FANUC Corporation, one of the world's most prominent suppliers of automation technology, continues to expand its market-leading position with the production of its 750,000th industrial robot – more than any other manufacturer in this segment.
At present, FANUC produces around 8,000 industrial robots every month at its factories in Japan, although the firm actually has the capacity to produce up to 11,000 units. The company, renowned for its highly automated production facilities, where thousands of robots demonstrate reliability, dexterity and speed in the build of FANUC products, will deliver its 750,000th robot to a European customer.
FANUC’s largest customer group is the automotive industry, notably car makers and their suppliers, although manufacturers from other industries – such as electronics, food, pharmaceutical and medical – are also growing their base of industrial robots.
While the coronavirus pandemic initially led to a decline in robot orders, FANUC has since witnessed a strong rebound in sales, especially from Asia and the USA.
“In Europe, the recovery has truly begun,” states Shinichi Tanzawa, President & CEO of FANUC Europe Corporation. “Although FANUC’s overall order intake for robots in Europe increased only slightly during the past fiscal year, sales in the past few months are at a historical high.”
FANUC is pursuing ambitious plans in Europe, where the company is steadily expanding its sales and service network. In the past four years alone, FANUC has invested more than €120m in new facilities across Europe. Further underpinning its growth plans, the company will invest another €100m in the coming three years.
Tanzawa says: “We are confident that the trend towards robotization will grow further and that our robots will help customers to automate their manufacturing plants and save cost like we do at our own factories. We will do everything necessary to support our customers in these endeavours.”
In the UK, FANUC’s state of the-art headquarters in Ansty Park, Coventry, brings together world-leading capabilities in industrial robots, machine tools and plastic injection moulding machines to facilitate the complete integration of factory automation systems for manufacturers.
FANUC UK works in partnership with the firm’s European arm to provide a range of customer support services, including sales, product support, parts, repairs, and training, as well as development of bespoke engineering systems. FANUC UK employs approximately 107 staff.
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*All images courtesy of FANUC Corporation