What Is GE Fanuc? Unveiling the Powerful Legacy, History, and Products

GE Fanuc is an iconic name in CNC automation and industrial control systems. Their contribution has had a lasting impact on modern CNC machining techniques as well as industrial robotics.

In this article, we explore the history, product offerings and key applications of GE Fanuc to give an in-depth introduction. Here you’ll gain an understanding of what exactly GE FANUC is.

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Introduction

GE Fanuc was formed as a joint venture between General Electric (GE) and FANUC to provide cutting-edge automation solutions for industrial applications. Established by Thomas Edison in 1928, GE is one of the premier global industrial engineering and technology firms while FANUC holds 70% global market share in numerical control (CNC) technology, having over 250,000 robots installed globally since 1956.

GE Fanuc combined GE’s industrial expertise and FANUC’s advanced CNC technology, offering automation hardware and software solutions to businesses to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and increase profits. They played an instrumental role in developing CNC systems, PLCs, industrial automation platforms to meet industry requirements such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, medical technology manufacturing and defense applications.

In December 2009, General Electric (GE) and FANUC announced the dissolution of their joint venture, returning business operations back to each parent company and creating GE Intelligent Platforms while continuing independent operations by FANUC. Emerson Electric later acquired this business for further integration of industrial automation capabilities in network energy, process optimization and industrial control systems.

Even after its dissolution, GE Fanuc’s legacy lives on through its automation technologies being widely utilized in contemporary industrial applications.

GE FANUC shake hands

GE Fanuc Brand Overview

Origins and Development

GE Fanuc was officially formed as a joint venture in 1988 between General Electric (GE) and FANUC to combine American industrial engineering expertise with Japanese CNC innovation, providing comprehensive solutions for industrial automation, motion control, process optimization and more.

GE Fanuc was an industry-leader when it comes to CNC controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and automation software – providing industries with precision, efficiency, and high reliability an invaluable advantage. Furthermore, the company pioneered Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs), which offered greater flexibility and performance compared to traditional PLCs.

Evolution and Dissolution of GE Fanuc

For nearly two decades, GE Fanuc played an essential role in global industrial automation. On December 11th 2009 however, both parties officially ended their partnership, each returning to its respective business operations:

  • FANUC continued its dominance in CNC systems and robotics, remaining at the forefront of industrial automation worldwide.
  • GE Intelligent Platforms has recently taken over GE Fanuc’s automation business, providing industrial software, PLCs and control systems for manufacturing and process industries.

Emerson Electric acquired General Electric’s automation division in 2018 for $2.5 billion, further integrating GE Fanuc’s technologies into Emerson Electric’s industrial automation portfolio while also guaranteeing continued support and development for legacy GE Fanuc products.

Although GE Fanuc no longer operates as a joint venture, its technologies continue to play an integral role in CNC machining, industrial automation and robotic manufacturing. Numerous factories, production facilities and OEMs still depend on its components for efficiency, precision, durability and performance – whether FANUC’s cutting-edge CNC controllers or GE’s industrial automation platforms; their legacy continues to impact manufacturing and automation.

Core Products of GE Fanuc

CNC Control Systems

GE Fanuc is known for their reliable CNC control systems, such as:

  • Series 0: A widely used entry-level CNC system.

  • Series 16 & Series 18: Designed for mid-to-high-end machining applications.

  • Series 21: Optimized for compact CNC machines.

PLC Controllers

GE Fanuc’s PLC systems control complex industrial automation processes. Popular models include:

  • GE Fanuc 90-30: A modular PLC used in various manufacturing applications.

  • GE Fanuc 90-70: Designed for large-scale automation systems.

I/O Modules and Automation Equipment

GE Fanuc also produced I/O modules and industrial automation hardware, ensuring seamless integration between CNC machines, servo systems, and robotics.

Conclusion

GE Fanuc remains an icon in industrial automation even after dissolving their joint venture. From CNC machining centers to automated production lines, its technology continues to power industries globally.

If you are looking for GE Fanuc replacement parts or repairs, visit CNCFixtech’s online store to explore our inventory. Need expert support? Contact us today!

What Is GE Fanuc?

GE Fanuc was an industrial automation firm established as a joint venture between General Electric (GE) and Fanuc. Specialized products included CNC control systems, servo drives, and PLCs.

Unfortunately, the joint venture between Fanuc and GE ended in 2009 but its products remain widely used; replacement parts can even be easily obtained.

  • Fanuc is a Japanese company specializing in CNC controls, servo drives and robotics; whilst GE Fanuc was formed as a joint venture combining GE’s industrial expertise with Fanuc’s CNC technology.
  • Upon the dissolution, Fanuc focused solely on CNC automation while General Electric’s division merged with Emerson and ABB.

Many companies, such as CNCFixtech, provide GE Fanuc spare parts, repairs and technical support services. Servo drives, motors or CNC controllers may all be found within our product catalog; please browse around.

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FANUC Repair Process

How we process your repair requirements

Step 1: Contact Us:

Get in touch with us and provide as much detail as possible about the issue you are experiencing.

Our professional repair team will help assess the severity of the problem and the possibility of repair.

  • If the fault is likely repairable, we will provide an initial quote and arrange for logistics to collect the item.
  • If the fault is difficult to repair, we will suggest replacing the parts and offer a special discount quote for your reference.

The customer sends or delivers the servo drive to our company. We register it in our system and prepare it for further inspection.

Our engineers diagnose the fault points of the servo drive and provide a detailed inspection report, including the final repair cost and estimated repair time.

We provide the repair quote to the customer and wait for their confirmation. If the customer agrees to the quote, we proceed with the repair. 

Upon customer approval, we carry out the necessary repairs. After repairs are completed, we perform tests with the motor and conduct aging tests to ensure the servo drive operates reliably under various conditions. Once the testing is successful, we register the drive for delivery.

The customer completes the payment, and we deliver the repaired servo drive to the customer.

We provide attentive follow-up service to ensure customer satisfaction and address any further needs.

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