Fanuc reports sales of over £4 billion for 2011/2012

Fanuc breaks its operations down into three areas, factory automation (CNC systems), Robots, and Robomachines (Robodrill machining centres, wire-cut EDM and injection moulding machines), with these seeing growth of 8%, 47.2% and 29.5%, respectively. The largest earner was its CNC operation, with a £2 billion turnover; robots delivered £877 million, while Robomachines accounted for £1.193 billion. Talking about its factory automation business, Fanuc said: "[It was] on a track to recovery during the first half in Japan, Europe, and America; [but these markets] weakened during the second half, due to uncertainties, including [the] European financial crisis. In Asia, the impact of monetary tightening in China saw the recovery trend slow." Of robots it said that sales substantially recovered worldwide, but particularly in America and Europe, with this led by the car industry. Sales grew substantially in China, too. During the year, the company completed a new factory with a capacity of 5,000 robots/month. Turning to Robomachines, production of Robodrills rose to 2,500 units/month in the second half, with the main market being China, where sales continue to increase. As for its Robocut EDM machines, the company says that sales of these are "still on the road to recovery", with Japan and Europe leading on that. The company is forecasting sales for the first half of the next financial year at £2.1 billion.