Central Pilot Hall
Central Pilot Hall
Where New Models Come Alive
In January, ŠKODA AUTO opened its new Central Pilot Hall M63 that features state-of-the-art technologies for pre-serial production
he new workplace will be used for planning, testing, production, and commissioning of pre-serial cars, which will thus be prepared for the production commencement. In this facility, qualified workers will be utilising, for example, their own body shop, assembly line, measuring centre, or virtual reality studio. “Designing pre-serial vehicles, verifying product properties and production equipment, and simulating serial production are extremely important steps before the production begins. Thanks to its ultra-modern equipment, the new pilot hall significantly expands our possibilities,” highlights Dr. Michael Oeljeklaus, Member of the Board for Production and Logistics, the novelty.
12,142
square meters are occupied by the halls and office facilities of the new operation
534
million CZK (20.4 million euros) were invested by ŠKODA AUTO in a new pilot hall
22
meters is the height of the new building M63
Fire up the car’s nervous system
Since it was created in 1993, the Pilot Shop department has been operating in Building V17B. New requirements for more advanced electrical equipment of both conventional and fully electric cars have made it necessary to construct a modern pre-series centre. The number of pre-series vehicles has soared in recent years, not only for the needs of new projects but also for the testing of stricter emission regulations and homologations. Demanding testing is required, for example, by new cybersecurity standards or assistance systems that become more sophisticated every year. The so-called gradual activation of vehicle functions and the programming of control units are of crucial importance for new projects. For example, the new ENYAQ iV contains 107 of these units, plus 200 connectors and 99 metres of cables; its central brain consists of two computers controlling up to 51 assistance systems and 340 different functions. This all runs on 10 operating systems. To activate such a complex “vehicle nervous system” and ensure mutual communication between hardware and software, as well as a seamless interaction with the driver, is one of the most complex tasks the people working at the Central Pilot Shop have.
New, more complex car models can contain up to 7,000 parts. Pre-production in the Central Pilot Hall checks that they are compatible with each other.
Useful and modern technologies
To test the required car properties, including parts from external suppliers, the Central Pilot Shop carries out installation tests both physically and through virtual reality. The 3D printer is a useful device that makes it easier to cooperate with factories abroad. For example, thanks to optical measurement and artificial intelligence when making templates for the Body Shop, the 3D printer creates a product that may be needed, for example, by our colleagues in Pune, India. An e-programmed 3D print file is sent by e-mail, and they print the required component directly at their workplace. ed
Modern and Green
New Central Pilot Hall M63 not only provides ample modernisation to the pre-serial production, but also has become another carmaker’s contribution to environmental protection. Its first positive rests in the fact that it was not built “from a scratch”, but it was created by revitalising a so-called brownfield (built-up but underused area premises – editor’s note). In this case, it concerned Hall M10 whose history dates back to 1970. It originally served as a galvanising plant for galvanising parts, such as bumpers or wheel covers of the ŠKODA 100 model. In the 90s, its operation ceased to suit its purpose because of the ecological reasons and the carmaker closed it. The Hall then served partly as a warehouse for suppliers, until its reconstruction began in 2019. In doing so, ŠKODA AUTO placed the maximum emphasis on energy efficiency. The facility’s external walls feature strong thermal insulation, all the lighting is provided by energy-saving LED technologies, and the building is also ready for the installation of photovoltaic modules. ED
Petr Kuba
Head of PA – LAUNCH Management
“With the building of the Central Pilot Shop, we’re entering a new digital and software-driven future. We are ready for new car concepts in our areas equipped with the latest technologies. And it’s not just about technology: We’ve created a decent environment for our employees and maintained safety during the construction and commissioning of our pre-series cars. We designed the concept of the Central Pilot Shop in cooperation with the SO – Company Security department so that the area with the secret pre-series cars and EVs powered by HV batteries would operate under maximum security. This is done by using surveillance and thermal cameras, which send an alert in time in the case of rising temperatures inside the vehicle.