VFR opens drone production base "Azumino SORA Factory" --Drone Journal

On December 10, 2021, VFR opened "Azumino SORA Factory" in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture as a production base for accelerating the social implementation of drones in Japan.

Until now, development prototypes and mass production prototypes were carried out at the "VFR Incubation HUB", and after mass production, production was outsourced to an affiliated company, VAIO. Mass production trial production and after mass production will be carried out at Azumino SORA Factory in sequence.

The company has been conducting development prototypes and mass production prototypes at the incubation HUB opened last year, but due to the increase in the number of developed models and the needs of a wide variety of drones from small to large, the facility alone can handle everything from development to mass production prototypes. It has become difficult to do. In addition, in order to realize the non-visual flight (level 4) in the manned area in 2022, which is the goal of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, it is necessary to develop and prototype new materials and structures, and to perform higher quality control in mass production.

Against this background, the Incubation HUB will be used as a base for development and trial production for the realization of Level 4 aircraft, and the newly opened Azumino SORA Factory will be used as a base for mass production and trial production. In addition, Azumino SORA Factory will prepare an environment for parts proposals using 3D printers in order to quickly respond not only to assembly but also to structural changes in prototypes. The company plans to continue to introduce new equipment and use it as a place to provide feedback from mass production sites to development.