FANUC: Pioneering the Future of Automated Manufacturing Worldwide

FANUC Corporation, an acronym for Fuji Automatic Numerical Control, stands as a Japanese powerhouse and a global frontrunner in the realm of industrial automation. With a rich history and a relentless commitment to innovation, FANUC provides a comprehensive suite of products and services, including robotics, computer numerical control (CNC) systems, and various ROBOMACHINEs. The company is dedicated to enhancing productivity, quality, and efficiency in manufacturing processes across a multitude of industries worldwide.

Key Highlights of FANUC

Global Leadership in Automation: With over 40 million products installed globally, FANUC is a dominant force in CNC systems, industrial robots, and factory automation machinery, shaping modern manufacturing.
Comprehensive Product Ecosystem: FANUC operates through three core divisions – Factory Automation (FA), ROBOT, and ROBOMACHINE – offering an integrated "one FANUC" approach to automation solutions.
Lifetime Customer Support & Education: A cornerstone of FANUC's philosophy is its "Service First" commitment, providing lifetime product support and extensive training programs to foster a skilled automation workforce.

A Legacy of Innovation: The FANUC Story

From Pioneering NC Technology to Global Automation Dominance

FANUC's journey began within Fujitsu, spearheaded by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba, who led the development of Japan's first numerical control (NC) system in the private sector in 1956. This pioneering work laid the foundation for a revolution in manufacturing.

FANUC celebrating the production of its one millionth robot

FANUC achieved a significant milestone with the production of its one millionth robot, underscoring its massive global impact.

Establishment and Early Growth

In 1972, the Computing Control Division of Fujitsu became independent, establishing FANUC Ltd. This marked the formal beginning of FANUC as a dedicated entity focused on automation. The company quickly made strides in CNC technology, and by 1982, it had captured a significant share of the global CNC market. Its global expansion began in earnest with its entry into the U.S. market in the same year.

Strategic Alliances and Expansion

FANUC actively pursued strategic joint ventures to broaden its market reach and technological capabilities. Notable collaborations include:

GMFanuc Robotics Corporation (1982): A joint venture with General Motors to produce and market robots in the United States.
GE Fanuc Automation Corporation (1986): A partnership with General Electric, further solidifying its presence in the automation sector.

These collaborations were instrumental in FANUC's growth and its ability to cater to diverse industrial needs. The company has consistently achieved production milestones, such as producing 5 million CNC systems by 2022 and shipping its one millionth robot in 2023, testament to its enduring leadership and innovation.

Core Business Pillars: The "One FANUC" Synergy

Integrated Solutions for Modern Manufacturing

FANUC's operations are structured around three primary business units, all underpinned by a robust service network. This "one FANUC" approach ensures seamless integration of its technologies to provide comprehensive automation solutions.

mindmap root["FANUC Corporation"] id1["Core Business Units"] id1_1["Factory Automation (FA)"] id1_1_1["CNC Systems (Numerical Controls)"] id1_1_2["Servo Motors & Amplifiers"] id1_1_3["Lasers (CO2 & Fiber)"] id1_2["ROBOT Division"] id1_2_1["Industrial Robots"] id1_2_1_1["Articulated Robots"] id1_2_1_2["SCARA Robots"] id1_2_1_3["Delta Robots"] id1_2_1_4["Paint Robots"] id1_2_1_5["Welding Robots"] id1_2_2["Collaborative Robots (Cobots)"] id1_3["ROBOMACHINE Division"] id1_3_1["ROBODRILL (Compact Machining Center)"] id1_3_2["ROBOSHOT (Electric Injection Molding Machine)"] id1_3_3["ROBOCUT (Wire-Cut Electric Discharge Machine)"] id1_3_4["ROBONANO (Ultra-Precision Machine)"] id2["Key Principles"] id2_1["'One FANUC' Integration"] id2_2["'Service First' Philosophy"] id2_3["Lifetime Product Support"] id2_4["Innovation & Reliability"] id3["Industry Applications"] id3_1["Automotive"] id3_2["Electronics"] id3_3["Aerospace"] id3_4["General Manufacturing"] id3_5["Food & Beverage"] id3_6["Pharmaceutical"]

The mindmap above illustrates the interconnected nature of FANUC's divisions, their flagship products, and the core principles that guide their operations, all contributing to diverse industry applications.

Factory Automation (FA)

The FA division is the historical bedrock of FANUC, providing the fundamental technologies that power automated machinery. This includes:

Computer Numerical Controls (CNCs): FANUC is a world leader in CNC systems, which are the brains of machine tools, directing their precision movements for tasks like milling, turning, and grinding.
Servos: High-performance servo motors and amplifiers provide the precise and rapid motion control necessary for modern automation.
Lasers: FANUC develops both CO2 and fiber laser systems used for cutting, welding, and marking applications.

ROBOT Division

FANUC offers one of the widest ranges of industrial robots in the world, catering to virtually any application and payload requirement. Their robotic solutions are known for their reliability, speed, and precision.

A diverse range of FANUC industrial robots

FANUC offers an extensive lineup of industrial robots for diverse automation tasks.

Industrial Robots: This includes articulated robots for complex movements, SCARA robots for high-speed pick-and-place, delta robots for rapid packaging, specialized paint robots (often designed for hazardous environments), and dedicated welding robots. Payload capacities range from a few kilograms to over 2,300 kg.
Collaborative Robots (Cobots): FANUC's series of cobots are designed to work safely alongside human operators without the need for extensive safety fencing, enabling new forms of human-robot collaboration. These cobots come with various payloads, typically from 4 kg to 35 kg.

ROBOMACHINE Division

This division produces intelligent machines that leverage FANUC's core CNC and servo technology to deliver high precision and efficiency:

ROBODRILL: A compact, high-speed machining center ideal for milling, drilling, and tapping operations.
ROBOSHOT: An all-electric injection molding machine known for its precision, energy efficiency, and repeatability in plastics manufacturing.
ROBOCUT: A wire-cut electric discharge machine (EDM) that delivers high accuracy for mold and die making, and complex part production.
ROBONANO: An ultra-precision machine capable of achieving nanometer-level machining accuracy for advanced optics and other high-tech components.

FANUC Technology in Action: Diverse Applications

Transforming Industries Through Automation

FANUC's technologies are integral to manufacturing processes across a vast spectrum of industries. Their ability to provide tailored solutions makes them a preferred partner for companies aiming to optimize production, improve quality, and enhance workplace safety.

Key Industry Verticals

Automotive: FANUC robots are extensively used for vehicle body assembly (spot welding, riveting), powertrain component machining, painting, and final assembly tasks. Their solutions are designed for high throughput and reliability in demanding automotive production lines.
Electronics: In electronics manufacturing, FANUC robots handle delicate and precise tasks such as component placement on PCBs, assembly of small devices, and cleanroom operations, requiring high accuracy and gentle handling.
Aerospace: The aerospace industry relies on FANUC CNCs for machining complex structural components and engine parts from tough alloys, as well as robots for drilling, riveting, and applying sealants.
General Manufacturing: This broad category includes applications like metal fabrication (cutting, bending, welding), woodworking, plastics processing, and the production of consumer goods. FANUC provides solutions for machining, material handling, assembly, and packaging.
Food and Beverage: Robots are increasingly used for picking, packing, palletizing, and processing food items, adhering to strict hygiene standards.
Pharmaceutical and Medical: Automation in these sectors involves precise handling of sensitive materials, assembly of medical devices, and packaging, where FANUC robots and machines ensure consistency and compliance.

Specific Manufacturing Processes

Beyond industry verticals, FANUC's technology excels in specific applications:

Material Handling: Robots are used for loading/unloading machines, transferring parts between workstations, and palletizing finished goods.
Assembly: From intricate electronic components to large mechanical assemblies, FANUC robots provide consistent and accurate assembly solutions.
Welding: Arc welding, spot welding, and laser welding are common applications for FANUC robots, offering improved weld quality and productivity.
Painting and Dispensing: Specialized robots apply paint, coatings, adhesives, and sealants with precision, ensuring uniform coverage and minimizing waste.
Material Removal: Robots equipped with appropriate tooling perform tasks like deburring, grinding, polishing, and cutting.
Picking, Packing, and Palletizing: High-speed robots, often integrated with vision systems, automate end-of-line packaging operations. Tasteful Selections, for instance, leverages FANUC robotics for improved cleanliness, safety, and productivity in their packaging processes.
Inspection and Testing: Robots can be equipped with sensors and vision systems to perform quality control checks, measurements, and testing procedures.

FANUC M-2000 series heavy-duty industrial robot handling a large component

A FANUC M-2000 series robot demonstrating its capability in heavy-duty material handling.

FANUC also provides advanced systems like the FANUC Intelligent Edge Link and Drive (FIELD) system, an open platform for the manufacturing industry that enables data collection, analysis, and optimization of production processes, pushing towards smarter factories.

Comparative Strengths of FANUC's Divisions

A Visual Look at Core Competencies

The following radar chart provides an illustrative comparison of FANUC's main business divisions across several key performance indicators. These are qualitative assessments based on their general market perception and technological focus, rather than precise quantitative data. The scale reflects relative strength in each area, with a higher score indicating a stronger emphasis or capability.

This chart highlights how each division leverages FANUC's core strengths. The Factory Automation division excels in established reliability and market penetration due to its foundational CNC technology. The ROBOT Division shows high application versatility and innovation focus, catering to a wide array of automated tasks. The ROBOMACHINE Division is particularly strong in precision engineering, delivering highly accurate and specialized machinery.

FANUC Product Portfolio Overview

A Glimpse into Key Offerings and Their Uses

FANUC's extensive product range is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern manufacturing. The table below provides a summary of key product categories and their common applications, showcasing the breadth of FANUC's automation solutions.

Product Category	Key Products / Series	Primary Applications	Notable Features
CNC Systems	Series 0i, Series 30i/31i/32i, Power Motion i	Milling, turning, grinding, complex 5-axis machining, motion control	High precision, reliability, advanced control algorithms, AI servo tuning
Industrial Robots	LR Mate, M-Series, R-Series, CR/CRX (Collaborative), Paint Robots, SCARA Robots	Material handling, assembly, welding, painting, picking & packing, inspection, machine tending	Wide payload range (0.5kg to 2300kg+), high speed, advanced vision systems, diverse arm types
Collaborative Robots (Cobots)	CR Series, CRX Series	Assembly, machine tending, inspection, kitting, working alongside humans	Built-in safety sensors, easy programming, various payload capacities (4-35kg)
ROBODRILL	α-DiB5 Series	High-speed drilling, tapping, milling, mold making	Compact design, high acceleration, quick tool changes, energy efficient
ROBOSHOT	α-SiA Series	Precision plastic injection molding for medical, electronics, automotive parts	All-electric, high repeatability, energy saving, AI molding functions
ROBOCUT	α-CiC Series	Wire-cut EDM for high-accuracy parts, die and mold components	Precision machining, auto wire feeding, submerged cutting capability
Laser Systems	CO2 Lasers, Fiber Lasers	Cutting, welding, marking of various materials	Integration with CNCs and robots, high power options, good beam quality
Software & Connectivity	FIELD system, ROBOGUIDE, MT-Linki	Factory automation, data analytics, robot simulation, machine monitoring	Open platform, IIoT capabilities, predictive maintenance, process optimization

This table illustrates how FANUC's distinct product lines address specific manufacturing challenges, from controlling complex machine tools with CNCs to automating physical tasks with robots and producing precise parts with ROBOMACHINEs.

Visualizing FANUC's World: Company Presentation

An Overview of FANUC's Global Impact and Offerings

The video below provides a company presentation from FANUC Europe Corporation. It offers insights into FANUC's position as a world leader in factory automation, showcasing their CNC control systems, robots, and production machinery like ROBODRILL. This presentation helps to visualize the scale of FANUC's operations and its commitment to advancing manufacturing technology globally.

This presentation underscores FANUC's dedication to innovation, quality, and customer support, key factors that have established its leadership in the automation industry. It highlights the breadth of their solutions and their application across diverse manufacturing sectors, reinforcing the "One FANUC" philosophy of providing integrated automation solutions.

Commitment to Service and Education

Supporting Customers and Cultivating Future Talent

A defining characteristic of FANUC is its unwavering commitment to "Service First." This philosophy translates into providing lifetime product support for as long as customers use their FANUC products. With over 270 service locations supporting more than 100 countries, FANUC ensures prompt and reliable assistance, including maintenance, repairs, and spare parts availability. This dedication minimizes downtime and maximizes the operational lifespan of their automation systems.

Beyond service, FANUC heavily invests in automation education and training. The company partners with over 1,200 educational institutions worldwide, offering industry-recognized certification programs in areas such as robot operation, programming, CNC machining, and integrated automation systems. These initiatives are crucial for developing a skilled workforce capable of operating and maintaining advanced manufacturing technologies, thereby addressing the skills gap in the industry and fostering innovation.