Ford has converted their Kansas City plant to paint the 2015 Transit Van in less square footage that it takes to build the Fiesta, thanks to a new "modular paint system" featuring a team of fast-moving robot arms.
The new paint process is also meant to be less environmentally damaging. Where traditional automotive painting uses a water filtration system, Ford is now running a "dry scrubber" air-pump that filters paint booth emissions with recyclable limestone. Ford claims this should reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions by 44%, cut particulate emissions by 99%, and water usage by 75% annually.
The 2015 Transit van will be on dealer lots this summer, and I'll be paying a visit to the Kansas City facility it's built at next week to report back on how this operation looks in person!
Image & Video: Ford