Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Cars has started construction of its so called Factory 56, effectively a new production hall (Werk 56) at Sindelfingen.

Production and supply chain chief Markus Schafer, in a press release, gushed the hall would "define a new way of building cars" and would be "the car plant of the future". Because it is "consistently digital and flexible" and "brings the term 'green production' to life".

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Factory 56 will start production of upper- and luxury-class cars and electric vehicles, including robo-taxis, in 2020.

These include the next generation S-Class and the first EQ brand EVs.

Contractors shifted 700,000 square metres of earth to prepare the construction site for an assembly hall occupying 220,000. Around 6,400 tons of steel will be used in construction.

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Innovations include what the automaker calls "man machine cooperations" and "digitally supported processes including work organisation as well as logistics and quality assurance". The plant will be digitised to Industry 4.0 standard and connected to other factories in Daimler's global network.

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As Daimler is already trialling, finished vehicles eventually will drive automatically off the line to the loading station. Under Digital Anticipation in the Mercedes me App and online, customers purchasing new vehicles can already learn about production of their specific vehicles.

Driverless transport systems (DTS) with product baskets will support assembly logistics in the assembly and deliver materials to workers line side. Radio Frequency Identification technology will be integrated so components and vehicles can be digitally tracked and linked together.

Artificial intelligence, big data analysis and predictive maintenance will support production planning, control and quality assurance.

Through the analysis of production data, for instance, predictions on potential faults or due maintenance work can be made in advance.

Human at centre

Employees will work at ergonomically optimised workstations supported by digital tools with a focus is on intelligent, flexible technology. A new work organisation will provide for flexible and modern working time models and break areas have been designed to latest standards with a pantry, couch and info screen included.

Sustainable and energy efficient

Modular building structures are designed to be energy-efficient and green and will use renewable energy to reduce CO2 production, water consumption and waste.

A roof mounted photovoltaic system will feed green electricity into the building, removing the need to draw 5,000 MWh a year from Germany's grid.

CO2 emissions at Factory 56 will be reduced by 75% compared to today's S-Class production in Sindelfingen.

'Blue Sky architecture' will provide a pleasant working climate for the employees in daylight while the temperature of the hall will be set at up to seven degrees below outside.