Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and HACARUS Corporation announced that they have agreed to expand their collaboration in the development of AI-based visual inspection applications for manufacturing.
As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will take an equity stake in HACARUS.
Mitsubishi Electric and HACARUS partnership
The strategic partnership will leverage the resources and technologies of both companies to increase synergies aimed at maximizing mutual technological and business potential.
By leveraging HACARUS' expertise, Mitsubishi Electric expects to accelerate its development and provision of integrated and automated AI-based visual inspection solutions that will enable customers to improve manufacturing quality and overall productivity. For HACARUS, the collaboration will provide access to Mitsubishi Electric's extensive sales infrastructure in Japan and overseas.
Visual-inspection processes
HACARUS Check is a visual inspection solution equipped with a unique, compact AI
HACARUS Check is a visual inspection solution equipped with a unique, compact AI. In addition to AI development, HACARUS also specializes in integrating AI with various factory automation (FA) devices.
In December 2023, Mitsubishi Electric released MELSOFT VIXIO, an AI-based visual-inspection software equipped with the company's proprietary Maisart AI technology to automate visual-inspection processes for improved manufacturing quality and to address the problem of Japan's shrinking labor force.
AI-based visual inspection
"As part of our strategy for the FA systems business, we are addressing key challenges facing modern society," said Toshie Takeuchi, Group President of Mitsubishi Electric's Factory Automation Systems Group.
Toshie Takeuchi adds, "The automation of production lines is accelerating due to labor shortages, but many visual inspections are still performed manually by humans. Through this collaboration, we look forward to strengthening our response to customer needs through MELSOFT VIXIO, supported by HACARUS' expertise in AI-based visual inspection, to address labor shortages in the manufacturing sector."
Mitsubishis Electric’s FA products
For customers in the manufacturing industry, we offer HACARUS Check"
Takashi Someda, CEO at HACARUS, said "Since HACARUS's founding in 2014, our company has sought to 'measure' in a variety of industrial areas and has made it its mission to contribute to society by creating additional value from data using the latest technologies such as AI, IoT, and robots. For customers in the manufacturing industry, we offer HACARUS Check, a product that reduces the manual labor required for visual inspection."
Takashi Someda adds, "Through this capital and business alliance, we will strive to develop solutions that promote digital transformation at manufacturing sites, focusing primarily on surface inspection, by combining Mitsubishis Electric’s FA products and knowledge with our AI technology to solve social issues such as the decline in the working population."
Best-in-class products
Mitsubishi Electric’s FA systems business is strengthening its portfolio of solutions for the digitalization of manufacturing and the promotion of Circular Digital-Engineering.
To further automate and digitize processes, including design, production, testing, operation and maintenance, Mitsubishi Electric is steadily investing and partnering with software companies to provide customers with best-in-class products and solutions.
Demand for AI technology
In recent years, shrinking labor forces, especially skilled labor, in various countries have negatively impacted manufacturing productivity levels. One response has been the adoption and development of rule-based visual inspection using image-processing technologies.
However, difficulties in detecting defects such as scratches and uneven colors are increasing the demand for AI technology that can further automate inspection processes and reduce burdens on product inspectors.
