Universal Robots has expanded its leading product portfolio of collaborative robots (cobots) with the announcement of a 30kg payload cobot.

UR30 is the second in Universal Robot’s new series of innovative, next-generation cobots. It embodies the same architecture as the award-winning UR20. Despite its compact size, UR30 offers an extraordinary lift. Moreover, its superior motion control ensures the perfect placement of large payloads. This allows it to work at higher speeds and lift heavier loads.

Overall, these features make UR30 ideal for several applications. Among them are machine tending, material handling and high torque screw driving. For machine tending, the high payload brings new possibilities as it allows the cobot to use multiple grippers simultaneously. This means it can remove finished parts and load more material in one single pass, shortening changeover times and maximizing productivity.

Moreover, UR30 will effectively support high torque screw driving as it can handle larger and higher-output torque tools. Thanks to a steady mode feature UR30 delivers straight and consistent screw driving. This will be beneficial in, for example, the automotive industry.

In addition to this, the 30kg payload makes UR30 a great match for material handling and palletizing of heavy products across all industries. Its small footprint enables it to fit into almost all workspace, thus relieving humans of the heavy lifting. Weighing only 63.5kg, it can also be easily moved between work cells.

“The higher payload and greater flexibility underpin a new era in automation. Industries around the world are embracing more agile manufacturing and modularity in production – part of achieving that modularity and agility is about mobility, and this cobot delivers that despite its payload,” said Kim Povlsen, the company’s president.

“As industries evolve, UR30 not only meets but anticipates shifting demands, enabling businesses to adapt and respond to changing needs effectively. As we continue to innovate, the UR30 is another step in UR’s journey in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of automation” Povlsen continued.

The UR30 is available for pre-orders now and will begin shipping in Q1 2024.