TOYKO -- Shipments of surface mount production equipment rose 76% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, the Japan Robot Association said.

Shipments hit 47.2 million yen, up 75.5% from the period ended Dec. 31, 2009. Exports, which made up 41.9 million yen of the total, were up 75.3% for the period.

JARA is the leading trade group for Japan-based equipment OEMs. Its 36 members include major placement equipment makers such as Fuji, Hitachi, Juki, Panasonic, Sony and Yamaha.