FANUC Corporation’s chief technical advisor, Takayuki Ito, has been elected the new president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which represents 3,000 organisations in over 20 countries.
Previously the vice president, Takayuki Ito has spent more than 40 years in the robotics industry, starting out as a software engineer before becoming vice general manager of FANUC’s robot laboratory, and executive vice president for FANUC Robotics in North America in 1997.
He returned to FANUC’s HQ in Japan in 2002 to take up the position of general manager for the Robot Technology Center. From 2010, he transferred to the robot sales division, overseeing FANUC’s local and later international sales, before being promoted to general manager of the robot sales division. In July 2023, he took up his current position of chief technical advisor in the robot research and development division.
During Takayuki Ito’s time at FANUC, the company has grown to become a global player in the robotics industry, culminating in the production of the one millionth FANUC robot in 2023. Having installed the first robot in its own factories in 1974, the company now offers more than 200 models, including what it describes as the ‘largest selection of cobots on the market’.
“I am proud to continue the work of my predecessor, Marina Bill, who has been a great ambassador for the world of robotics,” said Takayuki Ito. “We are witnessing rapid change in the automation of industrial and service sectors around the world. Together with Jane Heffner of Mobile Industrial Robots as the new vice president of the IFR, I look forward to our mission.”
