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20.06.2017

Technology group Yaskawa continues to invest in Europe

20.6.2017

 

Japanese technology group Yaskawa is growing faster than the market and once again investing in 10,000 m² of modern factories and buildings in Europe. “Similar to the investments in Slovenia and Allershausen, these two new projects are part of our long-term strategy for the Europe and Africa region. We are further expanding our engineering and production capacities, enabling us to respond even better to customer requirements,” says Bruno Schnekenburger, President of the Robotics Division, Yaskawa Europe.

Extension of European Robotics Division headquaters in Allershausen near Munich / Erweiterung des Europäischen Headquaters der Robotics Division in Allershausen bei München (Source/Quelle: YASKAWA)

Upgrade of the existing administrative building in Torsas, Sweden – the first Robotics plant in Europe (constructed 1976) / Umbau des bestehenden Verwaltungsgebäudes in Torsas, Schweden – dem ersten Robotics Standort in Europa (seit 1976) (Source/Quelle: YASKAWA)

Only a few months ago, Yaskawa announced two major investment projects. The company is planning to open a new European robotics development centre and a new robot production plant in Slovenia, and to extend its Robotics Division headquarters at Allershausen near Munich by a further 5,000 m2 of useable space. By doing so, it is strengthening and expanding its production capacities in Europe.

Yaskawa has now disclosed plans for two further major projects with over 10,000 m² of production and office space, involving a total investment of over € 10 million. A new building with a floor space of 6,700 m2 is to be built in Nantes, France. At the new location the Drives, Motion and Control and the Robotics product sectors for the French market are to be brought under one roof. “With an increase in floor space of more than 50% we will be well positioned for the future and able to serve our customers even better and more efficiently,” says Xavier Lucas, President of Yaskawa France. The new building will be constructed directly adjacent to the A83 highway, only a few kilometres from the current plant and Nantes Airport.

In addition to the construction project in France, the existing administration building in Torsås (Sweden) is to be refurbished and upgraded to the latest standards. The project comprises a new 2,600 m2 factory building and 300 m2 of new office space. The new building is scheduled for completion at the end of 2018.

In Sweden (Torsås) and Slovenia (Ribnica), Yaskawa will be manufacturing positioners, tracks, jigs and standardized welding cells for the whole of Europe and Africa. Furthermore, patented gripper technology for the beverage industry in Europe will be produced in Sweden. At its Swedish plant, Yaskawa will also pursue the development and construction of special robot systems for the automatic repair of wooden pallets.

These investments are part of the group’s European initiative as announced by Hiroshi Ogasawara, President and CEO of Yaskawa Electric, and Manfred Stern, Corporate Vice-President of Yaskawa Electric and CEO of Yaskawa Europe at a press conference in Frankfurt at the end of last year. Besides the expansion of infrastructure, the strategy also includes a strengthening of development and application engineering, accompanied by acquisitions to reinforce the ‘Energy’ and ‘Marine’ divisions.

Yaskawa – one of the world’s biggest players in the field of industrial robots, with over 350,000 installed units, and in addition a leading global supplier of drive and automation technology – is pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy in Europe. In doing so, the company, which was founded in 1915, is consciously going against the international trend towards relocating technological know-how and production competence from Europe to Asia.

 

Contact for readers’ inquiries at YASKAWA:

Armin Schlenk
Director Marketing Europe
YASKAWA Europe GmbH
P +49-6196-569-406
armin.schlenk(at)yaskawa.eu.com

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VEM motors Finland Oy