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Fuji Corporation has developed a new unit, the Auto Kitting Station, which automates the tape reel loading process (kitting process) for feeders used to supply electronic components to machines; a process that has traditionally been difficult to automate and heavily dependent on manual labor.
The Auto Kitting Station integrates with Fuji’s advanced NXTR A model placement machines, Smart Storage*, as well as AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) and automated warehouses from various manufacturers. Fuji has developed the world’s first system that automates the loading of tape reels into feeders in coordination with an automated collection and transport system for tape reels and feeders that operates in accordance with production schedules (according to Fuji research, as of May 2026).
This seamlessly connects the entire flow from storage to supply of electronic components in surface mount technology (SMT) manufacturing sites, contributing to the unmanned operation of production preparation areas.
Development background
Automation in SMT processes has advanced significantly in recent years. Fuji has been advancing automation at every stage, from component storage and management to transport and production preparation support inside and outside production lines, toward realizing smart factories.
Through the expansion of the Fuji-developed NXTR A model and integrated production system, Nexim, as well as collaboration with AMRs from various manufacturers, automation of component supply inside and outside production lines has been achieved. However, kitting operations in preparation areas have remained dependent on manual labor. In high-mix, low-volume production environments, this has led to challenges such as increased workloads during product changeovers and difficulties in securing labor.
The Auto Kitting Station was developed to address these issues by automating kitting operations, thereby advancing automation in preparation areas and contributing to the realization of unmanned SMT processes.
