Tammermatic developed its next-generation Velox tunnel car wash to meet growing demand and the requirements of unattended operation. The project involved several new safety solutions, numerous stakeholders and strict requirements for speed and reliability. Coresbond made it possible to develop and test the control system before the physical system was built.
Virtual commissioning means testing and validating an automation system in a digital environment before physical implementation. In practice, this is done using a digital twin: a functional virtual model of a machine, piece of equipment or production line. It is more than a 3D model. It simulates the system’s actual behavior.
In the Tammermatic project, virtual commissioning significantly reduced risk, accelerated commissioning and improved the quality of the final result. Tammermatic was also able to create preliminary marketing materials and begin sales without delay.
Coresbond proved to be a strong partner in complex, multi-stakeholder projects that require agility, close collaboration and effective management of the overall project.
Car wash services are evolving rapidly. As monthly car wash subscriptions become more common, customers expect faster, smoother and fully automated service. Tammermatic responded by developing the Velox tunnel car wash, which is designed for significantly higher capacity and unattended operation.
The washing process is highly automated. The wash begins once payment has been completed, after which a conveyor carries the vehicle through the washing line. Multiple vehicles can be washed simultaneously, substantially increasing capacity.
The new solution is considerably faster than its predecessor. Its conveyor can travel at up to 14 meters per minute, enabling significantly higher throughput.
This was not merely a technical upgrade. The project incorporated new safety solutions, needed to accommodate vehicles of different sizes and shapes, and required seamless collaboration between numerous parties.
Coresbond’s most significant contribution to the project was the implementation of virtual commissioning. A digital model of the tunnel car wash was created, allowing the control system to be tested and developed before the physical system had been completed.
The virtual environment allowed the software to be run under realistic conditions without real vehicles or completed hardware. Testing became significantly faster because a virtual vehicle could be driven through the line in seconds.
“The simulator allowed us to test and develop the software before the actual commissioning. This reduced risks and made the project more predictable. The insights gained from the pilot project directly support our future product development and have already influenced our upcoming solutions.” – Pekka Komulainen, Tammermatic
Virtual commissioning also played an important role in the collaboration. When all parties could see how the tunnel car wash would operate in practice, decision-making became faster and communication clearer.
The benefits also extended beyond the technical implementation. Animated images and videos of the tunnel car wash were produced before its physical completion, enabling preliminary marketing materials to be created. This allowed Tammermatic to begin marketing the new product in advance.
Traditionally, commissioning a tunnel car wash has required an extended period of testing on site. This project was different because problems identified during virtual commissioning had already been resolved in advance.
As a result, physical commissioning progressed exceptionally quickly. The overall commissioning process took approximately one month, while the quality and operational reliability of the final result also improved.
“The greatest success was that we were able to test the software and the complete system thoroughly with the simulator before commissioning. This significantly reduced commissioning risks and accelerated the project.” – Pekka Komulainen, Tammermatic
Coresbond had an extensive role in the project. In addition to virtual commissioning, Coresbond contributed to automation engineering and project management, supported mechanical engineering, and was responsible for operating instructions and visualizations.
A total of nine Coresbond specialists from different fields participated during the various stages of the project. The customer particularly valued the risk assessment and Coresbond’s ability to coordinate the different areas of work.
“The collaboration was smooth and open throughout the project. Communication between the different parties worked well, and matters were addressed quickly. Working with Coresbond was straightforward and solution-oriented.” – Jatta Lampinen, Tammermatic
The project was also significant for Coresbond because virtual commissioning was implemented for the first time in a project of this scale. The result demonstrated that the method works extremely well in demanding industrial environments.
“Virtual commissioning demonstrated how significantly development and commissioning can be accelerated when testing is carried out in a digital environment. In the future, this approach will deliver tangible benefits to our customers in an increasing number of projects.” – Mikko Helminen, Coresbond
The Tammermatic Velox 9005 tunnel car wash represents a next-generation solution combining high capacity, safety and unattended operation.
Virtual commissioning carried out by Coresbond enabled the project to be completed with lower risk, a faster schedule and a better final result. It also established a new and more efficient way to implement similar projects in the future.
Virtual commissioning is particularly well suited to complex projects with tight schedules and where correcting errors in the physical system would be expensive. Coresbond has successfully implemented virtual commissioning in demanding industrial projects.
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