Will robots run the factories of the world? There may be clues in Japan.
Kyoto-based Nidec Corp. makes motors of all sizes that show up in just about everything: your car, your washing machine, even hard-disk drives from back in the day. The company was founded in 1973 by Shigenobu Nagamori, an acquisitive and ambitious billionaire who counts Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp.'s chief, among his inner circle.
Nidec effectively created its now-crucial market, becoming a key supplier to computer hardware and consumer electronics makers. The firm has since acquired more than 40 companies.