News & Topics

Yamaha Robotics EMEA’s Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Section – a subdivision of Yamaha Motor Robotics Business Unit, which produces equipment for high-speed inline electronic assembly – has invited its EMEA distributors to the headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, for the 2025 Distributors Meeting, giving team-members the opportunity to visit the new facilities in the recently expanded factory and celebrate its 40^th anniversary.

“With our anniversary and the recent significant new investment in R&D and manufacturing at Hamamatsu, we had two good reasons to invite our distribution network partners to Japan”, said Shuichi Imai, who joined Yamaha Robotics’ European team as SMT Section Sales General Manager in 2024. “The visit also showed the progress made in sustainability, such as our adoption of green steel in equipment manufacturing and new waste-reduction and recycling strategies”.

The delegates saw how the investment has approximately doubled the production capacity for surface mounters, while extensive electrification combined with greater adoption of solar panels will make the site Yamaha’s first carbon-neutral factory. They also previewed upcoming surface-mount equipment innovations, including new printer, dispenser, mounter, and inspection features as well as the latest software updates.

The meeting concluded with the traditional awards ceremony, recognising the top performers in the European network. Prime Option, distributor for Ireland, received the Best Service award. Renex, which covers Poland, Romania and Slovenia, was awarded Most Valuable Distributor, and ProSMT, of Türkiye, received the Special Achievement award.

Concluding the event, Mr. Imai said: “We are delighted at the total commitment we see from all our distribution partners, which continues to drive the business forward in Europe. I hope the time spent together, in Japan this year, has added a new energy to continue our mission.”

Yamaha Robotics FA Section shares vision for future automation at distributor meeting

The previous month, in January, Yamaha Robotics EMEA’s Factory Automation (FA) Section – the subdivision focused on delivering flexible, high-accuracy industrial robots for precision automation challenges – gathered its European distributors for the team’s annual meeting, at the branch headquarters in Germany. Convening as the year begins, the group assessed the outlook for the industrial robotics market as Yamaha has increased production capacity in Japan and is expanding sales activities in Europe.

“Automating the right processes in the right way is critical for today’s enterprises, which are challenged to reach ambitious productivity targets”, said Tatsuro Katakura, FA Section Sales Manager. “Robots are ideal for tasks such as assembly, packaging, handling, moving, and sorting, and we have carefully chosen our distribution partners for their ability to deliver and support effective solutions. By bringing everyone together at the distributor meeting, we can showcase our latest technologies and share perspectives on customers’ needs in diverse industries.”

Key topics included opportunities for Yamaha’s LCMR200 linear conveyor modules, which provide flexible workpiece transport, and innovations among the SCARA, cartesian, and multi-axis families. Also, after reviewing milestones such as the completion of new manufacturing facilities in Japan that increased robot production capacity and established Yamaha’s first carbon-neutral factory, the meeting set out strategies for the year ahead.

Mr. Katakura added: “Our partners have all worked extremely hard this year to drive new projects, grow sales, and provide support that ensures solutions based on Yamaha robots deliver the best possible results for customers.”

The meeting concluded with the presentation of the FA Section’s annual awards for performance over the preceding year, including the Sales Achievement award to A.T.T.I, which covers Italy, the Special Contribution award to Raveo, distributor for Czechia, and the Top Service award to Seika Sangyo of Germany.

Oumayma Grad, Yamaha Motor Europe (YME)