Path of Innovation

Future growth underpinned by 77 years of
experiences and technologies

Founding era
Founded in 19371948 Piler used in port logistics1953 First delivered Bulkveyor
1937 Operations begin in Osaka, Japan; manufactures mainly forge rolling machinery for ironworks, and tower cranes
1947 Begins manufacturing stackers
1948 Pilers that eliminate manual stacking
Towards an era of rapid economic growth
1957 Conveyor system in Japan’s first passenger automobile factory1963 Japan’s first bowling machine1966 Rackbuil installed in Matsushita Electric Industrial
1957 First Japanese-manufactured chain conveyor system, the leading edge of automation systems
1959 Chain conveyor system installed at Japan’s first passenger automobile factory
1965 Japan’s first automatic guided vehicle
1966 Japan’s first rack-supported building automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS)
1969 Japan’s first online computer-controlled rack-supported building AS/RS
Era of systemization
1982 FANUC’s motor factory1984 Transport system for clean room1989 Friction-driven automobile assembly line system
1982 Factory automation (FA) systems delivered to a state-of-the-art motor factory
1984 Transport systems for clean rooms, a pioneering step in the development of semiconductor manufacturing
1989 Friction-driven automobile assembly and transport systems in which workers ride the pallet while assembling
Expanding business to DA fields
1992 Automated sorting system in distribution center1993 World’s first non-contact power supply monorail system Ramrun-HID2003 Transport system for liquid crystal glass substrate wafers
1992 Automated sorting systems with controlled trays to enter distribution automation (DA) business
1993 World’s first electrified monorail system with non-contact power supply
2003 Transport systems for liquid crystal glass substrate wafers
Innovating material handling technologies to
create added value
2004 World’s first and original automobile paint line system E-DIP 2004 Mini load AS/RS with a 500 m/min speed 2008 World’s first superfast mini load AS/RS DUOSYS
2008 World’s first superfast mini load AS/RS with four stacker cranes that move past one another on the same rack but arranged in two tiers
2011 Pick-to-light systems with wireless displays mounted on collection boxes
2012

Cleanroom storage technologies to respond to the semiconductor miniaturization needs
Airport baggage handling system running at the world-leading speed of 600 meters per minute

Evolving from a material handling manufacturer
into a Value Innovator
2011 Pick-to-light system with wireless displays2012 Airport Baggage Tray System at world-leading 600 m/min speed 2012 Cleanroom nitrogen purge stocker for semiconductor miniaturization
2014 Area management system, the first in the world to obtain ISO 13482 certification for personal care robots

To top of page

Print Button

Online Annual Report 2014 Top