Vehicle production has been ramping up and assembly lines need to answer the demand with clean and efficient procedures. Wire harnesses are the nervous system that powers all electronics in a vehicle including lights, locks, accessories and more. Automotive manufacturers can rely on VELCRO® Brand products for wire harness protection and handling during transit from their tier one suppliers.
VELCRO® Brand Fasteners enhance wire harness handling and installation
Wire harnesses have become more complex as electronics account for 40% of the cost of a new vehicle and that statistic is expected to rise in the coming years. Last year, 88.9 million light vehicles were produced globally, according to IHS Markit. If a fraction of those vehicles were delayed by just 30 seconds each, that would have added up to a significant amount of additional production time.
On the assembly line, spending extra time unpackaging wire harnesses can slow the entire process of vehicle production. Wire harness installation represents a significant amount of time and complication in the assembly line process and a delay in routing a harness through the vehicle body can have a substantial impact on assembly time and sequencing. VELCRO® Brand fasteners serve as assembly aids to minimize the time required to handle the harness and protect sensitive connectors and wires. This ensures the assembly is consistent with required line cycle times.
When wire harnesses arrive at the assembly line, VELCRO® Brand fasteners reduce time and labor because they don’t require tools to open and close. This enables workers to focus on installation and moving the vehicle to its next production phase. If plastic ties are used, then the extra effort is required to snip every single-use tie.
Improve long-term value by better protecting wire harnesses
Another contribution to added time and costs in the factory is faulty parts. When wire harnesses are unpackaged, plastic ties need to be cut with sharp tools. This increases the likelihood of damaged wires and adds to the scrap pile. Even worse, if an impaired wire is installed in a vehicle, this creates a considerable delay since finding a defective wire in a car can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The electrical system is usually the highest warranty item on a vehicle, so the cost of not protecting a wire harness before installation is much higher than taking additional precautions. The flexible material of VELCRO® Brand fasteners minimize strain on wires and require no tools to unfasten which eliminates the risk of damaging a part that could remove an entire car from the assembly line.
VELCRO® Brand fastening options for wire harness packaging
VELCRO® Brand FLEX-ZONE™, QWIK-TIE™ & ONE-WRAP® Tape can bundle wire harnesses for transportation to the assembly plant. Due to their flexible material, ease of use and reusability, these self-engaging fasteners improve long term costs and overall handling for wire harness suppliers and vehicle manufacturers.
VELCRO® Brand FLEX-ZONE™ includes the option of printing custom text. This allows tier 1 suppliers and assembly workers to quickly identify specific wire harnesses to simplify the job by reducing time spent looking for the correct parts. With various widths and lengths, VELCRO® Brand products can be custom cut to your precise specifications. Learn how we can create a tailored solution for your application.
