Mercedes-Benz provides a virtual tour of its upcoming Factory 56 – next-gen S-Class to be made there

Mercedes-Benz has released a video that takes us on a virtual tour of its new production plant called ‘Factory 56, which was first announced back in February. The Sindelfingen-based facility will be an important one for the German automaker as it will not only produce the next-generation S-Class, but also other upper- and luxury-class cars as well as EQ-branded electric vehicles.

Dubbed as the “world’s most modern car production” and “car plant of the future,” Factory 56 is Germany’s third largest building project – the plant will span 220,000 square meters, or 30 football fields.

Mercedes-Benz says the facility will be consistently digital and flexible, following the Industry 4.0 concept. This includes driverless transport systems to ensure seamless supply of the required materials for the employees at the line, while components and vehicles are tracked and linked using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Additionally, artificial intelligence, big data analyses and predictive maintenance ensures high transparency and improvements in production planning, control and quality assurance. For instance, predictions on potential faults or due maintenance work can be proactively.

Being green is another important aspect of Factory 56, and a photovoltaic system (solar power) will help generate electricity to reduce dependency on the grid by as much as 5,000 MWh yearly. The automaker claims CO2 emissions in Factory 56 will be reduced by around 75% compared to today’s S-Class production in another facility in Sindelfingen.

Despite the automation, humans are still vital in the assembly process, and the facility will feature translucent construction of the assembly hall to create a pleasant working climate for the employees in daylight. Furthermore, employees work at ergonomically optimised workstations and are optimally supported in their tasks by digital tools.

Mercedes-Benz expects production to begin at Factory 56 in 2020. “The construction of the Factory 56 is a commitment to our location and enables us to build high-quality and innovative vehicles of the present and future here in Sindelfingen further on. I am proud that the next ground-breaking step within the production of Mercedes-Benz Cars starts in Sindelfingen,” said Michael Bauer, head of production of the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

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