Murata Machinery USA (Muratec), a leading provider of industrial automation solutions, has announced that it is now celebrating its 50th anniversary in North America. Throughout 2024, the company will organize various events to honor this milestone.
Operating as a subsidiary of Kyoto, Japan-based Murata Machinery Ltd., Murata Machinery USA provides sales, service, and support for the Muratec brand in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Ireland. With a rich history of innovation and leadership in North America, Muratech has revolutionized the automation landscape with groundbreaking solutions and has set new industry standards for performance.
Toshiyuki Komori, President and CEO of Murata Machinery USA, noted this important milestone: “Murata Machinery USA has been a beacon of excellence, driving industrial innovation and achieving continental success. Unwavering in our commitment, we aim to propel the Muratec brand of end-to-end automation to new heights across North America, helping customers maintain their competitive edge with automation.”
Established in May 1974 as Murata of America, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, the company initially focused on textile machinery. The company’s October 1989 acquisition of the Wiedemann Division from the Warner & Swasey Company, creating Murata Wiedemann, Inc., ultimately evolved into the unified Muratec brand in October 1991. By June 2002, the company consolidated its U.S. subsidiaries, Murata of America, Inc. and Murata Wiedemann, Inc., respectively, into Murata Machinery USA, Inc.
In the last 50 years, Muratec has expanded its automation portfolio to encompass material handling, machine tools, fabrication technology, and cleanroom automation solutions, showcasing a diverse range of offerings. Some of the company’s most significant innovations in automation advances include:
- Textiles: Muratec introduced innovative machines for spinning, winding, twisting, and texturizing yarns, including the Air-Jet Spinning technology. The VORTEX series, starting in 1997, revolutionized spinning processes, boasting unparalleled speed and efficiency.
- Logistics & Automation (L&A): In the 1990s, Muratec revolutionized North American Automotive Stamping with an integrated turnkey solution, effortlessly combining Die Handling, Blank Processing, Stamping Warehousing, and Transport Control. This streamlined processes and minimized waste by integrating Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), reshaping the automotive sector’s logistics and material handling approach. Muratec positioned itself as a key industry influencer of versatile automation systems covering high-rise warehouses, unmanned transporting systems, robotic automation, and cutting-edge factory automation.
- Clean Factory Automation (CFA): As a cleanroom industry leader, Muratec invented cutting-edge floor and overhead transport systems (OHTs) to optimize fabrication processes, maximize space, and ensure product integrity with minimal vibration. These solutions set industry benchmarks that smoothly interfaced with customer Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and tools, establishing a new standard in boosting productivity, reliability, and operational excellence. Muratec is one of the world’s largest semiconductor clean room automated manufacturers.
- Machine Tools Division (MTD): In 1980, Muratec revolutionized CNC machining with the MW25, the inaugural twin-spindle automated chucker lathe that seamlessly integrated automation with an industry-first gantry loader. Then, in 1994, Muratec set a new industry standard by inventing the world’s first electric servo motor CNC turret punch press. The MOTORUM 2000 was known for its eco-friendly design, low noise, and highly productive hydraulic oil-less operation, inspiring numerous imitations and knockoffs. Muratec’s machine tools, spanning turning, sheet metal fabrication, and automated handling systems combine high speed and precision through cutting-edge control technology.
For more information about Muratec’s diverse range of automation solutions, visit https://muratec-usa.com/.
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