{"id":38,"date":"2022-01-19T17:45:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T08:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"urn:uuid:b0edb2bd-e781-4c3f-86a7-12ae80018be1"},"modified":"2026-04-06T02:22:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T02:22:54","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kawasakirobotics.com\/eu-africa\/company\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History of Kawasaki Robotics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since Kawasaki Heavy Industries manufactured the first industrial robot in Japan in 1969, we have stood as the leading robot manufacturer and have worked to develop automotive and other industries in Japan and around the world. The following outlines our history in industrial robotics, spanning more than 50 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1968<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Signed license agreement with Unimation (USA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1969<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Unimate\"<\/figure>
\n

Started commercial production of the first industrial robot, Unimate, in Japan<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1981<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Started the production of an electric robot (P-series)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1983<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Launched large general-purpose robot (E-series)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Terminated the partnership with Unimation and started in-house development and global expansion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1989<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Unimate\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched small-medium general-purpose robot (J-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1990<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded a local subsidiary Kawasaki Robotics (USA), Inc. in Detroit, USA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"UZ100\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched large general-purpose robot (U-series)
Launched all-digital controller (AD-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1995<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded a local subsidiary Kawasaki Robotics GmbH, in Neuss, Germany.
Akashi Plant (Robot Division) acquired ISO9001 certification<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded a local subsidiary Kawasaki Robotics (UK), Ltd. in the United Kingdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Launched all-digital controller (C-series)
Expanded the clean robot business<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"FS10N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched small-medium general-purpose robot (F-series)
Akashi Plant (Robot Division) acquired ISO14001 certification<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1999<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"ZX165\"<\/figure>
\n

Founded a local subsidiary, Kawasaki Machine Systems Korea, Ltd. in Incheon, Korea
Launched large, general-purpose robot (Z-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2000<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"NS410\"<\/figure>
\n

Acquired painting robot business from Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Launched horizontal articulated type clean robot (NS-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2002<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"KF263\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched painting robot (K-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"MX420L\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched extra-heavy payload general-purpose robot (M-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Launched robot controller (D-series)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"NX540\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched horizontal articulated type clean robot (NX-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2004<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Developed and launched the new technology FSJ (Friction Spot Joining)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded a local subsidiary Kawasaki Robotics (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, China<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched horizontal articulated type clean robot (NT-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2008<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"RS010N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched small-medium, general-purpose robot (R-series)
Launched high-performance controller (E-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2009<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"YF003N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched picking robot (Y-series, picKstar)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2011<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"BX165N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched spot-welding robot (BX-series)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2013<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Established Medicaroid Corporation to develop medical robots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"MC004NMS005N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched robots for medical and pharmaceutical applications (MC004N, MS005N)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2015<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"MG10HL\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched extra-large payload robot, MG10HL<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"duAro\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched dual-arm SCARA robot \u201cduAro\u201d which can collaborate with humans in work operations<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2017<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"RS007N\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched high-speed small payload robots, RS007N, and RS007L<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Successor\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched a new robot system “Successor” that reproduces movements of skilled workers through remote coordination<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Kaleido\"<\/figure>
\n

First debut of the humanoid robot “Kaleido” at the International Robot Exhibition<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2018<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>
\n

Marked the 50th anniversary of our robotics business<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"duAro2\"<\/figure>
\n

Launched the collaborative dual-arm SCARA robot, duAro 2<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Kaleido\"<\/figure>
\n

Evolved the humanoid robot “Kaleido\u201d for practical real-life applications<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Aerial<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Robot Division<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Global\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Locations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"buildings\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Global Network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Kawasaki<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kawasaki Heavy Industries ltd.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ISO Certifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Wonder\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Careers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since Kawasaki Heavy Industries manufactured the first industrial robot in Japan in 1969, we have stood as the leading robot manufacturer and have worked to develop automotive and other industries in Japan and around the world. The following outlines our history in industrial robotics, spanning more than 50 years. 1968 Signed license agreement with Unimation (USA) 1969 Started commercial production of the first industrial robot, Unimate, in Japan 1981 Started the production of an electric robot (P-series) 1983 Launched large general-purpose robot (E-series) 1986 Terminated the partnership with Unimation and started in-house development and global expansion 1989 Launched small-medium general-purpose robot (J-series) 1990 Founded a local subsidiary Kawasaki Robotics (USA), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":30,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-38","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nHistory of Kawasaki Robotics | Industrial Robots by Kawasaki Robotics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kawasaki has a rich robot history, and has manufactured robots since 1969. 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