Coventry-based Fanuc has launched its new digital service FAR (Fanuc Assisted Reality) in the UK, to provide quicker response times for maintenance issues on Fanuc products. FAR is an app that uses augmented reality to facilitate remote support for Fanuc customers.

It allows service engineers to identify problems via real-time video and ‘overlaid digital content’, thereby ensuring that the correct spare parts and tools can be determined during the initial call, while also helping to improve the planning of service visits, thanks to optimised error analysis.

Although Fanuc already achieves a 28hr average response time from initial call to machine repair, the introduction of FAR is anticipated to bring this down to less than 24hr.

Tom Bouchier, Fanuc UK’s managing director, said: “We are thrilled to be launching FAR in the UK, particularly at a time when social distancing measures and travel restrictions are putting extra strain on manufacturers.

“While all of our machines are built to minimise downtime, there will always be the occasional issue, which is where this level of rapid support becomes invaluable.”