Mitsubishi Electric has announced plans to build a new production facility for factory automation (FA) products at its Nagoya Works site in Japan. The 6.5 billion yen ($82m) facility is designed to help meet a growing global demand for programmable controllers (PLCs) and other automation products, and to help achieve Mitsubishi’s target of ¥600bn ($7.5bn) of annual FA system sales by March 2016.

The new six-floor factory, due to start operation in January 2014, will enable increased production of PLCs and key components for drive control equipment that Mitsubishi manufactures around the world. The facility will use advanced manufacturing technologies and energy-saving equipment, including a 50kW photovoltaic system and LED lighting, to reduce power consumption.

The new building will incorporate a seismic isolation structure to ensure that its operations will not disrupted by a large earthquake such as the one that struck Japan in 2011. The building will have a total floor space of around 26,000m².

According to Mitsubishi, recent labour shortages, rise in wages and a demand for high-quality products, have led to a rapid increase in demand for factory automation products, especially in China and other Asian countries. The company is currently building a market-oriented production structure in China, India and other countries, as well as strengthening its manufacturing base in Japan.