The plant, whose construction started in November 2017, is to manufacture seven different types of robots. It will bring jobs with high added value, according to Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek.

The government has supported the EUR 24.6m investment with EUR 5.6m.

The Ribnica-based Yaskawa Ristro said last year that the number of staff in Kočevje is to stand between 60 and 70 until March, and rise to between 120 and 150 until March 2020. Then, the production is expected to reach 6,000 robots a year. By 2023 the headcount is to reach around 200.

In addition to the plant, the Japanese group plans to establish an R&D centre in Kočevje to strengthen and upgrade cooperation with faculties and institutes, including the Faculty Of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Jožef Stefan Institute.

Yaskawa Electric acquired the Germany-based Slovenian company Motoman Robotec in 1994 and founded Yaskava Ristro in Ribnica two years later.

Also based in Ribnica is Yaskawa Slovenija, which covers the sales in Slovenia and on former Yugoslav markets.

The new robot factory in Kočevje, with almost 10,000 sq metres of usable area, will be run by Yaskawa Europe Robotics.

Last May, Yaskawa announced plans to build another plant manufacturing robotic hand components next to the one opening in the spring. The EUR 20-30m facility is to employ up to 250 people.

Construction is expected to start in April and production is to be launched within two years.

The Slovenia-based facilities are to cover about 75% of demand for Yaskawa's products in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.