Treatments and Finishes
by Cataforesis S.A
©2022
TACSA has launched its new powder coating line, expanding the production capacity of its plant through an initiative supported by ACCIÓ and the Departament d’Empresa i Treball de la Generalitat de Catalunya.
This project responds to the growing demand in the automotive sector, particularly linked to technological transformation and vehicle electrification, as well as to the new projects awarded by VOLVO TRUCKS, which require higher production volumes and increasingly advanced processes.
The new line, equipped with Industry 4.0 manufacturing technologies, incorporates 6-axis robots, advanced paint recovery systems, intelligent monitoring, and preventive maintenance. This modernization significantly increases production capacity, improves process quality, and optimizes the use of raw materials.
In addition, the project includes major environmental improvements thanks to advanced filtration systems, LED lighting, and high-efficiency machinery, helping to reduce energy consumption, waste generation, and the carbon footprint of the production process.
The new installation also strengthens occupational health and safety through state-of-the-art ventilation and filtration systems, while promoting the digitalization and connectivity of the company’s industrial processes.
With this investment, TACSA positions itself at the technological forefront of the sector, strengthening its capacity to undertake higher value-added projects and consolidating its industrial growth.
Alessia Venturi – Betting on Technology
First published in Ibérica ipcm® International Painting & Coating Magazine / No. 41 / February / XI Year 2026 – Quarterly / pp. 36-44
The report we present analyzes how the growing demands of the automotive sector are profoundly transforming the role of industrial service providers. It is no longer enough to offer a high-quality finish: today, the ability to integrate processes, optimize logistics, and provide comprehensive solutions that support the client throughout the entire value chain is what truly matters.
In this context, the magazine focuses on the case of Tacsa, a Catalan company that has successfully anticipated these demands through a strong commitment to technological innovation and automation.
Particular emphasis is placed on the incorporation of Lesta anthropomorphic robots and a state-of-the-art Gema booth, which has improved application uniformity, process traceability, and operational efficiency, while also ensuring high quality standards.
These technological improvements not only strengthen Tacsa’s competitiveness but also address the new challenges of the sector, where sustainability, precision, and flexibility are key.
Integral Energy Management PlanOne of Tacsa’s key principles regarding the environment is to control and minimize the environmental impact of our activities.
In order to reduce Tacsa’s environmental impact and minimize the effect on company costs, actions have been implemented in various areas to reduce the energy consumption of our plants.
Actions have been taken to optimize the start-ups and shutdowns of the facilities, insulate pipelines and tanks, switch to products that operate at lower temperatures, install variable frequency drives, replace equipment with new, more energy-efficient models, and we continue working to minimize our consumption, thereby reducing our impact.
Thanks to these actions, reductions in gas and electricity consumption per m² of treated parts have been achieved.
In 2023 compared to 2021, we had a 7% reduction in electricity consumption per m² and a 20% reduction in gas consumption.
In 2024 compared to 2023, there was a 3% decrease in electricity consumption per m² and a 1.4% reduction in gas consumption.
Water consumptionIn order to respond to the exceptional drought situation we experienced and within the framework of our environmental strategy and commitment, a water consumption reduction plan was defined with the goal of achieving an absolute reduction of 25% compared to the total water consumption of Tacsa’s plants in 2022.
To achieve this objective, various actions have been implemented over the past two years (2023 / 2024). The management of incoming water treatment plants, osmotized water, and demineralized water systems has been optimized. A circuit was installed to reuse reverse osmosis reject water in processes that can accept high-conductivity water. The efficiency of the rinsing processes in the cataphoresis line and the degreasing line has also been improved, allowing for a reduction in the amount of fresh water required.
As a result of the implemented measures, water consumption was reduced by 11% in absolute terms in 2023 compared to 2022, and by the end of 2024, we achieved a 28% absolute reduction compared to 2022—thus reaching the initial target.
The reduction in water consumption relative to the treated surface area (per m² of treated piece) has also been significant, reaching a 34% decrease in 2024 compared to 2022 levels.
Project for the implementation of artificial vision for defect detection in painting lines.The company TACSA – Tratamientos y Acabados por Cataforesis S.A. has developed the project “Artificial Vision for Defect Detection in Painting Lines,” which has been subsidized with the support of ACCIÓ under the framework of the Advanced Digital Technologies Coupons program.
With this DIH4CAT (eurecat) artificial vision project, TACSA aims to determine the limits of defect detection in a cathodic painting process.
Artificial vision helps us detect defects quickly and accurately, as it is based on images analyzed by self-learning algorithms.
On the left, defective piece. On the right, good piece.
These systems can identify minimal imperfections, such as deformations, particles, and irregularities that the human eye would struggle to perceive. We reduce human errors in the continuous inspection of the same reference. In our case, the red dots in the image indicate the mentioned defects.
Artificial vision provides us with data analysis that we use as a tool for continuous improvement, helping us optimize the quality of our processes, which directly translates into enhanced competitiveness.
With the support of:
The company TACSA – Tratamientos y Acabados por Cataforesis S.A. has developed the project “International Promotion Plan-Export Manager”, which has been subsidized with the support of ACCIÓ under the framework of the Export Initiation Coupons program.
This service has made it possible to promote the company’s knowledge, profile, and services in the potential market. The objective was to identify a database of potential clients in a defined foreign market (southern France), as well as to develop various commercial materials and contact strategies. A database of more than 250 companies has been created, and commercial contacts have been initiated to present the service offered by TACSA as a supplier.
With support from:
The company TACSA – Tratamientos y Acabados por Cataforesis S.A. has developed the project “Artificial Vision for the optimization of the position of the part within the frame” which has been subsidized with the support of ACCIÓ within the framework of the Advanced Digital Technologies Coupons program.
The objective of the DIH4CAT (eurecat) project is to develop a system that, depending on the morphology of the part to be painted, can show us the best position within the bath to avoid both air bubbles and liquid retention.
By using this simulation system we will be able to considerably reduce the design time of the different frames, directly impacting on the improvement of competitiveness.
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation tools have been used. These are tools for analyzing and simulating the behavior of fluids and their interaction on a submerged body.
Several inclinations have been simulated to see if the system is able to detect the behaviour of the fluid. Thus, it can be observed in Image 1 that with an inclination of 45º an air bubble forms in a part of the piece, then by modifying this inclination we can find out the angle at which it disappears, Image 2, in this case the optimum angle would be 0º.
With the support of:
Development of an automatic control system to improve the efficiency of the cataphoresis process.
Development of an automatic control system to improve the efficiency of the cataphoresis process through correlation and optimization of critical parameters. In this way, the tolerance margin of each of these will be reduced, and it will allow us to adjust the different variables of the process, bringing them closer to the optimal working conditions.
The project, code INC-FPGS-2011-2210, has been co-financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, within the National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011. Call 2011 INC-FPGS-2011, framed within the National Program for Hiring and Incorporation of Human Resources
Comprehensive management of a cataphoresis line through innovationThe main objective of the project is to innovate in the painting process
The main objective of the project is to innovate in the painting process of the cataphoresis line that TACSA has in its plant in Santa Coloma de Cervelló by replacing the current technology of the current anodes of the Cataphoresis tank and the sensorization of the line, the control of the parameters of the line and its preparation for the introduction of 4.0 technologies for its control, analysis and management.
This project has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the R&D&i Operational Program by and for the benefit of companies – Technology Fund.