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19 March, 2024

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Mitsubishi announces plans for $110m automation plant

28 March, 2022

Mitsubishi Electric has announced plans to invest about 13 billion yen ($110m) to build a new factory to produce FA (factory automation) products in Japan. It has acquired 42,000m2 site in Owariasahi City, near its main FA plant in Nagoya, for the new factory which is due to come on stream in April 2025.

Mitsubishi says the new facility will help to meet increasing demand for FA products, particularly from sectors such as semiconductors, electronic components, data centres and lithium-ion battery production. It expects these sectors to show good medium-to-long-term growth.

The factory will use advanced technologies such as 5G communications, allowing simultaneous connection of various machines, human workers and AGVs (automatic guided vehicles) as they perform manufacturing tasks. High-speed, real-time data acquisition throughout the factory will provide data on all aspects of production cycles for AI-based analysis to achieve a safe, flexible production environment.

The factory will be a three-floor, earthquake-resistant building with a total floor area of 33,600m2. It will incorporate Mitsubishi’s e-F@ctory digital manufacturing technology which encompasses both supply chain management and engineering chain management. It combines IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) to achieve an integrated FA environment said to cut costs across the production process from design, through manufacturing to eventual maintenance.

The technology also helps improve productivity and quality, bringing benefits such as shorter delivery times and higher production efficiencies, as well as the ability to react flexibly to fluctuations in demand. The factory will expand the use of automated production processes, such as using AGVs to improve logistics efficiencies, and digital twins to synchronise digital and real-world production.

Mitsubishi’s new factory automation equipment production plant in Japan will incorporate technologies such as 5G, AGVs and digital twins

The factory is expected to achieve carbon neutrality by implementing CO2 reduction measures including energy monitoring, and the use of LED lighting, photovoltaic systems and biotopes.

Mitsubishi Electric:  LinkedIn  Facebook




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