A new facility for the research, development and production of robotic manufacturing systems has been opened in France by KUKA Systems Aerospace.

The facility is in Le Haillan, a suburb or Bordeaux.

"This exceptionally well-equipped building enlarges our footprint so we can continue expanding our business," says Philippe Prat, managing director of KUKA Systems Aerospace – Le Haillan. "It makes a strong statement to current and prospective KUKA customers – the giants of aerospace worldwide and their Tier 1 suppliers – about our capability to support our KUKA-branded products and automate more assembly processes."

End effectors are units attached to the end of a robotic arm that perform specific production or logistical tasks. Among those tasks in aerospace assembly are drilling, riveting, fastening, lifting, positioning or applying a coating, adhesive or sealant.

KUKA Systems Aerospace, a subsidiary of Germany's KUKA AG, is headquartered in the United States. U.S. customers include Boeing, Northrop Grumman (whose assembly line for F-35 center fuselages was built by KUKA), and Bell Helicopter. Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Stelia Aerospace are among its European customers.

KUKA said it acquired the French facility in 2014 from Alema Automation, a manufacturer of aerospace tooling solutions for robotic platforms.