GE FANUC NC / CNC HISTORY
GE Fanuc Automation through history
FANUC Corporation The Japanese electromechanical manufacturer is specialized in " ROBOTICS " It is one of the largest maker of industrial robots in the world. It is part of the Furukawa Group. FANUC had its beginnings as part of Fujitsu developing numerical control (NC) and servo systems. The company name is an acronym for Factory Automatic Numerical Control. FANUC's businesses were founded in 1956 when it started to develop numerical controls (NCs) and servo systems.
One third of FANUC employees - mostly young researchers - pursue research and development of leading-edge products.
Since its founding, FANUC has always emphasized research and development in its management. FANUC Robotics industrial robots and automated systems cover a wide range of applications for the aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, food, metal fabrication, medical, pharmaceutical, solar panel, and many other industries.the robotics industry leader with over 100,000 robots installed in the Americas and 250,000 robots installed worldwide. It is one of the largest makers of CNC controls by market share. FANUC develops high quality products featuring "intelligence", "ultra precision" and "high functionality, while adhering to its basic policy of "high reliability" in product development.
In 1956, the first NC in Japanese private sector was developed successfully. Since then, FANUC has continued to develop new technology into their products. The history of FANUC has been recognized the history of CNC itself.
2015
Introduction to FANUC's Factory Repair: Lifetime Maintenance Under the motto of Lifetime Maintenance, we serve customers as long as they continue to use FANUC products. To live up to this principle, the Repair Factory deals with even those models that are 30 years old or older. A full set of equipment and plenty of service spare parts With more than 460 testers installed for repair in the factory, we are capable of repairing over 13,000 different models of machines. Moreover, we have more than two million service parts of 17,000 types stocked in the parts warehouse, including old parts whose production has been discontinued. High-quality repair Every failed unit is cleaned of dirt by a cleaning system using a robot or other device and then dried in a drying oven overnight before it is repaired. The repair involves not only replacing failed parts but also replacing those parts that are near the end of service life, making the repaired unit as good as new. Excellent track record of repair work and feedback The Repair Factory has a track record of repairing more than 1.5 million units. The data obtained from these repairs is stored in digital form as the repair know-how and used for fanuc repairs in Japan and abroad. The data is also fed back for product development.
2011
- Forbes magazine select FANUC Corporation for the top 100 World's Most Innovative Companies list
- Thompson Reuters names FANUC Corporation a 2001 Top 100 Global Innovator
2010
- FANUC CNC America changes name to FANUC FA America Corporation
- One united FANUC was represented at IMTS for the first time
- Dr. S. Inaba, Honorary Chairman. hosted the IMTS dinner reception at FANUC FA America, Hoffman Estates, IL
- FANUC reaches milestone of manufacturing over 10 million servo motors
2009
- FANUC CNC America Corporation was established
- FANUC CNC Europe Corporation was established
- Disolved Joint Venture, GE Fanuc Automation with GE
- FANUC announces the FANUC Series 0i MODEL D
2008
- FANUC SWITZERLAND SERVICE GmbH was established
- The Fanuc Rome bath and the CNC Factory were completed
2007
- FANUC SOUTH AMERICA SERVICE LTD was established
- FANUC FA SERVICE LTD, FANUC ROBOT SERVICE LTD and FANUC LASER SERVICE LTD merged and became FANUC SERVICE LTD
- FANUC POLAND SERVICE LTD was established
- FANUC NORDIC SERVICE AB was established
- The facility of Cut Manufacturing Department of Tsukuba Factory, also known as Akebonosugi (Metasequoia) Factory, and Nagoya Technical Center were completed
2006
- The new Press & Die Cast Factory was completed
- FANUC HUNGARY SERVICE and ROBOMACHINE FANUC FRANCE were established
- FANUC EUROPE SERVICE GmbH was renamed to FANUC EUROPE GmbH
2005
- FANUC ROBOSHOT EUROPE GmbH was established
- The Fanuc Servo Alpha & Spindle Factory was completed
2004
- FANUC EUROPE SERVICE GmbH was established
- FANUC ROBOMACHINE EUROPE SALES GmbH was established
- FANUC CZECH s.r.o. was established
2003
- FANUC VIETNAM LIMITED was established
- The local corporation was established in Russia. ("FANUC AUTOMATION" LLC)
- On May 20, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince visited FANUC
2001
- The new Roboshot Factory and the Cooking Center were completed
2000
- The Sheet Metal Factory and the Nature Hall were completed
- Fanuc India Limited was restructured to FANUC's fully owned company
- On Oct. 15, Prime Minister Chinese Zhu Rongji visits FANUC
1999
- On April 8, Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress of Japan visited FANUC with Their Royal Highness the Grand-Duke and the Grand-Duchess of Luxembourg
1998
- On May 15, His Exellency Mr. Natsagiin Bagabandi, the President of Mongolia, and Mrs. Natsagiin Bagabandi visited FANUC
1997
- Shanghai-FANUC Robotics CO., LTD. was jointly formed in China by FANUC and Shanghai Mechanical & Electric Industrial Investment Corp
- The new Servo Motor Factory was constructed
1996
- On May 16, the honorable Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, visited FANUC headquarters
1995
- Fanuc GE Automation Singapore Pte. Ltd. was jointly established in Singapore by FANUC and GE Fanuc Automation Corporation
- Dr. S. Inaba was decorated with "the Second Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure"
1994
- TATUNG-FANUC ROBOTICS COMPANY was jointly established in Taiwan by FANUC, TATUNG COMPANY and GE Fanuc Automation Corporation
1993
- On April 20, His Royal Highness Crown Prince of Luxembourg visited FANUC
1992
- Dr. S. Inaba was elected as a foreign associate of the National Academy of Engineering of the United States
- GM Fanuc Robotics Corporation was restructured to FANUC's wholly owned share hoding company, FANUC Robotics Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, FANUC Robotics North America, Inc, and FANUC Robotics Europe GmbH
- BEIJING-FANUC Mechatronics CO, LTD was jointly established by FANUC and the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute of the Ministry of Machinery Industry of China
- Fanuc India Limited was established as a joint venture with local companies in India
1991
- A monument was erected in commemoration of the visit of Emperor Showa to FANUC (its saya-do or "building to enclose it" was named Akebono-Kan)
- The System Factory and the Hayato Factory were constructed
1990
- His Majesty the Emperor awarded "Medal with blue ribbon" to Dr. S. Inaba
1989
- The Tsukuba Factory and the FANUC Culture Center were established
- The Foundation for Promotion of Advanced Automation Technology was established
- Dr. S. Inaba was awarded with "the Grand Officier de l'Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg" by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
1988
- The Product Development Laboratory was constructed in the Headquarters area and transffered from Hino, Tokyo
- On June 23, His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands visited FANUC Headquarters
1987
- Dr. S. Inaba was rewarded with "J. F. Engelberger Award for Technical Development" by Robotic Industries Association
- The FANUC Medical Center and the FANUC Collection of Historical Art Materials were established
- Dr. S. Inaba was awarded "the 1987 M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal" by ASME/SME of the U.S.A.
1986
- The Central Technical Center, the Robot Assembly Factory and the Production Technology Laboratory were constructed in the Headquarters area
- The Memorandum of Agreement was signed with General Electric to establish a joint venture company for factory automation
- On October 13, the Emperor Showa visited FANUC Headquarters
- FANUC TAIWAN LIMITED was established
- GE Fanuc Automation Corporation was jointly estabished in the U.S.A. by FANUC and General Electric. Under the new JV company, three operating companies, i.e. GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc., in the USA., GE Fanuc Automation Europe S.A. in Luxembourg and Fanuc GE Automation Asia Ltd. in Japan were established. The Asian company was established in 1987
1985
- FANUC Series 0 was developed
- Grand Duke de Luxembourg honored Dr. S. Inaba with the Commandeur de l'Ordre Grand-Ducal de la Couronne de Chene
1984
- On July 10, His Majesty the Emperor (the then Crown Prince) visited FANUC Fuji Complex
- Upon completion of the new Head Office, the Factory, the Injection Molding Machine Factory and the Basic Research Laboratory at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the Headquarters were transferred from Hino City, Tokyo
- The fully electric plastic injection molding machine "FANUC AUTOSHOT" was developed
1983
- 600 FANUC ROBOTICS LIMITED was jointly established in the U.K. by FANUC and the 600GROUP PLC
- On November 26, His Royal Highness Crown Price Henri of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg visited the FANUC Fuji Complex
1982
- FANUC MECHATRONICS S.A. was established in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- GMFanuc Robotics Corporation was jointly established in the USA by FANUC and General Motors
- On July 1, the corporate name was changed from FUJITSU FANUC LTD to FANUC LTD
- On September 19, Lady Margaret Thatcher, the then British Prime minister, visited FANUC Fuji Complex
1981
- FANUC-MACHINEX LTD was established in Bulgaria (formerly FANUC MACHINEX JOINT OFFICE)
- The Emperor Showa awarded "Medal with purple ribbon" to Dr. S. Inaba
1980
- FANUC-MACHINEX JOINT OFFICE was established in Bulgaria
- FANUC UK. LIMITED was established
- FANUC GERMANY GmbH was established
- The Fuji Factory was completed
1979
- FANUC ENGINEERING LTD was established
- The factory of FANUC USA CORPORATION was completed
1978
- KOREA NUMERIC CORPORATION was jointly established by FANUC and Whacheon Machinery Works Co., Ltd.
- FANUC EUROPE S.A. was established
- FA Issued DM convertible bonds
- The plant for production of robots and CNC Mini-machine tools was completed
- Sales in NCs hit 30,000 units
1977
- SME Engineering Citation was awarded to Dr. S. Inaba, President of FANUC
- The government of People's Republic of Bulgaria decorated Dr. S. Inaba with "Madarski Konnik 1st Degree"
- FANUC USA CORPORATION was established
- The Automation System Laboratory was opened
- Mini-machining center was developed
- A total of 20,000 NCs were delivered to customers
- Robot model one was developed
1976
- GENERAL NUMERIC CORPORATION was jointly established in the U.S.A. by FANUC and Siemens A.G.
- DC Spindle motor was developed
- Fanuc 5 was developed
- FA 7 Series was jointly developed with Siemens AG
- FA was listed on the 2nd section of tokyo stock exchange
1975
- Wire-cut electric discharge machine was developed
- The past 10 years of friendly relations with siemens AG was further strengthened by conclusion of mutual assistance between the two companies
- Fanuc robot model 2 and C series was developed
1974
- Industrial robots were developed and installed in our factory
- Dr. S. Inaba, President of FANUC was rewarded with the 6th Annual Memorial Award of "Joseph Marie Jacquard" by the American NC Society
- The production and sale of DC servo motors were started under GETTYS MANUFACTURING CO., INC license
- Granted to bulgaria the manufacturing and selling license of FANUC NC and EPM
- Sales in NCs hit 10,000 units
1972
- FUJITSU FANUC LTD was founded and became independent from FUJITSU LIMITED
- NC was introduced
- NC drill was developed
1970
- The bith of the automated NC Factory
1969
- The fully modularized NC was developed
1968
- The first commercial DNC in the world was completed
1966
- The first all-Integrated Circuit type NC was developed
1965
- The first NC for linear cutting was developed and made a historic boom in Japan
- Granted siemens A.G the manufacturing and selling license on pulse motor
1960
- The first open loop NC, FANUC 220 was developed
1959
- The first continuous path NC in Japan was developed
- The first electro-hydraulic pulse motor was developed
1958
- The first commercial FANUC NC was shipped to Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd.
1956
- The first NC in the Japanese private sector was developed successfully
- GE Fanuc PLCs in stock IC693MDL645 - IC670MDL331
