Heavy! Leading companies have significantly adjusted product prices, and both robots and servo motors have increased by 15%

Recently, Japanautomated industryThe giant Mitsubishi Electric announced that since February 1, 2023, itsIndustrial robotIndustrial computers, controllers and other industrial products will increase in price by 10-20%.

Judging from the growth rate of various types of products: industrialrobotPrices will increase by 15%, industrial computers by 20%, controllers (sequencers) by 10%, and those used as key parts of Robotsservo motor(Servo motor) will increase in price by 15%, and UPS (uninterruptible power system) will increase in price by 20%.

Regarding the reason for the price increase, Mitsubishi Electric stated that the main material costs of these products continue to remain high, coupled with rising logistics costs, Mitsubishi Electric is committed to implementing cost reduction measures such as production optimization, and is trying its best to ensure a stable supply of raw materials and products , but it is really difficult to maintain the current price unchanged, so it is decided to increase the price.

It is worth noting that in June this year, Mitsubishi Electric has raised the prices of power distribution control equipment, motors, and inverters in the field of factory automation by 10-30%.

Since 2020, the price of raw materials has continued to rise. The cost of major materials such as copper, aluminum, resin, and rare earth has doubled or even tripled. In addition to logistics costs, many upstream component companies have been overwhelmed and can only produce products. Carry out price increases, and then spread to the middle and lower reaches.

Therefore, it is not uncommon for robot companies to increase prices due to high material costs and logistics costs this year. For example, ABB and Yaskawa have adjusted their prices early. Head industrial robots such as Tiantian robots have also publicly announced price increases. It is actually too late for Mitsubishi Electric to increase prices.

The price increase of robot products will increase the burden on Chinese enterprises

Japan plays a pivotal role in the global Industrial Robot market. Two of the “four major families” of industrial robots are Chinese and Japanese companies, namely FANUC and Yaskawa Electric, and more than 25% of their robot products are exported to China. In addition, In the core components of robots, Japanese companies also occupy a major share.

China is also an important export market for Mitsubishi Electric. In the ranking of Industrial Robot shipments in the Chinese market in the first half of this year, Mitsubishi Electric ranked 11th. Among domestic companies, only Estun and Inovance Technology ranked ahead of it.

In addition, in the Chinese servo motor market, Mitsubishi Electric also occupies a considerable share. The 15% price increase announced this time will also be a big burden for companies using its products.

In recent years, the output value of Japanese robots has continued to grow. The Japan Robot Association (JARA) released statistics on July 29 (statistics include Fanuc, KUKA, ABB, Yaskawa Electric and other JARA member companies, excludingservice robot) pointed out that in the second quarter of 2022 (April-June), the output of industrial robots in Japan increased by 5.7% compared with the same period last year to 221.7 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. The quarterly output exceeded the 216.2 billion yen in the first quarter of 2022, a record All-time high record.

In terms of exports, in the second quarter of this year, Japan’s total robot shipments (domestic sales + exports, excluding non-member companies) increased by 5.2% from the same period last year to 219.8 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. Among them, the export value increased by 5.8% to 179.8 billion yen, showing growth for the seventh consecutive quarter, and the quarterly export value hit a record high; domestic (domestic) shipments increased by 3.0% to 40 billion yen, the fifth consecutive quarter of growth.

Mitsubishi Electric was exposed to fraudulent data

Just on the 20th of this month, Mitsubishi Electric announced that it would punish 22 current and former executives involved in data fraud. Mitsubishi Electric was exposed to fraudulent inspection data, which lasted for more than 30 years.

According to the final investigation report by an external expert group, 17 of Mitsubishi Electric’s 22 production bases in Japan had misconduct such as data falsification, involving a total of 197 cases, the most recent of which lasted until August this year.

The fraud scandal was first exposed in June last year. A Mitsubishi Electric factory in Nagasaki was accused of falsifying inspection data instead of conducting product inspections as agreed in the contract since 1985 before train air conditioners were mass-produced or shipped. The factory also falsified the inspection data of the air compressors. These air compressors mainly function when the train brakes and the doors are closed, which is related to the safety of operation.

After the scandal was exposed, Mitsubishi Electric decided to reduce the monthly salaries of several senior executives, including the current president, and asked the former executives involved to return part of their salaries. Resign.

This time, Mitsubishi Electric has decisively punished 22 current and former executives involved in data fraud, which may be sending a signal to the society that Mitsubishi Electric will never condone the fraudulent behavior and the personnel involved, and intends to restore Mitsubishi Electric’s public image .