Hirata

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Hirata Kikō KK

logo
legal form Kabushiki kaisha
ISIN JP3795300007
founding 1951
Seat Kumamoto
Branch Automation technology
Website www.hirata.co.jp

The Hirata Kikō KK ( Japanese. 平 田 機工 株式会社 , Hirata kikō kabushiki kaisha ; English Hirata Corp. ) is a Japanese company based in Kumamoto , Kumamoto Prefecture . Hirata is one of the world's largest automation technology companies and has over 1500 employees in 22 offices in 9 countries worldwide. Since December 2006, the shares of the company founded by Yasunari Hirata in 1951 have been traded on the JASDAQ under the security code 6258 .

The German subsidiary, Hirata Engineering Europe GmbH in Mainz, produces and sells robots, handling devices and complete solutions for the automation of production plants. In 1981 Hirata was one of the first companies in Germany to start automating small parts. The systems, palletizers, changing systems for storing small parts and handling systems are used in production processes by Bosch, BMW, Fresenius Medical Care, Daimler, Philips, Siemens and other companies.

history

The history of Hirata robots in Germany begins in 1981. Hirata exhibits SCARA robots and linear axis robots for the first time at the Hanover Trade Fair and in the same year concludes an agency agreement with a German machine trading company to sell the devices in Germany. The first sales activities for this type of robot begin in a completely new market, because the automation of small parts assembly and handling with robots does not yet exist in Germany. The first notable sales successes came in 1983. One of the first customers is Grundig, which automates the assembly of an assembly of a cassette drive with SCARA robots from Hirata.

1985 the second generation of the SCARA robots and linear axis robots comes onto the market. It is the AR-H series with three model sizes. The best-selling model is the AR-H300 with the associated control HAC-04. The Hella company uses several of these robots in an assembly line at its plant in Recklinghausen. The devices remain in use for over 15 years.

In 1986 the first assembly line equipped with SCARA robots for the assembly of circuit boards with large wired components is installed by Hirata at SEL Graetz in Bochum.

In 1987 the third generation of the SCARA robots, the AR-i series, was fully developed and ready for sale. For the first time ever, a multitasking-capable controller for SCARA robots is being offered. It enables not only the control of the robot, but also the control of the periphery without an additional PLC. Many of these robots are used as soldering robots at Philips, which are still working in the factories in Poland and Hungary.

In 1989 Hirata developed one of the first SCARA robots with direct drive drives and received the innovation award from the Japanese business newspaper "Nihon Keizai Shinbun" for this technical achievement. These robots can be positioned very quickly and precisely, but this technology is very expensive. Therefore, the further development of the SCARA robots with "conventional" drive technology will begin very soon. H. DC motor and harmonic drive gear. This technology has survived to this day and is constantly being improved. In 1992 the next generation of SCARA robots comes onto the market. It is the AR-C series with a new controller, based on 32-bit processor technology and the new HARL-III programming language.

In 1993 Hirata Robotics GmbH was founded and took over the sales of Hirata robots in Europe, especially for the German-speaking countries. In addition to the sale of the robots, complete semi-standardized automation solutions are now also offered in which the robot is the heart of the system. Examples are soldering robot stations and pallet magazining and changing systems for small parts as well as other complete solutions developed by Hirata.

In 1996, Hirata begins developing clean room robots for wafer and LCD glass handling. With the AR-S series, the fifth generation of the SCARA robots was launched in 1997. In addition, the linear axes have also been completely revised and converted to the new drive technology. The new control has digital motor controls and multitasking for 32 tasks as well as the further development of the HARL-III programming language. In 1999, selectable, standardized I / O fieldbus technologies are introduced. From now on the controls can be equipped with Interbus-S, Profibus or other bus systems. The SCARA robots of the AR-S series and the linear axis robots with absolute encoders have been available since 2002. The volume of the tried-and-tested station control is reduced to a third of the previous size thanks to highly integrated components. In addition, the station control is now also available as a PC-based software solution in order to be able to communicate even more efficiently with the PC world.

In 2003 Hirata Robotics GmbH celebrates 25 years of Hirata robots and 10 years of existence.

2008 Hirata presents a new universal assembly cell ACS-C (Assembly Cell System for Component) at Motek. The ACS-C consists of a steel construction and can be equipped with up to eight NC axes, which can be divided between two robot kinematics. Thanks to an integrated conveyor belt segment, several cells can be lined up and combined to form an assembly line. The assembly cell is operated and parameterized via a touchscreen with a convenient user interface. Thanks to the numerous interfaces, there are many ways to communicate with other intelligent systems.

2010 Development of the palletizer model LCP-600E with freely programmable handling device and the tray changing system model TLC especially for the supply and removal of trays with low autonomy and the semi-automated area.

2011 With effect from August 1, 2011, Hirata Robotics GmbH becomes Hirata Engineering Europe GmbH. With this name change, the company takes account of the fact that the location in Germany is being expanded to become the new European headquarters of the Hirata Group and that a change of image will take place. Like the parent company in Japan, Hirata Engineering Europe will be more broadly positioned and transform itself from a "classic" robot supplier to a supplier of complete machines and systems.

2012 The versatile, configurable transport system VC75C was developed especially for use in the area of ​​engine and gear assembly. First major order from the automotive sector in Europe. Yasunari Hirata, the founder of the parent company Hirata Corporation, Japan, dies on August 7, 2012 at the age of 83.

2013 Hirata introduces the new AR-F-SCARA robot series with battery-free encoder technology.

2016 Hirata's headquarters in Japan moved from Tokyo to Kumamoto.

Insight into the areas of application

  • Provision of unprocessed valve housings in plastic deep-drawn pallets on a production line

Worldwide offices

In addition to its headquarters in Japan, Hirata has branches in China (HIRATA Automated Machinery (Shanghai) Co.Ltd., HIRATA Mechanical Equipment Sales (Shanghai) Co., Ltd), Singapore (HIRATA FA Engineering (S) PTE LTD), Germany (HIRATA Engineering Europe GmbH), USA (HIRATA Corporation of America), Mexico (HIRATA Engineering SAde CV), Thailand (HIRATA Engineering (Thailand) Co., Ltd), Malaysia (HIRATA FA Engineering (M) Sdn.Bhd.), Indonesia ( PT.Hirata Engineering Indonesia) and in Taiwan (TAIWAN HIRATA Corporation).

Web links

Commons : Hirata Engineering Europe  - Collection of images, videos and audio files