A tough year with COVID-19. Let’s look back 2020 of Japanese FA industry! （2/2）

December 29, 2020

According to the machine tool order statistics announced by the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association（JMTBA）, the amount of Japanese machine tool order in 2020 settled down to about 890 billion yen. It has decreased significantly for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the COVID-19 infection forced economic activity around the world to stagnate. It also had a great impact on the FA industry. It can be said that 2020 was a tough year for the FA industry.

SEISANZAI Japan looks back on Japanese FA-related events in 2020.

The first part of this article is here.

JMTDA celebrates its 50th anniversary

Japan Machine Tool Distributors Association (JMTDA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2020. News Digest Publishing in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya held a “Round-table discussion on the theme of machine tool distribution” at a hotel in Tokyo in April 1970. This was the trigger of the founding JMTDA.

Since 1971, JMTDA has gradually improved its organizational structure by establishing a logo mark, releasing the newsletter “Nikkohan News”, and opening an office. JMTDA started “Sales Engineer Education” course in 1991. The total number of enrollees has exceeded 9,000.

FANUC founder Dr. Seiuemon Inaba passed away

Dr. Seiuemon Inaba, the founder and honorary chairman of FANUC, passed away of old age on October 2, 2020 at the age of 95. Dr. Inaba expand its business performance with NC equipment and industrial robots, and led FANUC to become a global leading maker in his lifetime. He was a charismatic business leader. He built highly profitable structure by a top-down management, and encouraged automation of the manufacturing industry.

Dr. Inaba graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University of current Tokyo University in 1946. In 1964, Dr. Inaba joined Fuji Tsushinki Manufacturing, which turned to be Fujitsu now. He was the first Japanese leader to take initiatives of the NC equipment development for machine tools.

Dr. Inaba moved as managing director in FUJITSU FANUC in 1972 when FUJITSU FANUC separated from Fujitsu. He was appointed as president in 1975. He became chairman in 1995 and retired from the board in 2000. He received “Medal with Purple Ribbon” in 1981 and “Medal with Blue Ribbon” in 1990.

He also won the “1st ND Marketing Awards” established by News Digest Publishing in 1984.

Thank you very much for reading SEISANZAI Japan in 2020. This is the last article uploaded this year. We will see you soon in 2021. Wishing you a bright and happy New Year!