Dürr to Construct an Advanced, Sustainable Paint Shop for CEER, Saudi Arabia’s First Electric Vehicle Brand

Dürr is constructing an advanced and sustainable paint shop for CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown automotive and electric vehicle brand. The project, commissioned in 2023, is now in the installation phase. Within this modular system, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) will transport car bodies flexibly between stations according to production needs. The latest application technology enables both interior and exterior painting of electric vehicles within a single booth. Additionally, a dedicated booth will handle fully automatic two-tone applications with zero overspray, enhancing efficiency and precision. Combining high-tech innovation with sustainability, Dürr is equipping the facility with its latest-generation ovens integrated with electric exhaust air purification systems—significantly cutting energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Once operational, the facility will rank among the most advanced automotive paint shops in the world.

For the first time, Dürr will fully realize its “Paint Shop of the Future” concept at CEER. This modular design incorporates cutting-edge automation and digital solutions from Dürr’s DXQ product family to minimize downtime and optimize overall plant efficiency. The new system, located within the CEER Manufacturing Complex in King Abdullah Economic City, is scheduled to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

High-Tech Efficiency Meets Environmental Responsibility

CEER’s new paint shop will feature Dürr’s latest generation of energy-efficient technologies designed to enhance performance while reducing environmental impact. Central to this setup is the EcoInCure oven, which heats vehicle bodies from the inside, ensuring that even large structural components are uniformly cured. This approach is especially beneficial for electric vehicles, which require reinforced rocker panels to protect battery packs during side impacts while preventing overheating in thinner body sections. The innovative drying method is not only more precise but also more sustainable—cutting heating time by up to 30% compared with conventional systems.

To further minimize emissions, Dürr’s Oxi.X RV system from its CTS line purifies oven exhaust air using regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO). The oxidation reactions occur entirely within the heat exchange media, eliminating the need for an open flame. Powered by electricity, the system avoids the formation of harmful combustion by-products, making the process significantly cleaner.

Another standout innovation is the EcoPaintJet Pro, Dürr’s award-winning overspray-free painting technology. CEER will leverage this system to offer vehicles with high-quality two-tone finishes. By combining precision engineering with automation, EcoPaintJet Pro allows the simultaneous application of contrasting colors without masking, thereby reducing paint waste and eliminating plastic residues from adhesive tapes. The technology also supports the application of intricate designs, including logos and lettering, enabling greater customization and sustainability in production.

“Innovation is a key driver of performance and sustainability in vehicle production. The paint shop of the future will deliver great flexibility, energy and paint efficiency, and exciting premium vehicle paint finishes,” said Dr. Lars Friedrich, CEO of Dürr Systems AG. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with CEER to create one of the most modern car production lines in the world.”

Flexible Box Concept Replaces Traditional Paint Lines

With Dürr’s Paint Shop of the Future, CEER will gain the ability to quickly integrate new vehicle models and scale production as needed. This flexibility is made possible through a modular box concept, where adaptable EcoProBooth units replace conventional, fixed paint lines with rigid cycle times. In this system, robots can paint both the interior and exterior of car bodies within a single booth, ensuring maximum efficiency. The process is enhanced by Dürr’s EcoBell4 Pro universal atomizer, which delivers top-tier painting precision and finish quality.

To ensure seamless logistics, EcoProFleet automated guided vehicles (AGVs) continuously move car bodies between workstations and the high-bay warehouse on demand. These AGVs are coordinated by DXQlogistics.control, Dürr’s intelligent software that digitally manages material flow based on production schedules, resource availability, and workstation capacity—creating a smooth and adaptive workflow.

Smart Factory Enabled by DXQ Software

Dürr’s DXQ product family transforms CEER’s paint shop into a fully digital, intelligent factory. At its core is DXQcontrol, a modular Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) system built on a microservices architecture, offering exceptional flexibility and integration. The MOM suite includes more than 50 features for planning, execution, monitoring, optimization, and predictive maintenance.

Complementing it, DXQanalyze delivers advanced data insights and predictive analytics—such as forecasting component service life and correlating process parameters with product quality outcomes. This level of digital transparency elevates operational efficiency and provides a deep understanding of machine and system performance across the entire paint shop.

“Our goal at CEER is to build a world-class manufacturing facility, setting new benchmark for efficiency and sustainability,” said James DeLuca, CEO of CEER. “This Paint Shop of the Future will place CEER at the forefront of automotive manufacturing innovation, allowing us to offer our customers in Saudi Arabia and the wider region a level of customization they have never seen before. The result will be a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process and the ability to offer customization in car colors, finishing, and intricate details that will excite the public.”

Source: Durr