ABB Robotics is expanding its large robot range with four new models and 22 variants offering more choices, increased coverage, and greater performance. Specifically, the next-generation models include the IRB 6710, IRB 6720, IRB 6730, and IRB 6740, suitable for payloads ranging from 150kg to 310kg, with a reach from 2.5m to 3.2m. These new additions offer automotive customers greater choice and significant performance and energy efficiency improvements.

Moreover, ABB is launching two new variants of its GoFa^TM collaborative robot. The GoFa 10 and GoFa 12 offer new possibilities for companies to leverage cobot automation for enhanced efficiency. Handling payloads of up to 10 and 12 kilograms with market-leading repeatability, the cobots can handle an expanded range of tasks in close collaboration with workers, addressing skills and labor shortages while improving safety and productivity. Offering straightforward programming and rapid integration into production environments, the new variants lower barriers to entry for first-time users, educators, and SMEs.

Designed for Automotive Industry

“Sustainable production is a major priority of automotive manufacturers, with 78 percent of companies identifying it as important to their business and a further 77 percent identifying it as a priority for their customers,” said Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division. “ABB’s four new robots offer 22 variants and energy savings of up to 20 percent, responding to our customer’s needs; offering more choice and greater flexibility for more sustainable production. These new robots will help our customers build resilience across a range of industries including automotive, general manufacturing, foundry, food and beverage and logistics.”

ABB’s OmniCore^TM controller and lighter robot design drive improved energy efficiency, thus leading to energy savings of up to 20 percent. OmniCore also offers high motion control accuracy. Featuring ABB’s TrueMove and QuickMove motion control technology, the robots can achieve class-leading repeatability with a minimum of 0.03mm deviation. Mainly, these capabilities make the new series of robots ideal for complex tasks. These include spot welding, laser welding, screwdriving, and riveting, allowing automotive manufacturers to achieve high-quality assembly.

“Our new robot range meets the needs of the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) industry. As manufacturers ramp up production of EVs and batteries, they can choose from a wide range of ABB robots to ensure they have the right variant to handle batteries of varying sizes, from individual cells and modules to complete packages. They can also perform tasks such as high-precision car body assembly and spot welding, and enter restricted areas within a vehicle to install seats or dashboards.” said Joerg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line.

Lowers SME’s Barrier to Automation

“Since we launched our YuMi cobot in 2015, we have built an industry-leading cobot portfolio meeting growing demand for safe and easy-to-use automation solutions to plug gaps in skilled labor,” said Segura. “Addressing the need for collaborative robots with higher payloads and longer reach, our GoFa 10 and 12 cobots extend the benefits of automation to new industrial applications, even for first-time users.”

In addition to their enhanced payloads, the GoFa 10 and 12 cobots offer class-beating tool center point (TCP) speeds of up to 2m/sec with 0.02-mm of deviation for greater repeatability – a two-fold improvement over comparable solutions. They are IP67-certified against moisture and dust ingress. Thus, they extend the benefits of fast and accurate collaborative robotics to new industrial applications, automating demanding tasks such as machine tending, welding, parts handling, polishing, and assembly. Specifically, the GoFa 10 has 1.62-meter reach – 14 percent more than others in its class and enough to cover US pallets. This feature makes it ideal for palletizing applications.

Also, the GoFa 10 and 12 cobots are straightforward to program, deploy, and use, lowering barriers to automation for first-time users and SMEs. Setup is made easy with lead-through programming and ABB’s Wizard easy programming software. This allows even non-specialists to quickly automate their applications by manipulating simple graphical command blocks rather than writing complex programming code.

The ABB SafeMove app features safe speed limits, standstill monitoring, and orientation supervision. Thus, it enables close collaboration between robots and factory workers without requiring bulky protective barriers or fencing.  Also, the ABB SafeMove app is pre-installed on the cobots’ ABB’s FlexPendant robot controller.

ABB’s OmniCore^TM controller powers the GoFa 10 and GoFa 12 cobots. The combination of OmniCore’s class-leading motion control, provided by ABB’s TrueMove and QuickMove motion control technologies and GoFa’s intelligent torque and position sensors, ensures the smooth movements needed for high-precision surface finishing, fastening, assembly, and testing tasks. Energy-saving features including power re-generation and brake energy recovery reduce power requirements by up to 20 percent, enhancing sustainability.

Both the GoFa 12 cobot and the four new robot models will be making their debut at ABB’s stand at Automatica 2023 (Hall B5, booth 319, June 27th-30th).