Mitsubishi Electric :: Comprehensive Factory Automation Solutions Designed to Create Smart Factories

Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation is the industrial automation division of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, a global technology leader headquartered in Japan. The division operates under the tagline “Automating the World” and delivers comprehensive factory automation solutions designed to create smart factories. Its e-F@ctory concept uses IoT, big data, and connected control systems to boost productivity, reduce energy use, and address labor shortages across industries such as automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals.

The division provides a wide ecosystem that includes programmable controllers (MELSEC), servo systems (MELSERVO), CNCs, HMIs, sensors, and laser/EDM machines, all engineered to integrate seamlessly. Robot-based products form a key part of this portfolio under the MELFA brand, encompassing both traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots.

The MELFA industrial robot lineup includes vertical articulated (multi-joint) models and horizontal articulated (SCARA) robots. Vertical articulated robots offer high payload capacity, large working envelopes, and excellent speed and repeatability for tasks such as assembly, material handling, welding, and machine tending. The MELFA FR series stands out with the MELFA High Drive function, which significantly shortens positioning time and improves trajectory accuracy. Additional capabilities come from the MELFA Smart Plus suite, which adds AI-supported functions, temperature compensation, expanded force sensors, and vision systems that enable complex, adaptive work.

MELFA SCARA robots excel in high-speed, precise applications like pick-and-place, packaging, and inspection, particularly in clean or high-volume production environments such as pharmaceuticals and electronics assembly. Intelligent options, including high-precision force and vision sensors, allow these robots to handle delicate or variable tasks that previously required skilled manual operators.

The MELFA ASSISTA series represents the company’s collaborative robot offering. Designed for safe human-robot collaboration, ASSISTA operates without safety fences in many cases, thanks to built-in speed and position monitoring functions. It emphasizes ease of use: operators can teach points directly through buttons on the robot arm without a teaching pendant or PC. MELSOFT RT VisualBox software provides intuitive, visual programming that connects accessories like grippers and cameras using conversational setup menus. This makes the robot accessible to users with limited robotics experience while supporting advanced features through optional sensors and integration with the broader FA ecosystem.

All MELFA robots are supported by advanced engineering software such as MELSOFT RT ToolBox3 for programming, simulation, and 3D CAD integration. The robots feature compact designs, high reliability, IP-rated protection on many models, and options for food-grade or cleanroom environments. Seamless connectivity with MELSEC PLCs and other Mitsubishi components enables centralized control, real-time data monitoring, and functional safety across entire production lines.

Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation emphasizes not only performance but also sustainability, worker safety, and total cost reduction through easier maintenance, longer uptime, and global support networks. By combining precise robotics with intelligent software and system integration, the company helps manufacturers achieve flexible, high-quality automation capable of responding to modern production demands.