CARSON, CA-EPSON Robots has hit on a novel way of promoting its new Micro PowerDrive controller: The company is giving one away, along with an E2 SCARA robot, in what the company is calling its "North American robot giveaway."

"North American Manufacturers are working hard to keep jobs in North America by improving and automating their factories" says Michael Ferrara, director of EPSON Robots. "Now, for the first time ever, EPSON Robots is going one step further to help one North American Manufacturer by giving them a free industrial robot to help them compete."

According to EPSON, the Micro PowerDrive provides high performance at low cost. "We call it first-class performance at a coach price," says Ferrara. The North American robot giveaway is open to all manufacturers in the United States and Canada (except Quebec). For more information, call 562-290-5910 or visit www.robots.epson.com/freerobot.htm?giveaway.