FANUC Corporation
Company History
FANUC History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1972 in Yamanashi, Japan
When was FANUC founded?
FANUC was founded in 1972 in Yamanashi, Japan by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba, making it 54 years old.
- Founded
- 1972
- Founding place
- Yamanashi, Japan
- Founders
- Dr. Seiuemon Inaba
- Headquarters today
- Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1955–2026)
- Current CEO
- Kenji Yamaguchi
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Numerical-Control Project Begins |
| 1956 | First Commercial NC and Servo |
| 1972 | Fujitsu FANUC Established |
| 1982 | FANUC Name Adopted |
| 1982 | GMFanuc Robotics Joint Venture |
| 1986 | GE Fanuc Automation Joint Venture |
| 2009 | GE Joint Venture Dissolved |
| 2019 | Kenji Yamaguchi Becomes CEO |
| 2026 | Physical AI Collaborations |
| 2026 | Record FY2025 Sales Reported |
- Where was FANUC founded?
- FANUC was founded in Yamanashi, Japan in 1972.
- Who founded FANUC?
- FANUC was founded by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba.
- When did FANUC start?
- FANUC was founded in 1972.
- How old is FANUC?
- FANUC is 54 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
FANUC began in 1955 as a numerical-control project inside Fuji Tsushinki (later Fujitsu), led by engineer Dr. Seiuemon Inaba. The team built Japan's first commercial NC and servo systems in 1956. As the business grew, Fujitsu spun it out in 1972 as Fujitsu FANUC, short for Fuji Automatic NUmerical Control. The company later moved its headquarters and factories to the foot of Mount Fuji and adopted the yellow color that still marks its products.
Founders
Dr. Seiuemon Inaba
Dr. Seiuemon Inaba led the small numerical-control group inside Fujitsu that produced Japan's first commercial NC and servo systems in 1956. When the business was spun out as Fujitsu FANUC in 1972, he became its first president. He emphasized reliability and in-house engineering, moved the company to a campus at the foot of Mount Fuji, and made yellow the company's signature color. His son, Yoshiharu Inaba, later served as president and chairman. Education: University of Tokyo. Dr. Seiuemon Inaba was born in 1925.
Key Milestones
Numerical-Control Project Begins
Seiuemon Inaba's NC project starts inside Fuji Tsushinki, later Fujitsu.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Commercial NC and Servo
The team develops Japan's first commercial numerical control and servo systems.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFujitsu FANUC Established
The automation business becomes a separate company focused on factory automation.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFANUC Name Adopted
Fujitsu FANUC becomes FANUC, reinforcing its independent identity.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGMFanuc Robotics Joint Venture
Fanuc and General Motors formed the GMFanuc Robotics joint venture in 1982.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGE Fanuc Automation Joint Venture
Fanuc and General Electric formed the GE Fanuc Automation joint venture in 1986.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGE Joint Venture Dissolved
Fanuc and General Electric agreed in 2009 to dissolve the GE Fanuc joint venture.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgKenji Yamaguchi Becomes CEO
Kenji Yamaguchi becomes president and CEO of FANUC.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPhysical AI Collaborations
FANUC announces collaborations with NVIDIA (March) and Google (May) to bring Physical AI to its robots.
Source: fanucamerica.comRecord FY2025 Sales Reported
FANUC reports FY2025 net sales of ~$5.75 billion (¥857.8 billion) and operating income of ~$1.23 billion (¥183.8 billion).
Source: fanuc.co.jpMajor Acquisitions
GE Fanuc Automation (CNC business)
2009FANUC and General Electric dissolved their 1986 joint venture, with FANUC taking the CNC business.
Life Robotics
2018Acquired Tokyo-based collaborative robotics startup Life Robotics to absorb patented multi-joint robotic arm mechanisms and engineering talent.
Preferred Networks (strategic investment & technology alliance)
2015Invested ¥900 million ($7.3 million) to partner with leading Japanese AI lab Preferred Networks to integrate deep reinforcement learning into industrial robot controllers.
Keep researching FANUC
FANUC Company History FAQ
When was FANUC's numerical control development first started inside Fujitsu?
Development began in 1956 when Dr. Seiuemon Inaba formed the numerical control development team inside Fujitsu Ltd., successfully demonstrating Japan's first commercial NC system in 1958 and delivering its first NC milling machine in 1960.
When did Fujitsu Fanuc officially incorporate as an independent company?
Fujitsu Fanuc Ltd. was officially incorporated as an independent company on May 12, 1972. It listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1976 and officially changed its name to FANUC Ltd. in 1982.
When did FANUC launch its first commercial industrial robot?
In 1974, FANUC unveiled the ROBOT MODEL 1, a cylindrical-coordinate industrial robot designed for machine tool loading. In 1977, it launched the well-known yellow-colored articulated ROBOT MODEL 2, launching FANUC's global robotics business.
When did FANUC complete its move to the Mount Fuji headquarters?
In 1980, FANUC completed construction of its large headquarters, laboratory, and factory complex in the pristine forests of Oshino-mura, Yamanashi Prefecture, situated at the base of Mount Fuji.
When did FANUC achieve the milestone of 500,000 and 1,000,000 industrial robots produced?
FANUC reached the milestone of 500,000 industrial robots produced in 2017, and in 2023, it became the first manufacturer in world history to surpass 1,000,000 industrial robots produced and delivered globally.
When was the collaborative robot (CRX series) launched by FANUC?
FANUC introduced its groundbreaking CRX series of collaborative robots in late 2019, launching lightweight, safe, drag-and-drop programmable cobots designed to work alongside human operators in diverse manufacturing and packaging lines.
What leadership transition occurred at FANUC in 2019?
In April 2019, Kenji Yamaguchi was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (Representative Director) of FANUC Corporation, with former CEO Yoshiharu Inaba continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
How has FANUC shaped modern global industrial civilization over more than 50 years?
FANUC transformed modern manufacturing by providing the core CNC brains and robotic muscles that power the world's machine tools, assembly lines, and consumer electronics factories, driving the rise of high-precision, automated industrial production worldwide.
How did FANUC start?
FANUC (Fuji Automatic NUmerical Control) was officially founded in 1972. It originally started in 1956 as a small, highly specialized research division inside Fujitsu, tasked with developing numerical control (NC) systems to automate milling machines. It was eventually spun off into an independent company under Dr. Seiuemon Inaba.
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