Robots on order

Scheduled for delivery in 2022, the company will supply the Cologne plant of Ford with around 500 robots to assist in the construction of electric car bodies.

The Ford manufacturing facility in Cologne is currently undergoing transition into the Ford Cologne Electrification Center, a development and production site for electric vehicles that will serve the entire European market. In 2023, the carmaker expects its first purely electric high-volume passenger model to roll off the plant’s production line. Ford has also announced that it will only offer battery-electric passenger cars in Europe from 2030.

“FANUC has a lot of experience in robotics for e-mobility applications,” said Ralf Winkelmann, Managing Director of FANUC Germany. “We are very pleased that we can accompany Ford in this forward-looking transformation. In the USA, FANUC has been working closely with Ford for many years,” added Winkelmann. “We are now expanding this successful cooperation to Europe.”

Shinichi Tanzawa, CEO & President of FANUC Europe Corporation is also pleased about this progressive collaboration in the field of e-mobility: “Our robots are known for their reliability and durability. Therefore, we are convinced that they will contribute to low downtime and maintenance costs at Ford’s Cologne plant.”