47 The modernized loading and unloading area of the paint shop at Arburg has two cranes with lifting technology for loading and unloading the workpieces after the retrofit RETROFIT OF A MATERIAL FLOW SYSTEM In a comprehensive retrofit project, the complete material flow system at the injection molding ma- chine manufacturer Arburg was modernized while keeping the plant and process technology intact. The modernization investments in the mechanical, electrical and automation systems increased the parts throughput by 20%. The workpieces to be painted are hung on product carriers and moved through the 40 m long painting plant by friction wheel technology. The old conveyor technology was completely over- hauled, the drives were replaced by modern fre- quency controlled motors, the electrical system was renewed and a modern automatic control system was implemented as the heart of the system. Since August 2018, Arburg‘s modernized paint shop has been running smoothly again. The workpieces, weighing up to 5.5 t, are hung individually or in groups in a carrier unit and moved through the system After the retrofit, the onward transport is now partially automated after each work step. Vollert renewed the control system for this purpose. Friction wheels ensure the feed of the carrier units