Regensburg, another stunning example of the contrast between the old and the new. The highlight of the visit was a tour of the BMW factory. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any photos. I guess they don't want GM to steal any of their production secrets.
The BMW factory is incredible. The tour started with the body shop. It is 98% automated, robot after robot building the bodies of cars. There is only one production line yet the factory builds several models of the BMW. The computers tell the robots what model of car this is and the robot completes its task accordingly. It is truly mesmerizing watching this sea of robots bobbing up and down as they complete their tasks.
Next was the paint shop. It is "only" 70% automated. The vehicle is given a positive or negative charge and the paint the opposite charge. The spray is therefore attracted to the body so there is very little over spray. After the car bodies are painted, the doors are removed and go a separate route, but once again the computers ensure they magically rejoin the correct body in final assembly.
We were not allowed to visit the chassis production line where the chassis itself is built up, including the power train. However, we did tour the final assembly there the chassis, body and doors come together. The body is married to the chassis in less than five seconds. The interior of the car is installed according to the custom order and the engine is started and tested less than two hours after the chassis was mated with the body. 5-10% of the cars are actually taken out to the test track for a spin. All of the high end models are tested on the track.
They claim every car is a special order and is therefore different from any other. You choose your model, the color, the interior appointments and out comes your tailored vehicle. They are very big on just-in-time logistics but have emergency spares in case a truck, train or barge gets delayed.
Oh look, how impressive. Well, I've got to tell you that about this point in the trip this scene invokes the mutter, "ABC," meaning another beautiful cathedral or church or castle as the case may be. Or, as the folks from down under might say, "Another bloody cathedral."
Nonetheless these bloody cathedrals are still awesome, the details incredible.
Scenes of the town.
"Uh oh, one of Dave's little side streets.
And still another.
Ah, one of the local lasses.
And one of the local lads. No, wait, that's Philip!
Another little side street. I warned you it would become a fetish. How interesting: a statue, colorful little street and a church at the end.
