Cologne-Niehl

New Construction of a Pre-Treatment Electrocoating Plant at the Ford Plant in Cologne-Niehl

At the Cologne-Niehl site, the PTEC (Pre-Treatment Electrocoating) building was completed as part of Ford’s transition towards electric mobility. In the pre-treatment facility, car bodies are degreased in immersion tanks and then coated with an initial corrosion-protective primer using an electrocoating process. Following the drying process, the car bodies are transported by conveyor to the paint shop.

wpw was responsible for the overall planning, from the preliminary feasibility study and site selection through to the comprehensive planning of all technical disciplines. Working closely with Ford and the plant designer, wpw developed a 28-metre-high, two-storey building that accommodates complex technological, fire safety, environmental and logistical requirements within a confined space.

As a prominent structure at the heart of the factory premises, the PTEC building is a visible expression of Ford’s technological transformation and reflects wpw’s approach to industrial architecture, characterised by precision and clarity.