| 1978 |
 Hirata Japan starts their development of the first CNC controls
and Cartesian robots. In the following years a small team of
high qualified engineers create the first SCARA robot model
AR-300 and its controller HAC-01.
End of the 70ies Hirata Japan begins to produce the robot in
bigger numbers. First applications of the robots are assembly
lines of Electronic industry inside Japan.
Picture: Robot AR-300 |
 |
|
| 1981 |
 Hirata Japan exhibits the SCARA robots at Hannover show first
time and tie up a distributor contract with a German machine
tool company in the same year. The sales of the SCARA robots are
starting in an undeveloped market because there is no automation
of small parts assembly by robot in Germany so far.
Picture: Ayumi 82 |
|
|
|
| 1983 |
 Sales
starts successfully in small quantities. One of the first
customers is GRUNDIG in Nuernberg. They are starting a pilot
project of an assembly cell with SCARA robot for a clutch of
tape cassette recorder. In order to establish the new robot
technology inside the company they produce a video about the
application.
 Video: Grundig system |
|
|
|
| 1985 |
 The
second generation of SCARA robots are in the market. It is the
AR-H series, which has three model sizes.
The model AR-H300 and is controller HAC-04 is the most sold
model. Well-known Automotive sub supplier
Hella installs a
larger amount in their factories. The robots are very reliable
and will be in
use for more than 15 years.
Picture: Robot AR-H300 |
|
|
|
| 1986 |
 The
first robot line for odd shaped component pcb insertion will
installed at TV set maker SEL Graetz in Bochum by Hirata Japan.
Video: insertion line |
|
|
|
| 1987 |
 The
third generation of SCARA robots, AR-i series is ready for sales.
Hirata announce a very unique control concept for assembly
robots. Hirata create a multi-tasking control that can control
the entire robot cell, robot and peripherals. There is no need
for a PLC anymore.
Picture 1: Robot AR-i350A
Picture 2: Robot AR-i350C
|
|
|
|
| |
 Many robots were used as soldering robots at Philips TV set
factories all over Europe and there are still in usage in their
factories in Poland and Hungary.
Video: soldering robot |
|
|
|
| 1989 |
 Hirata develops the first SCARA robot with Direct-Drives and
receive an award of the newspaper Nihon Keizai Shinbun for best
design and technical performance in Japan.
These types of robots are very fast and precise in positioning
but the drives are very expensive. Therefore Hirata starts
to
develop the next robot based on „well known and proven” drive
technology soon again. That means using DC-motors with
Harmonic-Drive gears. This kind of drive technology remains
until today and was improved more and more.
Picture: Robot AR-DD2700 awarded |
|
|
|
| 1992 |
 The
fourth generation of SCARA robots are on the market. It is the
AR-C series with a complete renew controller that is using
32-Bit-technology. Also the new and more enhanced programming
language HARL-3 is released.
Picture: Robot AR-C350 |
|
|
|
| 1993 |
 Hirata Engineering Europe GmbH were founded in November 1993 and overtakes
the sales activities for robots in Europe. Also the business
were expanded to semi-standardized turnkey system where the
robot builds the core piece. Systems for soldering, tray feeder
and other applications were offered.
Picture 1: 1. Hirata
building
Picture 2: tray feeder station |
|
|
|
| 1996 |
 Hirata starts to develop clean room robots for Wafer and LCD
glass handling.
Picture: Robot AR-W200 |
|
|
|
| 1997 |
 Hirata releases the AR-S series that is the fifth generation of
SCARA Robots. The controller is totally new with digital motor
control, Multi-tasking for 32 Jobs and further improvement of
the programming language HARL-III.
Picture: Robot AR-S350 |
|
|
|
| 1998 |
 Hirata Engineering Europe GmbH moved into their new office and factory
building.
Picture: New Hirata building |
|
|
|
| 1999 |
Improvements of the controller were announced. User can choose
standardized Remote I/O field bus system like Interbus-S,
Profibus, device net and others. |
|
|
|
| 2002 |
 SCARA
robots and Cartesian robots can be equipped with absolute
encoder technology. The size of the controller shrinks due to
the usage of high-integrated component to 1/3. Also
multi-tasking station controller is available as software
solution running on PC platform. Which makes communication with
PC world much more effective.
Picture: Robot AR-S350AE |
|
|
|
| 2003 |
Hirata Engineering Europe GmbH celebrates 25 years Hirata robots and 10th
anniversary. |
|
|
|
