by CNC machines. With the types of measurement system analysis and additional analyses, we were able to ensure the accuracy, precision and reliability of the measured characteristics.
Ensuring a constant level of dynamic endurance of the trailing arm
Innovators: Matej Strašek, Jurij Kranjc, Jurij Švegelj, Vili Malnarič, Janez Jereb, and Robert Strahinić.
Brief innovation description: During the annual requalification of the production process where we produce the trailing arm, we detected a non-negligible drop in dynamic durability. We found that the cause of the drop was a change in the chemical composition of the steel bushing, a key element of the trailing arm. The improvements we made have increased the management of production risks without increasing the production cost and have improved the reliability and safety of the product throughout its life cycle.
Introduction of optimized steel grade of stamped part on trailing arm
Innovators: Jurij Švegelj, Davor Tramte, Jurij Kranjc, Dejan Zajec, and Patricia Šašek.
Brief innovation description: The innovation consists of optimization of a trailing arm on the part near damper connection point. During the existing production of the trailing arm, the customer changed the strength requirements based on newly obtained data. A reason for new measurements were test results in which the screw in damper connection broke. Tests with newly defined lower loads were successfully performed. Therefore, optimization was carried by replacing the metal grade of the stamped part, what resulted in production, financial as well as environmental benefits.
Optimization of the welding process for aluminum profiles
Innovators: Gregor Jordan, Mario Leskovec, Nataša Rostohar.
Brief innovation description: MIG welding of aluminium extrusions. By increasing the diameter of the wire electrode, changing the welding parameters, the robot speed and optimising the movements, we increased the process speed by 8%. We also had to solved the problem of welding thinner and thicker material with the same welding wire without compromising the quality of the weld.
Optimization of the service life of friction stir welding pins
Innovators: Dario Novak, Vili Malnarič, Jože Blažinč, Kaja Pirnar.
Brief innovation description: The innovation consists in optimising the stirring pin in friction stir welding of aluminium profiles in order to extend its service life. The innovation has succeeded in concretely increasing the welding time without interruption, reducing the ejection of both the welded pieces and the stirring plugs and consequently reducing the cost of the whole process.
Custom made CNC machine
Innovators: Tomislav Klarić, Miran Ferenčak, Žiga Nadu, Denis Kovač, Peter Rozman, Boštjan Bele, Kristjan Kežman, Katja Sajtl, Nenad Rađenović.
Brief innovation description: TPV Automotive has designed and developed a unique and fully automated drilling machine for the processing of aluminum profiles for the needs of the assembly of the VOLVO battery holder. The innovation represents an improvement of the existing process of manufacturing profiles on a CNC machine.
With the help of innovation, product processing is faster, more accurate, more reliable, more efficient. It increased the reliability and efficiency of production and thus significantly reduced production costs.
Robotic loading of products into the KTL line
Innovators: Miran Ferenčak, Nenad Rađenović, Peter Rozman, Miroslav Petan, Martin Povše, Kristjan Kežman, Bojan Duh, Robert Žrlič, Zdravko Bučar.
Brief innovation description: For the needs of painting products, the company TPV Automotive d.o.o., developed a unique automated control of the serving line for KTL painting. With fully automated robotic service, it eliminated the influence of human error, and with the system throughout the entire process, product traceability was established, safety was increased, and line service time was shortened. Innovation is the result of TPV Automotive d.o.o.’s expertise knowledge and it follows the strategy and guidelines of Industry 4.0.
We are proud that our gold-awarded innovation, the Simulation-based sustainable development of a battery pack component, is among them.
Congratulations to all the innovators for their well-deserved awards!
