FANUC vs Keyence: Founders, CEOs and History
FANUC was founded in 1972 by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba and is led by Kenji Yamaguchi. Keyence was founded in 1974 by Takemitsu Takizaki and is led by Tetsuya Nakano.
Company facts
Founders
FANUC
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.
Keyence
Takemitsu Takizaki
Takemitsu Takizaki founded Keyence in 1974 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, under the name Lead Electric, and renamed it Keyence in 1986.
CEOs and their tenures
FANUC
- Seiuemon Inaba1972–present
Founder and First President
Led the numerical-control project that became FANUC and served as founding president of Fujitsu FANUC. He died in 2020.
Source - Kenji Yamaguchi2019–present
Representative Director, President and CEO
Under Yamaguchi, FANUC reported record FY2025 sales of ~$5.75 billion (¥857.8 billion) and record Q1 FY2026 orders of ~$1.89 billion (¥281.9 billion).
Source
Keyence
- Takemitsu Takizaki1974–present
Founder and Honorary Chairman
Founded the company in 1974 and built its direct-sales, fabless model. He remains Honorary Chairman.
Source - Yu Nakata2019–2025
President and Representative Director
Served as President from December 2019 to December 2025, a period in which net sales passed ~$6.7 billion (JPY 1 trillion). Now Director and Special Advisor.
Source - Tetsuya Nakano2025–present
President and Representative Director
Became President and Representative Director on December 22, 2025, after serving as a director and head of the international division.
Source
Timeline: FANUC and Keyence side by side
1955FANUC
Numerical-Control Project Begins
Seiuemon Inaba's NC project starts inside Fuji Tsushinki, later Fujitsu.
1956FANUC
First Commercial NC and Servo
The team develops Japan's first commercial numerical control and servo systems.
1972FANUC
Fujitsu FANUC Established
The automation business becomes a separate company focused on factory automation.
1974Keyence
Founding and First Photoelectric Sensor
Takemitsu Takizaki founds Keyence in Osaka, Japan, developing a compact, solid-state photoelectric sensor that improves the reliability and ease of installation in Japanese factories.
1982FANUC
FANUC Name Adopted
Fujitsu FANUC becomes FANUC, reinforcing its independent identity.
1986Keyence
Initial Public Offering and Fabless Transition
Keyence executes a successful IPO on the Osaka Securities Exchange, providing the capital required to expand its direct sales force and transition to a fabless manufacturing model.
1991Keyence
Expansion into Machine Vision Systems
The company expands into the machine vision market, developing advanced, AI-powered inspection and guidance systems critical for quality control in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
2000Keyence
Global Direct Sales Expansion
Keyence initiates a global expansion of its direct sales force, establishing subsidiaries in North America, Europe, and Asia to replicate its successful, consultative sales model worldwide.
2008Keyence
Resilience During the Global Financial Crisis
Despite the severe global economic downturn, Keyence maintains its exceptional profitability and market share, proving the resilience of its fabless, direct-sales business model and high-margin product portfolio.
2015Keyence
Launch of Advanced AI-Powered Vision Platforms
Keyence introduces its next-generation machine vision systems, integrating advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to autonomously learn and adapt to new defect patterns in real-time.
2019FANUC
Kenji Yamaguchi Becomes CEO
Kenji Yamaguchi becomes president and CEO of FANUC.
2026FANUC
Physical AI Collaborations
FANUC announces collaborations with NVIDIA (March) and Google (May) to bring Physical AI to its robots.
2026FANUC
Record 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).
2026Keyence
FY2026 Net Sales Reach JPY 1.169 Trillion
Keyence reported FY2026 net sales of ~$7.83 billion (JPY 1.169 trillion), operating income of ~$3.99 billion (JPY 595.759 billion), and 12,784 consolidated employees as demand for automation and application engineering remained strong.
Acquisitions
Keyence
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about FANUC vs Keyence
Who is the CEO of FANUC Corporation and Keyence Corporation?
FANUC Corporation is led by Kenji Yamaguchi and Keyence Corporation is led by Tetsuya Nakano. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was FANUC Corporation founded vs Keyence Corporation?
FANUC Corporation was founded in 1972 — 2 years before Keyence Corporation, which was founded in 1974. FANUC Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Keyence Corporation.
How many employees does FANUC Corporation have compared to Keyence Corporation?
FANUC Corporation employs approximately 10,040 people, while Keyence Corporation employs approximately 12,784. Keyence Corporation has the larger workforce at 12,784 employees, compared to FANUC Corporation's 10,040. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are FANUC Corporation and Keyence Corporation headquartered?
Both FANUC Corporation and Keyence Corporation are headquartered in Japan, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded FANUC Corporation and Keyence Corporation?
FANUC Corporation was founded by Dr. Seiuemon Inaba. Keyence Corporation was founded by Takemitsu Takizaki.
Which company has a longer operating history — FANUC Corporation or Keyence Corporation?
FANUC Corporation has been operating for approximately 54 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Keyence Corporation has been in operation for around 52 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the FANUC vs Keyence overview