More than 100 years committed to technical progress has made us the leading manufacturer in the fields of variable AC drives, servo drives, control technology and robotics.
Further robot assembly and distribution facilities in Kočevje
New investment for Yaskawa in Slovenia
Yaskawa continues to strengthen its robot manufacturing and distribution capacity in Europe with a EUR 31.5 million investment in Slovenia. On 24 April, a ground-breaking ceremony at Kočevje, southern Slovenia, marked the start of construction for a new European Robotics Distribution Centre and a new assembly hall for robot welding systems.
The new distribution centre will create a single point for the receipt and fulfilment of robot orders across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. After it opens in the 2025 financial year, capacity will ramp up and by FY2027 Yaskawa expects Kočevje to be handling at least 80% of the region’s orders.
“With a single stocking location for all our robots, plus locally developed accessories and third-party options, the new European Robotics Distribution Centre will improve our productivity and efficiency – and of course the satisfaction of our customers,” said Marcus Mead, Executive Officer, Chairman & President of Yaskawa EMEA.
At the event were Slovenian Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob, Matjaž Han, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, and Dr Vladimir Prebilič, Mayor of Kočevje and former presidential candidate.
“It is only through increased knowledge and innovation that we will be able to preserve the competitive edge of our economy,” said Mr. Golob. “I am very pleased that today when we talk about past achievements, we are already able to talk about future projects, which will further strengthen the cooperation with Japan. And this project today is not only a symbolic steep forward, but it is more than that. The best outcome can be achieved when people come together, the business community, the local community and when, in addition, the state provides some assistance.”
Ambitious expansion strategy in Europe
Yaskawa is pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy in Europe. Its goal is to be one of the leading manufacturers of industrial robots in Europe in the medium term. Over the past ten years, the company has invested around 100 million euros in this area.
For example, another new production hall was recently put into operation at the headquarters of the European Robotics Division in Allershausen near Munich. Here, Yaskawa has created 10,000 m² of additional space for system construction. Further production and office space has also been created in Nantes in France and Torsås in Sweden.
In the second part of the Kočevje investment, Yaskawa will create a new assembly hall for the construction of large robotic welding systems. Group company Yaskawa Ristro, which was founded in 1996, will move its operations to Kočevje from its current base at Ribnica, 15 km to the north-west.
Kočevje, 60 km south-east of Ljubljana, is the site of Yaskawa’s first European robot factory, starting production in 2018. As well as Motoman robots, Yaskawa manufactures welding fixtures and system components at Ribnica and other locations in Slovenia.