YASKAWA Electric Corporation is a Japanese group specializing in industrial automation, headquartered in Kitakyushu. Known for its robots marketed under the MOTOMAN brand, it also supplies components essential to machine operation: motors, drives and control systems. Its technologies are used in the automotive, electronics, metalworking and logistics industries. Its corporate website, yaskawa-global.com, presents its business activities and international locations.
A history rooted in electrical engineering
Founded in 1915, the company initially developed its business around electric motors and equipment for industry. This specialization gradually led it toward precise motion control, then robotics. YASKAWA is also associated with the emergence of the term “mechatronics,” which refers to the interplay between mechanics, electronics and control: a foundational approach for automated machinery.
In 1977, the launch of the MOTOMAN-L10 marked an important milestone in its robotics business. This electric industrial robot paved the way for a range that gradually expanded to cover numerous manufacturing operations. The group subsequently extended its presence beyond Japan, with commercial, industrial and technical activities in Asia, Europe and the Americas. This footprint enables it to support machine builders and industrial companies close to their sites.
From motion components to robotic cells
YASKAWA’s offering is built around several complementary product groups. Servomotors and their control systems ensure precise, synchronized movements. Variable speed drives control electric motors according to process requirements, with applications ranging from conveyors to pumps and fans. This equipment can help adapt energy consumption to actual operating conditions.
In robotics, MOTOMAN arms perform tasks including welding, material handling, assembly, painting and palletizing. The catalog also includes collaborative robots, designed for certain interactions with operators, subject to appropriate risk assessment and integration. Beyond the robot itself, implementation involves controllers, software, safety devices and peripherals. Integrators therefore play an important role in turning this equipment into production solutions.
What next?
YASKAWA’s development involves bringing physical automation and the use of data closer together. With its i³-Mechatronics approach, the group seeks to connect equipment with the information generated by its operation to improve processes. The aim is to make production lines easier to monitor and optimize, rather than considering each machine in isolation.
The need for flexibility, recruitment difficulties in certain industrial occupations and the pursuit of greater energy efficiency are sustaining interest in these technologies. Their adoption nevertheless remains dependent on integration costs, available skills and return on investment. For YASKAWA, the challenge is to simplify the deployment and operation of automated systems in factories where equipment is often heterogeneous.