FANUC Robotics North America Inc. has opened a 102,000-square-foot customer technology center at its headquarters, which serves as a customer training center and showcase for the company's robotic systems. These systems perform arc welding, spot welding, material handling, and painting.
"The center demonstrates to customers the kinds of solutions our robotic systems can deliver to help solve specific manufacturing problems," says Eric Mittelstadt, chairman and CEO of FANUC Robotics. "We've conducted demos and specific development work with existing and prospective customers here in our lab."
Record-breaking sales of $370 million in 1997, a 37% increase over 1996 sales, prompted the expansion. The company also revealed that orders for this year are valued at nearly $400 million. Steady expansion into new factories in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Cincinnati, OH; and Aguascalientes, Mexico, also evidence the company's growth surge.
The need for technical training and skills for the American work force, evident in the shortage of skilled technical workers, and the need to speed deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies further motivated establishment of the technology center.
-James F. Manji