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After more than 2 years of plant expansion, most of the investments related to the preparation of the plant for the production of a new model have been completed. For the purposes of production of new generation cars, the welding hall was extended, a new logistics hall was built and the factory grounds were integrated.

Dietmar Mnich, President of the Board of Volkswagen Poznań and director of the plant in Poznań "About 90 percent of all investments related to the preparation of the plant for the production of a new model are behind us. At the moment, the production of test cars is underway, and before the very start of serial production in September this year, we are planning the final reconstruction of the plant for the new Caddy. The production will develop gradually, from a few dozen cars in the initial phase to full production capacity, which we will reach in 2021.

In addition to a new hall with an area of over 14,000 m² and a cubic capacity of nearly 200,000 m³, the company has also invested in modern technology by financing the purchase of 450 multifunctional robots. Their task will be the precise construction of the Caddy5 body, whose construction has been reinforced with high-strength sheet metal and hot-stamped sheet metal.

The correct processing and welding of these materials requires the use of durable, specialized equipment with increased pressure. The use of new constructional solutions was one of the reasons, in addition to issues related to ergonomics and humanization of workplaces, for the automation of this area, the degree of which, after changes, will increase from 43% to over 80%.

New competences for new times

Automation of production processes also entails further significant organizational changes. Robotization and automation means that employees must be prepared to operate new equipment. "Such far-reaching technological changes are always accompanied by no lesser organizational changes. As we progress, new needs and new competencies emerge. Construction of the new Caddy 5 body will require much less manual activities, while our demand for machine and equipment operators will almost triple. In the case of the Poznañ plant, in the last two years we have conducted more than 1800 trainings worth more than 3 million zlotys, whose aim was to retrain employees and prepare them to work in new conditions and in a new role. says Jolanta Musielak, member of the management board for personnel and organization.