Mitsubishi Electric acquires ASTES4 SA

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, an MC Machinery automation solutions partner with its U.S. headquarters in Cypress, Calif., has acquired Swiss-based ASTES4 SA (ASTES4).

ASTES4 SA develops and produces patented automated sorting solutions for sheet metal laser processing machines.

Mitsubishi Electric will offer integrated solutions to the global market with ASTES4’s automated sorting systems embedded into Mitsubishi Electric’s high value-added sheet metal laser processing machines.

“This acquisition by our global partner Mitsubishi Electric is exciting to us at MC Machinery because it means our customers now have direct access to a premium sorting solution for their laser automation needs,” says Shane Herendeen, North America sales manager for fabrication at MC Machinery. “Shops of all sizes are requiring more speed and agility to get the job done and sorting can be a bottleneck if you don’t have the right solution in place.”

Mitsubishi Electric’s sheet metal laser processing machine business is developing globally in Japan, the Americas, Europe, China, Southeast Asia and India. The lack of skilled workers and the ability of fiber lasers to produce higher volumes creates a demand to increase productivity by automating sheet metal laser processing, including pre-and post-processing.

Sheet metal laser processing involves loading the material, laser cutting, unloading cut materials as well as removing and sorting cut parts from the frame. Lately, the worldwide demand for such sorting solutions is on the rise.