Hitachi Automation and Kyoto Robotics to Integrate Into Hitachi

Hitachi has been accelerating the global development of its line building business leveraging industrial robots - the robotic systems integration business - and on April 1, 2023, Hitachi Automation and Kyoto Robotics, Hitachi Group companies, will merge in Hitachi's Industrial Digital Business Unit to strengthen the robotic systems integration business in Japan and Asean countries.

In April 2022, Hitachi Automation began operations within the Industrial Digital Business Unit. Since then, it has been accelerating the fusion of digital solutions analysing and optimising data using Lumada managed by Hitachi and robotic system integration involving massive amounts of data from the shop floor.

Kyoto Robotics was founded in 2000 and will be bought out by Hitachi in April 2021.

Since its inception, it has been developing and providing intelligent robotic vision systems that do not require teaching or master data, recognise objects with an accuracy of 99.99 percent using three-dimensional vision like humans, and think and carry objects using AI control systems, with the goal of achieving full automation in manufacturing and logistics.

It has collaborations with a variety of robot manufacturers due to its high-level technological development capabilities.

Following the merger, Hitachi will be able to offer customers more comprehensive solutions for the automation and digital transformation of manufacturing and logistics by combining Hitachi Automation's front engineering capabilities in its robotic systems integration business in manufacturing and logistics, Kyoto Robotics' differentiating technologies in intelligent robotic vision systems, and the Hitachi Industrial Digest.

At the same time, Hitachi will pool its domestic robotic systems integration business resources, including customer bases, expertise, and human capital, to improve sales and development functions and boost business efficiency.

Hitachi will also expand its ability to provide full turnkey solutions by strengthening its collaboration with JR Automation, which operates its robotic systems integration business primarily in North America and Europe, and Hitachi Automation.

Hitachi will help customers solve problems by leveraging its solution proposal capabilities that combine digital technologies. Hitachi hopes to become a global leader in robotic system integration in this manner.