FANUC Opens New Robotics and Automation Headquarters in Aguascalientes, Mexico

The world's top robotics providers are staying close to their manufacturer customers. FANUC said it will host a grand opening and a technology open house tomorrow, Thursday, July 14, 2022, at its new robotics and automation headquarters in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

“We’re expanding to better serve our customer base of automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, and other manufacturers in Mexico and Latin America looking for automation solutions,” stated Mike Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America Corp.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in demand for our products in this market, so having a larger facility underscores our commitment to helping companies improve their production processes and compete on a global scale,” he added.

FANUC facility to offer robotics demonstrations

FANUC said its new 109,000-sq.-ft. facility will provide sales, demonstrations, training, engineering, and customer service. The grand opening will include welcome remarks from the governor of Aguascalientes and FANUC executives, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, facility tours, and a large showroom filled with robotic and CNC machine demonstrations.

FANUC Mexico will demonstrate a variety of automation technologies designed to help customers increase their production capabilities, overcome labor challenges, and remain competitive, including:

• Collaborative tote picking -- A FANUC CR-15iA collaborative robot using an overhead-mounted iRVision 3DV/600 Vision Sensor will pick random consumer products from a tote and place them into an outfeed tote. It will demonstrate the sensor's speed and accuracy, as well as its ability to detect and pick a variety of products, similar to applications found in warehousing and distribution.
• Hands-on collaboration -- A FANUC CRX-10iA cobot will allow attendees to use its hand-guidance feature. FANUC recently expanded its popular series of CRX collaborative robots with several new models. Now, the company offers 11 CRX and CR cobot model variations able to handle products from 4 to 35 kg (8.8 to 77.1 lb.).
• Cosmetics packing -- A FANUC SR-3iA SCARA robot will demonstrate high-speed cosmetic packaging. The robot will use iRVision to pick products from a magazine tray and place them into a package at very high speeds.
• Flexible coordinated welding -- This will feature FANUC’s M-900iB heavy-payload material handling robot and two FANUC ARC Mate welding robots.
• Visual Circular tracking -- A FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S robot uses 2D iRvision to locate random products on a circular conveyor. The cell is equipped with FANUC’s Dual Check Safety (DCS) software, designed to keep operators, robots, and tooling safe.

CNC and ROBOMACHINE demos

FANUC also said it would demonstrate the following CNC machines and ROBOMACHINEs, including drills, injection-molding machines, and wire electrical discharge machines. They will include the following:

• FANUC’s visual twin demonstration, which the company said will offer an exciting new way to see part production while highlighting its end-to-end digitalization offerings for the machine shop.
• CNC Simulator is designed for classroom or shop training, providing students and trainees with exposure to FANUC CNC controls without the need for a full machine.
• FANUC's new ROBODRILL ADV Plus vertical machining center featuring its new tapping spindle combined with the latest FANUC Intelligent Human Machine Interface (iHMI).
• The Quick and Simple Startup of Robotization (QSSR) package is intended to simplify the connection of a FANUC robot to a ROBODRILL, including setup, programming, and operation. QSSR makes it easy to automate a machine-tending process by implementing a variety of standard components and options, said the company.

FANUC America is a subsidiary of Japan-based FANUC Corp. It provides robots, CNC machines, and ROBOMACHINEs. The Rochester Hills, Mich.-based company said its “Service First” culture enables it to serve everything from small shops to large assembly operations so they can improve productivity, increase quality, maximize profits, and maintain a competitive edge.