Škoda Auto has laid the foundation stone for a new state-of-the-art paint shop at its headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. The €214.5 million investment will increase painting capacity by 168,000 car bodies annually, raising total output to 812,000 vehicles per year. The facility, which will create over 650 new jobs, is set to be the tallest building at the plant, standing 35 meters high with seven levels. The move reflects Škoda’s commitment to future-proofing its operations and reinforcing the role of its Czech site as a major automotive hub.

The paint shop will be equipped with cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technologies. These include an automated conveyor and painting system with individualized settings for each vehicle, energy-efficient drying tunnels that recover heat and save up to 20% energy, and a dry paint particle capture system using limestone dust. This approach cuts volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by up to 79% and reduces total emissions by 36%. Used limestone dust is also thermally recycled, minimizing waste and eliminating paint sludge.

This development is a key part of Škoda’s GreenFuture strategy, which focuses on lowering the environmental impact of car production while improving efficiency. The new paint shop will also enhance ergonomics for workers, with 66 robots handling routine tasks so staff can focus on quality control and material preparation. If successful, Škoda may expand similar technologies to other production sites in the future.

Source: skoda-storyboard.com

Prepared by the team of foreign offices CzechTrade Osaka and Tokyo