Shanghai, Oct 27, 2025
Comau introduced its flexible, and modular SmartReach Comau machining center at the AEE 2025 China Automotive Chassis Ecosystem Expo & Forum in Suzhou. The event, focused on “Electrification, Intelligence, and Lightweighting,” brought together over 300 OEMs, Tier 1s, and technology suppliers. They showcased the latest advancements in gigacasting underbodies, subframes, battery tray manufacturing, and e-drive systems, complemented by seven technical forums. To better serve local and regional markets, the Comau SmartReach is also manufactured in China.
As a long-established machine tool manufacturer and turnkey automation solutions provider in the automotive industry, Comau addresses the growing demand for efficient and flexible machining of NEV chassis and structural components with its new SmartReach Comau. Amid the industry’s ongoing transformation, Comau provides end-to-end solutions covering system design, integration, and operation to help customers enhance productivity, achieve process flexibility, and stay ahead of market and technology shifts.
During the Automotive Lightweighting Forum held in parallel with the exhibition, Suo Lei, Head of Comau Technology APAC, highlighted the key advantages of the SmartReach Comau, combining high flexibility with superior rigidity, the solution effectively overcomes typical machining challenges for large gigacasting underbodies, subframes and battery trays, such as complex clamping, part deformation, and cycle time limitations, enabling more stable and efficient lightweight manufacturing.
While gigacasting technology helps reduce welding costs and shorten production cycles, it also introduces new challenges such as deformation of large and complex parts, clamping difficulties, high fixture costs, and limited cycle times. To address these issues, Comau has developed the SmartReach Comau multi-axis flexible machining center, which integrates the rigidity of a traditional machine tool with the flexibility of a multi axis arm architecture. With a rotary table, all surfaces can be processed in a single setup, improving both precision and efficiency. Designed with a modular and high-rigidity structure, the SRC machine ensures machining quality and system stability while enabling easy scalability. Customers can upgrade from a single- to a dual-spindle configuration within the same footprint, effectively doubling production capacity and reducing both per-part manufacturing costs and total cost of ownership.
Comau’s strong technology portfolio is backed by decades of project experience. To date, the Machining Business Unit has delivered over 350 machining production lines and 6,500 machines worldwide. In the Chinese market, more than 50 machining lines and 1,200 machines have been successfully deployed, serving leading joint venture and domestic automotive brands. Notably, the SmartReach Comau has achieved full local production in China in Q4 2025, offering customers higher cost efficiency and faster delivery.
At the Battery Tray Forum alongside the exhibition, Comau presented its comprehensive industrial automation solutions. Tailored for various types of battery tray processing lines, Comau‘s solutions integrates multiple joining technologies – including welding techniques such as Friction Stir Welding, arc welding, and spot welding, as well as gluing, tightening, and rivet fastening, etc.) – together with machining solutions such as SRC machining centers, gantry machines, and robotic machining. Standardized automated material handling components, including feeding units and heavy-duty roller conveyors, are combined with cleaning, leak testing, and in-line inspection to ensure high efficiency, flexibility, and consistent product quality.
Through precise line simulation and optimized robot path, overall production efficiency is maximized. A complete data traceability system further supports quality control and troubleshooting. Comau tailors each solution to the specific type of battery tray and production volume requirements. Leveraging its extensive technical expertise and flexible system capabilities, Comau continues to help NEV manufacturing meet future production challenges efficiently and reliably.
