Built for innovative, efficient IoT-based production based on “e-F@ctory” concept

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has completed construction of an integrated-automation factory for the production of vacuum interrupters and circuit breakers at its Power Distribution Systems Center in Marugame, Japan. The new factory will deploy Mitsubishi Electrics e-F@ctory concept of integrated automation based on IoT technologies to achieve high efficiency, high productivity and minimized cost. Combined sales of vacuum interrupters and vacuum circuit breakers are expected to rise to 12 billion yen by 2025.

The companys e-F@ctory concept makes use of cutting-edge technologies to visualize information and integrate with high-level manufacturing-execution systems for advanced production. The new factory leverages this know-how to unify production information, from orders to assembly to shipments, for enhanced productivity and product quality. The e-F@ctory concept will also be used to improve cycle speeds and shorten lead times.

The integrated-automation production lines uptime will be maximized through the partial introduction of automatic assembly and testing devices for vacuum interrupters and vacuum circuit breakers, which previously had been decentralized within the Power Distribution Systems Center.

The factory is the first to deploy Mitsubishi Electrics D-SMiree System* for medium- and low-voltage direct-current distribution systems of voltages up to 1,500V DC. In addition, the new factory will deploy advanced energy-saving equipment and energy-loss visualization technologies to minimize its environmental footprint and energy consumption.

The global demand for vacuum interrupters and vacuum circuit breakers is foreseen expanding over the mid to long term due to the increasing introduction of renewable-energy facilities and the upgrading of existing electrical distribution equipment at power utilities, railways and factories. The new factory gives Mitsubishi Electric the necessary production capacity to meet current demand and over the longer term will provide the necessary competitiveness to expand sales share and enter new markets for vacuum interrupters and vacuum circuit breakers.