How nexAir Optimizes Gas Supply for the Automotive Manufacturing Industry

The automotive production floor never stops moving. From body shops running three shifts of robotic welders to paint lines requiring precise atmospheric control, reliable gas supply drives production quality and throughput. Our solutions support automotive manufacturers in meeting strict standards while keeping assembly lines running at peak efficiency.

Advanced Supply Management for Complex Operations

Modern automotive plants run dozens of different processes that depend on industrial gases. As manufacturers Forge Forward with new production methods, our expert KnowHow™ keeps every department supplied. Body shops need specific mixtures for robotic MIG welding of high-strength steels. Paint booths require clean, dry air and precise atmospheric control. Engine plants depend on heat-treating gases for hardening components. Our monitoring systems track all these demands in real-time, adjusting supply to match production schedules.

A typical automotive plant might use argon mixtures for welding, nitrogen for paint shop inerting, and endothermic atmospheres for heat treating – all flowing through miles of supply lines to hundreds of points of use. Our centralized delivery systems maintain exact specifications at every outlet, whether it’s feeding a robotic welding cell or purging a paint line. This plant-wide approach eliminates the headaches of managing separate gas systems for different processes.

Supporting Critical Production Processes

Each automotive manufacturing process demands specific gas mixtures and flow rates. In body shops, robotic welders consume high volumes of argon-based mixtures. Our systems deliver consistent flow even during peak demands when dozens of robots weld simultaneously. For aluminum welding applications, we provide specialized helium mixtures that improve weld quality on these challenging materials.

Paint shop operations rely heavily on nitrogen. Beyond creating inert atmospheres in paint booths, nitrogen assists in paint mixing, application, and curing processes. Our supply systems include conditioning equipment that removes moisture and contaminants, protects finish quality and reduces defects.

Heat-treating operations present unique challenges. Whether it’s carburizing transmission gears or stress-relieving engine blocks, precise atmospheric control determines part quality. Our gas mixing systems maintain exact ratios of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon-bearing gases required for these thermal processes.

Production Data and Control

Today’s automotive plants run on data. Our supply management technology connects with production control systems, tracking gas usage against production schedules. Plant managers see real-time consumption data across all processes, helping them spot irregularities that might signal equipment issues or process drift.

This visibility extends from individual welding cells to plant-wide trends. A production manager might notice increased gas consumption in a specific robotic cell, indicating potential maintenance needs before weld quality suffers. They might also identify opportunities to reduce waste by adjusting gas flow during production gaps.

Meeting Industry Standards

Automotive manufacturing faces some of industry’s toughest quality requirements. Our systems help facilities maintain certification through the following:

• Precise mixture control for weld certification requirements
• Clean, dry gases for superior paint finish quality
• Documented supply chain tracking for ISO compliance
• Regular composition testing and certification
• Comprehensive testing and validation processes

Driving Manufacturing Innovation

As automotive designs evolve toward lighter materials and electric powertrains, manufacturing processes change, too. New high-strength steels require modified welding gases. Aluminum components need specialized mixtures. Battery production demands ultra-high purity gases. Our development work focuses on these emerging needs, creating new gas mixtures and supply methods for next-generation automotive manufacturing.

The expertise we’ve built working with major automotive manufacturers now supports the industry’s evolution. Whether a plant is transitioning to new materials or scaling up electric vehicle production, we provide gas supply solutions that match their changing requirements.

Ready to enhance your automotive manufacturing operations? Contact us to explore how our gas supply solutions can improve your production quality and efficiency.