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Yaskawa Makes Slovenia its Main European Robotics Base with New Investment
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Japanese industrial robotics giant Yaskawa has opened a new distribution center and robotic-systems production facility in Kočevje, Slovenia, consolidating more of its European operations at the site. The expansion, announced recently, is designed to strengthen Yaskawa’s robotics business in Europe by centralizing logistics and shortening delivery lead times. The European Robotics Distribution Center (ERDC) will lower logistics costs and improve inventory management, while the relocation of Yaskawa Ristro from Ribnica to Kočevje brings development, production and system-factory functions onto the same campus.
Yaskawa originally built its Kočevje factory in 2017, receiving state support equal to 25% of the investment value. The new expansion, totaling about $31 million, adds approximately 10,000 square meters for the ERDC and another 10,000 square meters for Yaskawa Ristro. This raises the site’s manipulator production capacity to 850 units, allowing the company to serve more industries, including construction, agricultural machinery, and automotive customers.
By the end of Yaskawa’s 2027 financial year, at least 80% of orders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa are expected to be processed in Kočevje. The new production facility will take over robot production from Yaskawa’s other Slovenian location in Ribnica, consolidating the company’s Slovenian operations at one site. The Slovenian government said this makes the Kočevje complex Yaskawa’s largest facility in Europe.
Yaskawa Europe President Par Tornemo emphasized the benefits of short supply chains for customers amid current global economic conditions. “At the robotics plant in Kočevje, we can now offer them primarily large and very large robotic welding systems,” he said in the announcement. The Slovenian government noted Yaskawa also cited the site’s proximity to the port of Koper, local environmental support, and available space as advantages.
Slovenian Economy Minister Anže Logar expressed continued support for investments tied to high added value and advanced technologies. “In Slovenia, we’re not afraid of robots,” Logar said. “Our task is not to defeat them but to create the conditions that will attract other high tech companies to Slovenia.” He encouraged Yaskawa to promote Slovenia as a location for regional centers.
Yaskawa Slovenija President Hubert Kosler stated that the company did not apply for similar state funding this time because the investment would have required creating new jobs. Instead, Yaskawa received €800,000 through an open call from SPIRIT Slovenia. Founded in 1915, Yaskawa provides robotics, drives, and control systems, with annual sales of about €3.6 billion and 215 employees in Kočevje.
The expansion positions Yaskawa to better serve European markets with improved efficiency and capacity. As the company continues to integrate its Slovenian operations, the Kočevje site is expected to become a central hub for robotics development, production, and distribution. This strategic investment underscores Yaskawa’s long-term commitment to Europe and its confidence in Slovenia as a manufacturing base.
