On February 3, 2023, AMADA CO., LTD. (Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Tsutomu Isobe) opened the “Amada Global Innovation Center” (hereinafter called “AGIC”) at the company Head Office in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Based on the concept of being a “place for co-creating the future of metalworking,” the AGIC was newly established to solve the numerous issues faced by customers around the world, including their demands for “support for new materials and processing technologies”, “improvement of automation and productivity,” and production innovation. The existing “Solution Center” was fully refurbished to create a facility with a total floor space of approximately 30,000 m2 and state-of-the-art functions in the largest facility in the industry worldwide.

AGIC is equipped with a diverse range of environments and functions. This includes the Innovation LABO, which is a laboratory space specifically for customers, and the Innovation SITE, where customers can experience over 90 models of the latest machine and technology products. This location also includes the Engineering FIELD, which utilises the know-how accumulated by AMADA utilising the latest IoT, and the Area for Creating the Future of Manufacturing with state-of-the-art digital imaging equipment and information devices. The customers using the AGIC and AMADA will work together to explore the future of manufacturing and utilise the facility as a place to create innovation.

Manufacturing sites in the metal processing market are facing the global trends of “action for a decarbonised society,” “labor force and skilled worker shortages,” and “AI and DX through the advancement of information technology,” so addressing these issues is an urgent task.

AMADA newly established the Innovation LABO at the AGIC as the first facility in the industry to contribute to the resolution of these issues, and will be taking on the challenge of future processing technology by verifying the customers’ manufacturing. In nine customer-specific spaces that are always equipped with the latest solutions and advanced inspection equipment, customers can address the various issues they face in their own company by working together with the technical staff of AMADA to verify their processing and matters such as quality requirements there and then.

“Innovation SITE” has product areas for sheet metal, cutting and structural, and presses, but it is not simply a conventional display of the machines. With the concept of going from “what is possible” to “why it is possible,” the facility enables visitors to experience AMADA’s elemental and latest technology, such as for mechanisms and structures. The aim is to deepen the understanding and satisfaction of the customers by providing them with an experience centered on the technical reasons for why the accuracy is higher than before and why the processing is possible.

AGIC was also completely renovated as an environmentally friendly building. Through collaboration with major general contractors and various manufacturers in Japan, the latest air conditioning equipment and lighting was installed, energy consumption was reduced, and also renewable energy is utilised, including with the large-scale installation of solar power generation. As a result, the CO2 generation was reduced by half compared to the previous Solution Center.

As a machinery manufacturer in the global metal processing market, AMADA intends AGIC to play a central role for its 15 solution centers and technical centers in Japan and overseas. In addition to technology that is the first of its kind in Japan, AMADA will also collaborate with bases around the world to work to create future-oriented manufacturing and innovation and will disseminate this information to the world.

Overview of AGIC

1. Name: Amada Global Innovation Center
2. Location: Within the AMADA Head Office, 200 Ishida, Isehara City, Kanagawa
3. Building area: Approx. 17,000 m2 (Steel frame, 3 stories)
4. Total floor area: Approximately 30,000 m2 The largest in-house exhibition facility globally. A “comprehensive proposal function facility” is created in cooperation with the neighboring AMADA Forum (a 12-story multipurpose training facility)
5. Concept: “Place for co-creating the future of metalworking”
6. Main Functional Areas: Innovation LABO / Innovation SITE / Engineering FIELD / Other Areas.

Innovation LABO

• Nine customer-specific laboratory rooms, and one state-of-the-art measurement room.
• The latest solutions from AMADA can be used to verify the quality requirements of the customer and new processing.

Innovation SITE

• Installation of 90 models of sheet metal, cutting and structural, and press equipment.
• An area where visitors can experience not only machine exhibits but also elemental technologies and various other technologies.

Engineering FIELD

• This promotes the transitions and evolution in the service provided by AMADA, which is its largest differentiating function.
• Latest software, production management, and IoT support.

Other Areas

• A large area for business negotiations and other multipurpose use, equipped with ultra-advanced digital video equipment.
• “Precision Sheet Metal Technology Fair Exhibition Area,” etc.