Localizing robotics: Yaskawa's commitment to American manufacturing

As part of Yaskawa America Inc.’s continued growth in North America, the company announced plans to build a state-of-the-art robotic manufacturing facility at Yaskawa’s newly announced campus in Franklin, Wisconsin. This strategic initiative marks a significant step in Yaskawa’s operations and increasing its production capabilities across the United States.

For the first time, Yaskawa's high-volume industrial robots will be manufactured on U.S. soil, with units shipping directly from the Wisconsin facility to customers in the Americas or to the Yaskawa Motoman facility in Miamisburg, Ohio for integration into robotic systems. This investment reflects Yaskawa’s commitment to localized production to strengthen the supply chain, reduce lead times, and increase flexibility for our customers.

In addition to the planned robotic manufacturing operations, the Franklin campus will combine multiple Yaskawa Drives and Motion facilities into one location over the next three to eight years, eventually encompassing more than 800,000ft² of advanced manufacturing, packaging, and training space. When completed, the campus will house the North American headquarters for the Drives and Motion Division, as well as operations for robot production, motion control products, AC drives, and solar inverters. The Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America will continue to operate out of its recently expanded headquarters and automation integration facility in Miamisburg, Ohio.

“We are proud of our cutting-edge technology, our commitment to quality, and our world-class manufacturing,” says Mike Knapek, CEO of Yaskawa America. “The unification of our facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois into a consolidated campus in Franklin positions us for strong future growth and continued innovation in the region.”

As part of the broader Yaskawa Electric Corporation, which is celebrating 110 years of global innovation, this expansion supports the company’s long-term vision for enabling manufacturing excellence through advanced automation. It also represents a major milestone in growing Yaskawa’s United States-based capabilities in robotics, reinforcing our commitment to North and South American customers and partners.

From high-performance servo motors to fully integrated welding cells and intelligent automation, Yaskawa continues to focus on delivering a broad range of solutions. For Motoman Robotics Division that includes industrial and collaborative robots and integrated solutions that drive productivity, precision, and innovation. The Franklin investment will further enhance our ability to meet growing demand while delivering the quality and support Yaskawa is known for.

We look forward to the positive impact this initiative will bring – not just for our business, but for the customers and industries we serve across the Americas.