Leading manufacturers of mounting equipment are expanding into new business fields, tapping their own robotics technologies. Some companies venture into new businesses through collaboration, while others cultivate entirely new fields.

Delivery Locker System

For its business expansion, FUJI Corporation has leveraged the Quist delivery locker system. Also, it has developed transfer support robots for the transfer of elderly people or handicapped people at nursing facilities. Moreover, FUJI has also started the operation of a complex facility, THANK, which provides a place to communicate and interact with the local community. 

The Quist delivery locker system was first marketed in 2016. Particularly, this is the period when women’s working style in Japan changed and the use of net supermarkets was increasing. Recently, it began to be adopted by the Japan Post Co., Ltd.’s Hako Post service as a “buy online pick-up in store” (BOPIS) system. This system has attracted attention in the retail industry. Further, the system’s demand as a virtual, non-contact solution has expanded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Moreover, the distribution industry across Japan begins to adopt this system. Among its adopters include home centers by CAINZ CORPORATION in Saitama Prefecture; SUGI Pharmacy; AEON RETAIL Co., Ltd. in Chiba Prefecture; and SAGAWA EXPRESS CO., LTD.

Industrial Multirotor

Meanwhile, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. started the development of industrial multirotor (drone) as a new business by applying its robotics technology. Among them include its mounters and industrial robots. Mainly, the company has been expanding the application of multirotors, focusing on the agricultural field. Specifically in 1987, the company commercialized an unmanned helicopter for crop spraying. Today, about 3,000 units of unmanned crop-spraying helicopters are being operated in Japan. Also, many unmanned Yamaha crop-spraying helicopters are in operation overseas, like in Korea and Thailand. The development of industrial multirotors is based on the company’s track record and know-how of unmanned crop-spraying helicopters. Yamaha released the YMR Series industrial drone in Mar. 2019.

Additionally, Yamaha took a stake in ARPAC INDÚSTRIA DE AERONAVES S.A. It is a start-up company in Brazil that provides end-to-end solutions from the development of agricultural drones to the provision of services. Also, the company invested in Nileworks Inc., a start-up company based in Tokyo, Japan. Nileworks also provides a full range of service from the development of fully automated drones to cloud data services for the agricultural field. Mainly, the company has been expanding collaborations in Japan and abroad.  

Cultivates Demand in Non-Mounting Area

As a new business, JUKI Corporation has been cultivating demand for automated optical inspection (AOI) systems and automated warehouses in the non-mounting industry field.

Jointly with Tokyo-based XTIA Ltd., JUKI has developed a hybrid AOI system. Accordingly, it has commercialized the hybrid AOI system as SE1000 and has been proposing it targeting metal components market for automobiles. Also, JUKI markets automated warehouses to different types of businesses, including kitting of electronic components and assembly components, management of precision machining components based on ranks, and management of jigs and jewelry goods.

Also, JUKI strengthens the development and production of precision metal processing as a new business area. These products are consigned from external companies through its group companies, such as JUKI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION in Akita Prefecture, and JUKI CORPORATION OHTAWARA PLANT in Tochigi Prefecture, both in Japan.

Blue-Laser Processing Machine

The Process Automation Business Division of Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. is in charge of the mounting business in the Panasonic Group. Mainly, the Process Automation Business Division handles two businesses for the global market: the circuit forming process, which centers around the mounting business; and the thermal processing system, which includes welders and welding robots.      

Specifically, in its thermal processing system business, the Process Automation Business Division focuses on blue-laser processing machines for copper processing for electric motors and batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) as a new field. It has been working to bring blue-laser processing machines to full-fledged operation.

Also, in Dec. 2021, Panasonic Connect opened the Advanced Material Processing Connect Lab (AMP Connect Lab), a process demonstration center for blue laser processing machines at its facility in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture. In FY2023, the company started receiving orders for laser processing machines that adopt its originally developed blue direct diode laser (DDL).