Mercedes-Benz MANUFAKTUR Studio
Customization facility introduced in the latest factory
The Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant, which currently produces luxury models including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, has opened a new “Manufaktur Studio” within the factory, which boasts state-of-the-art equipment.
“Made in Sindelfingen” has long been a mark of quality for Mercedes-Benz customers, and even today top-of-the-line models like the S-Class are produced in the modern “Factory 56” at the Sindelfingen plant in Germany.
Sindelfingen is not only the birthplace of the S-Class, but also the home of Mercedes-Benz’s personalisation programme, MANUFAKTUR, where specialist employees demonstrate their skills in the fields of textiles, interiors and special paints to create customisations at the world’s highest level.
On December 5, 2024, Mercedes-Benz opened the “MANUFAKTUR Studio” at its Sindelfingen plant to further enhance the Manufaktur customer experience. Together with the existing “Traditional Center of Excellence,” the Manufakhtur Studio will provide customers with the highest level of craftsmanship that Mercedes-Benz is proud of.
Jörg Bürser, Member of the Board of Management for Production at Mercedes-Benz, added the following about the Manufakturstudio:
“Located in the heart of our Sindelfingen plant, our new Manufactory Studio offers our customers a dedicated area where they can experience customisation at the highest level. By expanding the Manufactory experience, we plan to strategically develop the location and our ‘Made in Sindelfingen’ quality. We will continue to further combine traditional craftsmanship with innovative digital production processes.”
Introducing the latest digital technology to traditional craftsmanship
By combining the highly skilled artisanal skills of leather products and textile sewing with the latest digital technologies such as driverless transportation systems, it has become possible to provide faster, higher-quality customization.
Once customers have decided on the various features and trims for their vehicle at the “Center of Excellence,” each part and component will be handcrafted by the Manufaktur’s artisans. In the new Manufaktur Studio, visitors can see and experience firsthand how a vehicle is customised to suit each customer’s wishes.
The Manufaktur production team is made up of highly experienced and extensively trained specialists, and their strong commitment to craftsmanship is a strong reflection of Mercedes-Benz quality. At the Manufaktur Studio, customers can see firsthand how every interior is finished with meticulous craftsmanship and millimetre-level precision, including leather cladding, cutting, embroidery and stitching.
The Manufaktur Studio boasts that by introducing the latest digital equipment to support each process, it has been able to increase production speed and improve quality. Each process is optimized using artificial intelligence, which, for example, quickly and reliably detects small irregularities in the leather, thereby reducing the workload of employees.
The newly adopted matrix production process allows for the individual customization of up to 20 vehicles per day, regardless of model series. With the help of a driverless transport system (autonomous automated guided vehicle: AGV) that can move in all directions, customer vehicles can be moved between production clusters at any time, allowing for flexible scheduling of each work process.
The innovative, resource-saving “PixelPaint” process offers customers a wide range of paint options, including multi-color paint. Inspired by inkjet printer technology, this new technology applies high-quality paint directly to the body with incredible precision, allowing for customized paint patterns to be created with the highest level of accuracy.
