EPSON RELEASES NEW FLAGSHIP SERIES OF SCARA ROBOTS

Lumpur, Malaysia, 8 March 2013 – Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson," TSE: 6724) the global share leader*1 in SCARA robots for industrial applications, today announced the launch of its new H8 robots, the first models in its new flagship H series of horizontally articulated SCARA robots. H8 robots are designed to automate tasks such as assembly and transport. They are capable of handling payloads up to 8 kg, and are available in models with arm lengths of 450 mm, 550 mm, and 650 mm.

Epson's industrial robots are widely used to transport and assemble parts on production lines particularly in the electronics and automotive industries. Epson's SCARA robots have long been valued for their exceptional speed, accuracy, and operating stability, but the robots in the H series take these performance parameters to the next level to meet manufacturers' demands for even higher throughput.

In addition to Epson's powerful Smart Motion Control technology*2, the robots in the H series have integrated QMEMS sensors*3. These technologies enable the robots to handle heavier payloads despite a compact, lightweight design. They also make it possible to provide the robots with a high-speed mode and a low-vibration mode.

H8 robots offer a significant step up in performance from Epson's G6 SCARA robots, which handle payloads up to 6 kg. In high-speed mode H8 robots operate up to 40% faster than G6 models, and in low-vibration mode they produce 50% less vibration. Users can switch the mode according to the application, to build the best production line for their needs. H8 models, which stand 580 mm tall and weigh 20-21 kg depending on arm length, are among the smallest and lightest*4 SCARA robots in the 450-650-mm arm length class. Their small size and light weight save space and provide production line design flexibility.

Epson sees the industrial sector as a market where it can use its strengths to provide unique products and services. Going forward, Epson will continue to help customers enhance their production operations with an expanded H-series lineup.

*1: Epson recorded the industry's highest revenue from shipments of industrial SCARA robots in 2011. 
Source: Fuji Keizai Co.,Ltd. "Reality and Future Outlook of Worldwide Robot Market 2012"

*2: Unique Epson technology that enables robots to operate accurately at high speeds without producing significant vibration

*3: QMEMS devices are extremely small, high-performance quartz devices microfabricated in a crystalline material on a wafer. Epson coined the "QMEMS" acronym by combining the "Q" from "quartz," a crystalline material that has excellent stability and precision, with "MEMS," micro electro-mechanical systems engineered using microfabrication technology. QMEMS is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

*4: Among the smallest and lightest according to Epson research, as of the end of February 2013