1973 headquarters turin italy products industrial robots number of employees 14 500 2012 parent fiat website www.comau.com comau consorzio macchine utensili is an italian multinational company based in turin italy and is part of the fiat group . 1 comau is an integrated company including 20 subsidiaries which develops and produces process automation manufacturing and service products and specializes in welding robots . it was established in 1973 and has 23 different operative centers 15 manufacturing plants and three research and development centers worldwide . 2 it employs more than 14 500 people in 13 countries italy russia china india argentina mexico brazil romania poland germany france the united states and the united kingdom . 3 4 the company has more than 100 patents and all major automotive manufacturers use comau systems and machinery at facilities in europe america and asia . 3 contents 1 history 1.1 formation 1.2 growth and expansion 1.3 diversification 2 corporate structure 2.1 management 2.2 key business areas 3 sustainability 4 product and service divisions 4.1 body assembly 4.2 powertrain systems 4.3 robotics 4.3.1 industrial robots 4.4 service 4.5 adaptive solutions 4.6 aerospace 4.7 ecomau 4.8 project management 4.9 communication 5 references 6 external links history edit formation edit comau began in 1973 as the consorzio macchine utensili to unite all of the businesses based in turin and the surrounding area that were supplying equipment to the togliattigrad vaz plant in russia . in 1977 mst s.p.a. morando s.p.a. i.m.p. s.p.a. and colubra lamsat s.p.a. merged into a single company named comau industriale s.p.a. the following year comau s.p.a. was officially founded bringing together all the plants and industrial activities of comau industriale s.p.a. it was later renamed comau finanziaria s.p.a. 5 growth and expansion edit in 1984 the company branched out of europe as comau productivity systems inc. was founded to start development of commercial and industrial activities in north america . comau finanziaria s.p.a. gained a majority interest in italtech s.p.a. which specialized in injection molding machines for plastic materials in 1988 . the following year it acquired berto lamet a sheet metal die producer and u.t.s. which specialized in product and process engineering . berto lamet then took over tea a company that manufactured injection molds and in 1990 it took over the spanish company mecaner s.a. which specialized in producing sheet metal dies . in 1995 the company grew throughout south america europe north america and asia . comau do brasil ind e com . ltda and comau argentina s.a. were launched with all comau business units joining the mercosur market . in germany comau deutschland gmbh was established . comau productivity systems expanded its structure and the name was changed to comau north america inc. additionally a representative office in beijing china was set up . in 1996 comau france s.a. was founded . the company officially changed its name it became comau s.p.a. in 1997 the company gained a majority interest in geico s.p.a. a producer of painting systems within the automotive industry . comau india pvt. ltd. in pune was set up as the company s headquarters in southeast asia . comau poland sp.z.o.o . a production plant for sheet metal dies began operation in tychy and later that year began offering maintenance services as well . in the same year comau service was launched to provide full maintenance services to customers worldwide . in 1999 comau took over the french company sciaky s.a. a producer of body systems and welding guns and the company is renamed comau sciaky s.a. also that year comau s.p.a. gained a majority interest in renault automation s.a. of france a company specializing in engineering metal cutting mechanical assembly and body final assembly . in the same year fiat s.p.a. acquires progressive tool and industries co. pico a u.s. company experienced in body systems manufacturing and it was subsequently renamed comau pico . in the uk the pico estil in luton became comau estil ; in south africa aims in uitenhage is renamed comau south africa pty. ltd. in 2000 comau automotive equipment colt . in shanghai was opened comau belgium n.v. was established to develop maintenance services in northern europe and comau systems services s.l. began operations in madrid . the next year comau s.p.a. acquired two companies in automotive product and process engineering and industrialization germann intec gmbh and team resources romania which became comau rom nia s.a. comau australia opened in adelaide in 2001 . in 2002 comau ingest sverige ab was established in sweden ; in 2003 comau russia srl and comau shanghai international trading co. ltd. began operations with a focus on import export activities . comau sciaky sa became the full owner of gerbi & sciaky a company in france that produced electrical welding guns changing its name to sciaky s.a.s. in 2004 . the next year comau service france and comau sciaky and sciaky s.a.s. were consolidated within comau france s.a. in 2005 comau germann intec gmbh merged with comau deutschland gmbh . in 2007 comau germann intec gmbh was started in germany with a focus on engineering activities . 5 diversification edit in 2009 comau aerospace was launched bringing the company into a new field where it began providing systems for drilling and riveting . following this between 2010 and 2011 comau expanded its product lines with ecomau manufacturing products and providing services in the energy industry and comau adaptive solutions supplying industrial automation technologies for industries including commercial vehicles construction agriculture mining passenger rail freight rail solar power and wind power . 5 corporate structure edit management edit as part of the fiat group comau is managed by a board of directors and a board of statutory auditors . the board of directors oversees the company s performance both directly and through committees charged with specific advisory functions . it is supported by a body made up of members who are attributed independent responsibilities and powers . 6 key business areas edit comau develops and provides products and services in a wide variety of industries including automotive commercial vehicles heavy duty i.e. mining construction agriculture aerospace public transportation defense land defense vehicles artillery recreational i.e. maritime vehicles campers mobile homes motorcycles and energy wind solar fuel cells batteries . 7 sustainability edit comau has taken many steps towards improving the energy efficiency and reducing the greenhouse gases produced by their offices and plants . on march 16 2010 comau became the first company in italy and one of the first companies in europe to gain ww en 16001 certification 8 a standard set for energy management recognizing the improved level of energy efficiency and decreased amount of polluting emissions at their headquarters in turin . it also promotes aspects of sustainable development and social sustainability among its practices and employees . 9 product and service divisions edit body assembly edit comau designs produces tests and services advanced body welding equipment for vehicle bodies and body components . 10 body welding systems are made for low medium and high production volumes and for any size component or vehicle . products include framing systems accumulated pallet conveyors apc break away end effectors vision systems welding guns and line feeding systems . 11 powertrain systems edit comau develops produces and services manufacturing systems modular machining systems for powertrain components assembly systems for engines transmissions and components automated modules product performance simulations and testing systems that are customized to specific production facilities . 12 13 robotics edit comau has been designing and producing integrated robotic solutions since 1978 and is currently a leading international producer of industrial robots . 8 14 15 16 17 they manufacture industrial robots for a variety of industries . integrated robotics turn key systems and robotized cells are implemented mainly in the automotive industry . in 2000 comau robotics developed smart robotized cells and process integrated solutions for all payload categories which have reduced dimensions increased working volume high precision movements and positioning accuracy for spot welding 18 19 arc welding foundry laser welding press to press automation handling palletizing and sealing gluing . 20 their industrial robot products handle small medium and high payloads . they also produce robot control units . 7 the company is member of the international federation of robotics . industrial robots edit family model num . of axes payload type racer racer3 6 up to 3 kg assembly dispensing handling pick & place racer racer 999 21 6 up to 7 kg assembly handling machine tending packaging racer racer 7 1.4 6 up to 7 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing foundry handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring smart5 arc4 6 up to 5 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing dispensing handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring smart5 six 6 up to 6 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing dispensing handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring smart5 ns 6 up to 16 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing dispensing foundry handling packaging laser welding cutting machine tending measuring testing plasma cutting water jet polishing deburring press brake bending process machining wood glass machining smart5 nj 16 40 60 6 up to 60 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing dispensing foundry handling packaging laser welding cutting machine tending measuring testing plasma cutting water jet polishing deburring press brake bending press to press process machining wood glass machining smart5 nj 110 130 6 up to 130 kg arc welding assembly cosmetic sealing dispensing foundry handling packaging laser welding cutting machine tending measuring testing plasma cutting water jet polishing deburring process machining spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart5 nj 165 220 6 up to 220 kg assembly dispensing foundry handling packaging laser welding cutting machine tending measuring testing plasma cutting water jet polishing deburring press brake bending press to press process machining spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart5 nj4 hollow wrist up to 270 kg handling packaging spot welding smart5 pal 21 5 up to 470 kg handling packaging palletizing smart5 nj 290 370 6 up to 370 kg assembly foundry handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring press to press process machining spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart5 nj 370 500 6 up to 500 kg assembly foundry handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart nj 650 6 up to 650 kg assembly handling packaging machine tending measuring testing polishing deburring spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart nj press 21 6 up to 130 kg press to press press brake bending assembly foundry laser welding cutting measuring testing polishing deburring processing machining spot welding wood glass machining palletizing smart dual arm 13 up to 10 10 kg innovation and research assembly disassembly handling smart laser laser welding cutting smart5 mp up to 5 000 kg positioner module smart5 tr up to 6 500 kg roboting table smart5 ptdv 2 up to 850 kg lathe positioner references 20 22 service edit comau provides industrial maintenance services in many markets for equipment and production processes as well as asset management . 23 services include after sales assistance maintenance packages facility management and planning . 24 there are 7 000 employees worldwide who are involved in providing services according to professional maintenance partnerships using a modular approach . 25 adaptive solutions edit comau adaptive solutions designs engineers and produces industrial automation technologies . 26 technical solutions for production processes and facilities are based on the concepts of lean manufacturing to reduce waste wasted time space transportation and resources and improve efficiency . 27 aerospace edit since 1989 comau has been creating supplying and installing production process optimization integrated manufacturing equipment and assembly systems for the aircraft industry worldwide in the civil military fixed wing rotor wing exterior interior and engine manufacturing sectors . 28 the company provides airframe assemblies manufacturing process development automated tooling drilling and fastener insertion and transfer systems mobile platforms automated engine component inspection and assembly jigs and stations for