Fanuc Ltd develops next generation robot

Fanuc Ltd develops next generation robot

Keywords: Fanuc, Robots

Japan's Fanuc Ltd has accelerated its efforts to increase its market share for industrial robots and has developed its "next-generation robot" with a higher load capacity but at a 20 per cent lower price. It will be followed by the development of new models of injection moulding machines and machine tools and it is putting increased interest on manufacturing computer systems that include factory automation software.

"Customer needs have fast been changing", says Fanuc founder and board chairman emeritus Seiuemon Inaba, "and despite a gradual recovery in private capital spending, they are more cost-conscious than ever. Moreover,European rivals have been stepping up their marketing efforts, taking full advantage of the Euro weakness against both Japan's yen and the US dollar."

Fanuc places product quality at the top of its priority list, leaving price considerations in third place, after performance.

The recently unveiled next-generation R-2000i robot is the company's answer to its cost-conscious customers. The development was started in January 2000 and the robot was ready for commercialisation in the summer, an unusually short time period.

Fanuc managed to slash the price by 20 per cent to $44,450 by redesigning the servo amplifiers, servo motors and other key parts, but it increased the carrying capacity by 27 per cent to 16kgs. Improvements to the robot's sensor have extended its use from welding to assembly of complex parts.

"Despite our price cut", says Inaba "and with a thoroughgoing streamlining of the production process, we were able to obtain a reasonable profit from our R2000i. The expertise accumulated during our 2000i work will be employed in designing injection mould machines and machine tools." Fanuc has a long-standing policy of seeking more than 50 per cent of any market it enters,"making", as Inaba points out, "growth in the robot segment imperative".

In addition to hardware, Fanuc has also been strengthening its computer software business. It plans to offer computer systems for automated production by combining Robot Link and other factory automation software with its hardware,which will allow Robot Link software to help plants operate robots engaged in welding and transportation while avoiding interference with other robots.

A surge in demand for computerised numerical control devices is seen as enabling Fanuc to secure a record group profit of approximately $2,250 in the 1999-2000 Japanese fiscal year, and, say industry analysts, with the development of its next generation products the company should easily be able to boost productivity further in the years ahead in JFY 2000-01 and 2001-02.