Blogs

Recently, Japanautomated industryGiant Mitsubishi Electric announced that from February 1, 2023, itsIndustrial robotIndustrial computers, controllers and other industrial products will increase prices by 10-20%.

From the perspective of the increase in various types of products: industrialrobotThe price of industrial computers will increase by 15%, the price of industrial computers will increase by 20%, and the price of controllers (sequencers) will increase by 10%.servo motor(Servo motor) will increase the price by 15% and UPS (Uninterruptible Power System) by 20%.

Regarding the reasons for the price increase, Mitsubishi Electric stated that the main material costs of these products continued to remain high, coupled with rising logistics costs, although Mitsubishi Electric is committed to implementing cost reduction measures such as production optimization, and trying its best to ensure a stable supply of raw materials and products , but it is difficult to maintain the existing price unchanged, so decided to increase the price.

It is worth noting that in June this year, Mitsubishi Electric has raised the prices of power distribution control equipment, motors and inverters in the field of factory automation by 10-30%.

Since 2020, the price of raw materials has continued to rise. The cost of main materials such as copper, aluminum, resin and rare earth has doubled or tripled. Coupled with logistics costs, many upstream component companies have been overwhelmed and can only pay attention to products. Carry out price increases, and then spread to the middle and lower reaches.

Therefore, it is not uncommon for robot companies to increase prices due to high material costs and logistics costs since the beginning of this year. For example, ABB, Yaskawa, etc. have adjusted their prices early. Head industrial Robots such as Peitian Robot have also publicly announced price increases. Now it is still too late for Mitsubishi Electric to increase prices.

Japan has a pivotal position in the global Industrial Robot market. Two Chinese and Japanese companies occupy the “four major families” of industrial robots, namely Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric. More than 25% of their robot products are exported to China. In the core components of robots, Japanese companies also occupy a major share.

China is also an important export market for Mitsubishi Electric. In the ranking of industrial robot shipments in the Chinese market in the first half of this year, Mitsubishi Electric ranked 11th, and only Estun and Inovance Technology ranked ahead of it among domestic enterprises.

In addition, in the Chinese servo motor market, Mitsubishi Electric also occupies a considerable share. The announcement of a 15% price increase this time will also be a big burden for companies using its products.

In recent years, the output value of Japanese robots has continued to grow. The Japan Robot Association (JARA) released statistical data on July 29 (the statistical objects include JARA member companies such as Fanuc, KUKA, ABB, and Yaskawa Electric, excludingservice robot) pointed out that in the second quarter of 2022 (April-June), the output of Japanese industrial robots increased by 5.7% over the same period last year to 221.7 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter, and the quarterly output exceeded the 216.2 billion yen in the first quarter of 2022. All-time high record.

In terms of exports, in the second quarter of this year, the total shipments of Japanese robots (domestic sales + exports, excluding non-member companies) increased by 5.2% over the same period last year to 219.8 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. Among them, the export value increased by 5.8% to 179.8 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter, and the quarterly export value hit a record high; domestic sales (in Japan) shipments increased by 3.0% to 40 billion yen, the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.

Just on the 20th of this month, Mitsubishi Electric announced that it will punish 22 current and former executives involved in data fraud, after Mitsubishi Electric was exposed to fraudulent inspection data for more than 30 years.

According to the final investigation report of an external expert group, 17 of Mitsubishi Electric’s 22 production bases in Japan have misconduct such as data fraud, involving a total of 197 cases, the most recent one lasted until August this year.

The fraud scandal first came to light in June last year. A Mitsubishi Electric plant in Nagasaki is accused of falsifying inspection data instead of conducting product inspections as agreed in the contract since 1985 before mass production or delivery of train air conditioners. The factory also falsified the inspection data of air compressors, which mainly play a role when the train brakes and closes the doors, which is related to the safety of operation.

After the scandal was exposed, Mitsubishi Electric decided to reduce the monthly salaries of many executives, including the current president, and asked the former executives involved to return part of their salaries. In addition, Mitsubishi Electric’s then chairman Masaki Sashiyama and then president Takeshi Sugiyama last year. Resign.

This time, Mitsubishi Electric decisively punished 22 current and former executives involved in data fraud. Perhaps it is sending a signal to the society that Mitsubishi Electric will not tolerate fraud and the people involved, and it is intended to restore the public image of Mitsubishi Electric. .