Yaskawa to build domestic plant for specialized robots

TOKYO (Nikkei) -- Yaskawa Electric Corp. (6506) on Friday announced plans to restructure its industrial robot manufacturing operations in Japan, including the addition of a new plant in Kitakyushu.

The plant is slated to go into operation in the summer of 2013. The three-story facility will make robots for use in locations requiring strict sanitary controls, such as food and pharmaceutical plants. Production of robots used to transport semiconductors and liquid crystal panels will also be consolidated to the new plant.

Yaskawa's restructuring plans also include increasing automation on production lines at existing plants that make automotive welding robots. Some of the company's own robots will be installed to improve efficiency and increase productivity 30%.

Late last year, the company decided to open robot plants in China. But it is also moving to strengthen domestic production sites, which are located near its R&D center, to maintain long-term competitiveness.

Accompanying the overhaul of robot production, Yaskawa plans to restructure test locations and offices at its headquarters. The entire project is expected to cost 10 billion yen.