Global rollout of in-house-developed unmanned production lines and equipment

「Yorozu Oita (YO) introduced the Group's first unmanned assembly line, which has been in operation since July 2016. The unmanned assembly line, including product transport equipment and simple robots, as well as peripheral equipment such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles), was all developed and manufactured in-house. In anticipation of the expanded use of high-tensile steel sheets, a key to weight reduction, the Company also introduced a large 3,500-ton servo transfer press with substantially improved forming capacity. The press has been in operation at YAGM in Mexico since December 2016, at YAA in the United States since January 2017, and at W-YBM in China since April 2017.」