TOKYO, March 2, 2017 - Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it would build an integrated factory for the production of vacuum interrupters (VI) and vacuum circuit breakers (VCB) at its Power Distribution Systems Center in Marugame, Japan. Operation is scheduled to start in July 2018.The company will utilize its original "e-F@ctory" concept knowhow to realize innovative IoT-based efficient production. Mitsubishi Electric expects to raise VI and VCB sales to 12 billion yen by 2025.

Rendering of integrated factory for VI/VCB production

Demand for VI/VCB products is expected to expand globally in the mid to long term due to the increasing introduction of renewable-energy equipment and the renewal of distribution equipment at power utilities, railways, factories and others. Mitsubishi Electric's new factory will help to secure the required production capacity and raise its competitiveness in the VI/VCB market. As a result, the company expects to grow its market share and develop new markets globally.

The company's e-F@ctory concept makes use of cutting-edge technologies to visualize information and integrates with high-level manufacturing-execution systems for improved production. The new factory will leverage this knowhow to unify production information, from order receipt through assembly to shipment, for enhanced productivity and product quality. Further, e-F@ctory concept initiatives will be used to improve cycle speeds and shorten lead times.

Uptime will be increased by consolidating the company's VI production and VCB assembly factories, which had been dispersed within the Power Distribution Systems Center. The new factory will reduce the environmental footprint and energy consumption of these operations by adopting the latest energy-saving equipment and energy-loss visualization knowhow.

VI/VCB Production Factory

  Location   8 Horai-cho, Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
Building Approx. 14,200m2
Structure Two-story steel-frame
Groundbreaking March 2017
Completion January 2018
Start of operation July 2018
Main facility Production, test area, office, and design area

Note that the releases are accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.