Edited by: Yuya Sone
Staff Editor of SEISANZAI Japan; Editorial Desk of robot digest 

Read Part 1 here 

Japanese exhibitors showcase sector-specific automation 

Fanuc’s sandwich production system with Kenichiro Abe, Senior Managing Officer

At automatica 2025, Japanese robot manufacturers also made a strong impression. Among them, Fanuc attracted major attention with a food-grade collaborative robot system that automatically assembled sandwiches. Built with two CRX collaborative robots, the system performed a series of tasks—from placing mayonnaise, salami, and lettuce on the bottom half of the bun to topping it and presenting it on the counter—all fully automated. 

“This and many other systems here were developed with local system integrator partners in Germany,” said Kenichiro Abe, Senior Managing Officer. “We hope these demonstrations also help raise awareness of our smaller partner companies.” 

Yaskawa Electric debuts MOTOMAN NEXT in Europe

Yaskawa Electric featured its MOTOMAN NEXT robot, showcased in Germany for the first time. The exhibit included a system that sorted used dishes on a tray and placed them in a dishwasher, as well as one that automatically generated collision-free paths by recognizing obstacles with a camera. “Visitors were impressed by how these systems can automate tasks that were previously considered difficult,” said Hikaru Inoue, Manager at Yaskawa Europe. 

Pharmaceutical applications in focus 

While the automotive industry remains Germany’s largest robotics market, the pharmaceutical sector is also growing in importance. As a major global pharmaceutical producer, Germany drew exhibitors targeting this segment. 

MC006V and Shuhei Kuraoka, President of Kawasaki Robotics EMEA

Kawasaki Heavy Industries unveiled its new MC006V vertical articulated robot, specifically designed for cleanroom environments where corrosive sterilants such as hydrogen peroxide gas are used. The robot features a special coating with high chemical resistance. With a 6-kg payload—up from the 4-kg capacity of previous models—it enables higher productivity. “It meets customer needs for handling more workpieces at once,” said Shuhei Kuraoka, President of Kawasaki Robotics EMEA. 

Seiko Epson unveils its first collaborative robot

Seiko Epson presented its first collaborative robot, the AX6-A901S. Designed for pharmaceutical and life science applications, the 6-kg payload robot features a 900-mm reach and a smooth, dust-resistant surface. It supports cleanroom environments up to ISO Class 5 and weighs only 17 kg, making it easy to mount on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). “Python compatibility has been well received, as it’s widely used across industries and user-friendly for newcomers,” explained Senior Staff at the MS Sales Division. 

Nachi-Fujikoshi’s MZS05 with Daisuke Inaguma, General Manager at NACHI EUROPE

Nachi-Fujikoshi introduced the MZS05, a robot that can detect people and stop before making physical contact. Unlike typical collaborative robots, which stop after contact, the MZS05 halts preemptively. “This feature reduces the need for system restarts and making it ideal for sites with limited robotics experience,” said Daisuke Inaguma, General Manager at NACHI EUROPE. 

The MZS05 also has a laser scanner that monitors the surrounding area, allowing high-speed operation when no humans are nearby. 

Modular systems and collaborative development 

Automation cell developed by Yamaha Motor’s partner EL.MEC

Yamaha Motor highlighted its Linear Conveyor Module LCMR200. The company is actively expanding its European integrator network and showcased an automation cell developed by Italian partner EL.MEC. The system combines the LCMR200 with industrial robots in a modular format, allowing users to connect multiple cells based on task requirements. “You can scale the system step by step. It demonstrates the flexibility of the LCMR200,” said Tatsuro Katakura, FA Sales Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe. 

In addition to these major players, a wide range of exhibitors—including European SMEs and Asian robot makers—presented their latest technologies. The show also featured side events, such as the IFR Executive Roundtable held by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). At the session, Fanuc Executive Advisor Takayuki Ito, who also chairs IFR, shared the latest statistics and industry trends. 

The next edition of automatica is scheduled to take place from June 22 to 25, 2027.