Motoman's History and Commitment

Our Mission

Motoman is dedicated to delivering high quality, innovative automation solutions that help our customers to be world competitive and to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction in the automation industry. Motoman will achieve this mission by pursuing economically sound strategies that embrace continuous improvement, innovation, and diversification in concert with perpetuating an entrepreneurial spirit throughout the organization and developing a deep and mutual trust with our customers, employees, vendors, and shareholders.

Pointing the Way

Since its founding in August of 1989, Motoman Inc. has grown to the second largest robotics company in the Americas, with more than 28,000 robots installed. Motoman has experienced a compounded annual sales growth of more than 30 percent and is one of America's fastest-growing automation companies.

Motoman is backed by powerful parents: Yaskawa Electric America , (a manufacturer of numerical control products, AC servo motors and drives, and inverters), and Yaskawa Electric Corporation (YEC) of Japan (one of the world's largest manufacturers of industrial robots with nearly 200,000 installed worldwide). YEC uses the latest technology in a one-of-a-kind factory where robots build other robots.
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Our History

Motoman has introduced more innovation in robotics than any other company. From the beginning, we have been first and always leading in advanced robot and control technology - pointing the way for the industry!

Innovation Timeline
     
  • Motoman Inc. is formed as a 50/50 joint venture between Hobart Brothers and Yaskawa Electric
  • Introduced MotoMax® III – the first three-year warranty in the robot industry

1989

1989
1990

1990

  • Created ArcWorld® family – the robot industry’s first standard, pre-engineered arc welding solutions
  • Delivered North America’s first autonomous robot solution – A.R.C. – utilizing extended reference point and jigless welding software
  • Created LaserWorld® family of standard, pre engineered nd:YAG laser cutting solutions

1991

1991
1992

1992

  • Introduced the robot industry’s first graphical PC-based expert maintenance software solution: RobotPro®
  • First robot manufacturer to receive IACET accreditation for training programs
  • Introduced the robot industry’s first graphical PC-based simulation and off-line programming solution: ROTSY/MotoSim®
  • Expanded standard, pre-engineered “World” solutions with FabWorld®, PalletWorld®, and PlasmaWorld®
  • Introduced capability to program two robots from a single robot controller: dual robot control

1993

1993
1994

1994

  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with SpotWorld®
  • Patented (US 5,889,924) simplified, yet powerful, method of programming and controlling multiple robots and external axes asynchronously and simultaneously
  • Created family of 6-axis cleanroom robots for disk drive, semi-conductor, and flat panel markets
  • Motoman opens Troy, Ohio, production facility to make 120-kg and 150-kg robots and ANSI/RIA compliant and UL-approved robot controllers
  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with ArcWorld® II

1995

1995
1996

1996

  • Created MotoUniverse™, a complete, flexible, automated manufacturing solution (raw stock in and finished part out)
  • First robot manufacturer to offer application-specific interface for simulation and off-line programming of palletizing applications– Visual Pallet® and MotoPallet™
  • First robot manufacturer to offer a fully integrated robot calibration solution: MotoCal®
  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with DispenseWorld®
  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with ArcWorld® III

1997

1997
1998

1998

  • Expanded standard, pre-engineered “World” solutions with LoadWorld™ and PackWorld®
  • Created ultra-compact WorldLight® family of solutions for arc welding, dispensing and palletizing
  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with PressWorld™ and DieCastWorld®
  • Created capability to program three robots from a single robot controller: triple robot control
  • Motoman celebrated “10 Years, 10,000 Robots!”

1999

1999
2000

2000

  • First robot manufacturer to offer up to 10-year, complete robot support programs: LIFE
  • Introduced PX “Painting Expert” line of coating robots with 3-roll, Lemma, and hollow wrist options
  • Patented robotic test-tube inspection and sortation solution: AutoSorter™
  • Patented (US 6,377,871) an integrated die cast robot solution including servo controlled ladle and sprayer
  • Created new application specific robot models with integral process cables: EA – “Expert Arc” welding and ES – “Expert Spot” welding
  • Patented alignment free headstock/tailstock fixture mounting solution: MotoMount™

2001

2001
2002

2002

  • Introduced industry-leading 7-axis solutions for machine tending and large part processing: MotoRail™ and MotoSweep™
  • Created capability to program four robots from a single robot controller: quad robot control
  • Created DX1350 “Deburring Expert” robot
  • Expanded standard, pre-engineered “World” solutions with ArcWorld® IV
  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with ProcessWorld™

2003

2003
2004

2004

  • Expanded standard, pre engineered “World” solutions with ArcWorld® V
  • Introduced new 11- and 12-axis DA9IC robot for machine tending, assembly, and even beverage serving solutions (RoboBar®)
  • Motoman celebrates “One Mission. 15 Satisfying Years.” with installed base of over 20,000 robots
  • Created EPL-series application-specific “Expert Palletizing” robot line with utilities management package
  • Introduced revolutionary 13-axis dual arm DA20 robot with human-like flexibility of movement
  • Created revolutionary 7-axis actuator-driven IA20 robot with amazing freedom of movement and ability to maneuver in very tight areas

2005

2005
2006

2006

  • Created new EPH “Expert Press Handling” robot series with lightweight U-arm and extended life reduction drive
  • Created new EH “Expert Handling” robot series optimized for higher-duty applications and reduced life cycle cost
  • Introduced new DIA10 actuator-driven15-axis, dual arm (10 kg each) robot for power train and other assembly and handling applications
  • Introduced world’s fastest “Super Speed Arc” SSA2000 welding robot and “Super Speed Flexible” SSF2000 handling and general process robot
  • Created compact, fully integrated dual robot platform for clinical specimen processing: AutoSorter III
  • Created PC-based, virtual robot training package: SES (Simple Education System)

2007

2007
2008

2008

  • Introduced next generation SDA10 and SIA20 robots featuring slim profiles and dramatic improvements in acceleration
  • Launched EPX “Expert Paint” robot series
  • Introduced EasyLoad, the first robotic teach pendant-resident machine loading system set-up and monitoring wizard
     
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