News In Brief

Japan to boost production of robots by 25 percent

Japan reportedly will increase its production of industrial robots by 25 percent this year, turning out about 30,000 of them worth $1 billion. The Japan Industrial Robot Association said Friday there was unflagging demand for the robots.

Some companies have already established unmanned factories, where engineering tasks continue around the clock with only a computer in control during the night shift.

There are about 130,000 robots in Japanese factories, most of them in the car industry performing simple manipulation and welding tasks.