DECEMBER 6--Braintech Inc. (North Vancouver, BC, Canada; www.braintech.com) has signed a nonexclusive developer's agreement with Talk Engineering Co. Ltd. (Talk; www.talk-eng.com) to develop VGR solutions powered by Braintech's eVisionFactory (eVF) technologies specifically for the auto-manufacturing industry in Japan. Talk is a regional Japanese machine-vision developer and integrator primarily serving Japanese automobile and foods manufacturers and was introduced by Braintech to ABB Japan as a regional resource for developing TrueView solutions for the Japanese market.
Prior to consummating the Talk agreement, Braintech and its strategic marketing partner in the Far East, Marubeni Corp., mutually agreed to amend their original strategic partnership agreement, which now provides Marubeni with nonexclusive rights to Braintech's VGR solutions in the Pacific Rim. Both companies concur that Marubeni will be better positioned to promote VGR robotic systems as part of their product line-up after initial systems deployed by Talk generate an increased level of interest from the auto industry in that region of the world.
Masakazu Sasaki, president and CEO of Talk Engineering, stated, "We are delighted to partner with Braintech to help advance the manufacturing capabilities of Japanese automakers. We are convinced that by using VGR solutions powered by Braintech's eVF, Japanese manufacturers will realize multiple operational and cost efficiencies, not the least of which includes increased productivity, minimized system downtime and significant cost savings."
eVF is a component-based system, using open standards, built from the ground up specifically for robotic vision, and designed exclusively for building VGR solutions. It is a combination of advanced vision technology, systems engineering, and Internet wireless support--together producing a powerful environment for developing, optimizing, and supporting industrial automation solutions.
In related news, the company reported that Talk Engineering has issued Braintech its first purchase order for a VGR system deployment at Toyota Motor Corporation's auto-production plant in Tsutsumi, Japan, where the automaker produces the Camry, ES 300 and Prius. Braintech CEO Owen Jones added, "The Japanese have installed nearly three times as many robots as North America and have shown early signs of enthusiasm about VGR. Now, with Talk being a qualified eVF developer, we can start creating awareness in the Japanese automotive industry about the value of VGR and eVF through live system demonstrations. I believe this is an essential step forward in gaining broader market acceptance in Japan."