The European machine tool industry is facing numerous challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers, rising cost pressures, and geopolitical shifts. Traditional customer groups such as automotive manufacturers and suppliers are undergoing restructuring and reducing their investments, while other export-oriented sectors are postponing investments due to tariff disputes and potential trade restrictions.
In this difficult trading environment,
Fanuc, as a global leader in factory automation solutions, supports the machine tool industry with innovative technologies and long-term service. A key focus is on making products easier to operate and gradually evolving existing systems.
Robert Koopmann, chief technology officer at Fanuc Europe, said: “Our latest Fanuc CNC design studio is an integrated development environment which consolidates the data for CNC settings, offers efficient debugging functions and facilitates the conversion towards our latest CNC generation 500i-A.”
Advanced AI-driven features, including Fanuc’s ‘Smart Digital Twin’, help machine tool builders and end-users optimise performance — by reducing cycle time and improving surface quality. Automation with Fanuc robots also enables the existing workers to focus on higher-value tasks. Connecting a Fanuc robot to a Fanuc CNC-controlled machine tool has been further simplified and now requires only minimal configuration effort.
Energy efficiency and cost competitiveness are also top priorities in the factory automation business — Fanuc’s latest servo drive series, the αi-D, delivers a 10% to 15% reduction in power loss and up to 30% space savings compared to previous models, while boosting speed and precision. Standardised solutions further accelerate automation deployment.
Life-long product supportAs companies increasingly evaluate the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their equipment, Fanuc is reinforcing its commitment to life-long product support. The new Fanuc Care programme offers peace of mind by covering all non-customer-caused repairs for up to eight years after purchase. With over 280 locations and multiple warehouses worldwide, Fanuc ensures fast delivery and responsive customer service. This global presence is becoming increasingly relevant at a time when manufacturers are re-assessing the geographic distribution of their production networks.
Fanuc’s IoT solutions enable remote monitoring and maintenance; capabilities that proved essential during border closures and supply chain disruptions. Mr Koopmann continued: “Cybersecurity is another focus on Fanuc’s development: “As production becomes more global and interconnected, cybersecurity is paramount.”
Fanuc’s latest CNC generation, the 500i-A, and the R-50iA robot controller meet the highest cybersecurity standards. The FIELD IoT system Basic Package has also been designed with robust cybersecurity features at its core.
Mr Koopmann concluded: “With 70 years’ experience in factory automation and fully automated in-house production facilities, Fanuc understands the challenges facing the machine tool industry, and our development teams are committed to helping our customers prepare for the future.”