Auto Škoda Paint Shop

Smart savings for a paint shop

Insulation reduces operating costs for a car manufacturer

Škoda Auto, based in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic, is one of the world’s longest-standing automobile manufacturers. The tradition of the company dates back to 1895, when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement laid the foundation for over 100 years of Czech expertise in automotive engineering.

Škoda Auto is now investing in excess of €214 million in a new paint shop in Mladá Boleslav, which will see its car painting capacity increase from 600 to 2,700 bodyworks per day.

A key requirement for the new paint shop was an insulated building that would reduce energy consumption, since large paint shops can be the largest energy user in a vehicle manufacturing plant. Škoda Auto also wanted to use materials that were non-combustible to mitigate the risk of fire hazards associated with paints and solvents.

Rockfall stone wool insulation was chosen due to its good thermal insulation properties, its ability to reduce energy bills, and the fact that it ‘breathes’ to create a comfortable interior environment which is acoustically efficient. Rockfall was also specified for the flat roof due to its durability and A1 non-combustible performance – it resists temperatures above 1000°C and prevents the spread of fire.

The new paint shop will start operations in 2019, and provide a safe, quiet and comfortable working environment for hundreds of workers. Škoda Auto will see energy savings for many decades to come and have the certainty of an energy efficient, fire-safe and acoustically-sound building, which has achieved BREEAM certification for sustainability and performance.

Project Data