Global automation and robotics specialist Yaskawa UK has joined the Engineering & Manufacturing Network, strengthening its connections with manufacturers, engineers and education providers across the North East.
The Engineering & Manufacturing Network (EMN) is delighted to welcome Yaskawa UK Ltd as one of the latest companies to join our growing North East manufacturing community.
Based in Washington, Yaskawa UK & Ireland is part of global technology company Yaskawa, specialising in industrial automation, robotics, motion control and drive technology.
Founded in Japan in 1915, Yaskawa has grown from an electric motor manufacturer into a major international automation business, with more than 500,000 industrial robots installed worldwide.
Today, its technology is used across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, food and beverage, metalworking, packaging, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, logistics and construction.
Global expertise, rooted in the North East
One of the things that particularly caught our attention at EMN is Yaskawa’s commitment to the North East.
Its UK headquarters and manufacturing facility is located at Hillthorn Business Park in Washington, close to Nissan and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP). The 35,000 sq ft facility puts Yaskawa at the heart of one of the UK’s key advanced manufacturing clusters.
The company has also increased its North East headcount, including new technical sales engineers, as it looks to develop further opportunities with manufacturers across the region.
For Yaskawa, automation isn’t simply about selling a robot or piece of equipment. It starts with understanding the manufacturing challenge and developing the right solution around it.
Through its MOTOMAN robot range, Yaskawa supports applications including welding and cutting, handling, palletising, painting, pick and place, food and laboratory automation and collaborative applications.
Alongside robotics, its portfolio includes AC drives, servo motors and drives, motion control, machine controllers, PLCs and HMIs. The company also delivers complete robotic systems and turnkey solutions designed around individual customer requirements.
Supporting manufacturers with skills and automation
There’s another part of the Yaskawa story that should resonate strongly with EMN members: skills.
Manufacturers continue to face recruitment pressures and shortages in specialist occupations. Yaskawa sees automation as one way to support existing workforces by taking on repetitive, physically demanding or potentially dangerous tasks.
Robotic welding is a good example. Automation can undertake repetitive processes while skilled employees focus their time and expertise on more complex, higher-value work.
But Yaskawa isn’t simply providing the technology. It is also helping to develop the people who use it.
Practical robotics training at the Yaskawa Academy
The Yaskawa Academy in Washington provides hands-on robotics training, ranging from introductory courses to advanced programming, welding, handling and maintenance.
Training is approximately 70% practical and 30% theory, giving engineers and operators experience they can take back into a working manufacturing environment.
Yaskawa is also keen to strengthen its engagement with the education sector, helping colleges and other training providers respond to growing demand for programmers and control engineers as manufacturers adopt more automation.
That combination of technology, practical skills and industry collaboration is particularly relevant to the EMN community.
More than a membership badge
Most importantly from our perspective, Yaskawa wants to play an active role in the engineering and manufacturing community.
The company is keen to build stronger relationships with manufacturers and engineering businesses across the North East, while sharing its own knowledge and expertise with the network.
That could include technical presentations, robotics demonstrations, automation workshops, factory visits and case studies, alongside practical conversations about Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.
Yaskawa is also interested in collaborating with systems integrators, machine builders, fabricators, electrical engineering companies, software and digital businesses, universities, colleges and training providers within EMN.
Considering automation but don’t know where to start?
There’s a refreshingly straightforward message that Yaskawa wants EMN members to hear:
If you’re considering automation but don’t know where to start, talk to them.
The team wants to help manufacturers understand where automation genuinely makes sense, what is possible and how robotics and smarter production technologies could help address challenges around productivity, skills and future competitiveness.
For some businesses, that could mean introducing robotics into a particular production process. For others, the starting point may simply be a conversation about what is possible.
That approach fits extremely well with what we want EMN membership to encourage: practical knowledge-sharing, stronger connections and collaboration that helps North East manufacturers move their businesses forward.
We’re therefore delighted that Yaskawa UK joins EMN and look forward to introducing the team to more of our members in the months ahead.
Welcome to the EMN community, Yaskawa!
