NEW COBOTS AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT MODELS IN THE ABB ROBOTICS PRODUCT LINE

ABB Robotics has expanded its range of large robots with four new models and 22 variants, offering more options, greater energy efficiency and higher performance. The new models, comprising the IRB 6710, IRB 6720, IRB 6730 and IRB 6740, are capable of handling weights between 150 and 310 kg and have a reach of between 2.5 and 3.2 metres.

Marc Segura, President of ABB’s Robotics Division, underlines the importance of sustainable production in the automotive industry, with 78% of companies considering it a top priority. To meet customer needs, ABB’s four new robots offer 22 variations and energy savings of up to 20%. Across a range of industries, including automotive, general manufacturing, foundries, food and beverage and logistics, these robots will help increase resilience.

ABB’s OmniCore controller and the robot’s lighter weight design have enabled 20% energy savings and highly accurate motion control. The systems, which include TrueMove and QuickMove technologies, achieve “world-class” repeatability with a minimum deviation of 0.03 mm. These capabilities enable high-quality assembly in complex tasks such as spot welding, laser welding, screwing and riveting, which benefits automotive manufacturers.

ABB Robotics’ new range of robots targets the growing electric vehicle (EV) sector and offers manufacturers a wide range of options for handling batteries of different sizes. These robots have the ability to do jobs such as precisely assembling the external parts of cars, welding them together and fitting seats or the dashboard into tight spaces in vehicles. As manufacturers ramp up production, they can choose the right robot for their needs.

ABB’s large robots debuted at Automatica 2023 performing spot welding and loading and unloading parts for electric vehicle battery trays. The parts will be fed by an autonomous mobile robot.

GoFa 10 and 12 are ABB’s new collaborative robots that can handle weights of 10 and 12 kg and perform a wider range of activities with good repeatability. The development and integration of these cobots into production environments is simplified, reducing barriers for novice users, trainers and SMEs.

Since 2015, ABB has created a portfolio of cobots unmatched in the industry to address the growing demand for safe and easy-to-use automation solutions to close the skilled labour gap. Even for first-time users, the GoFa 10 and 12 cobots can be adapted to new industrial applications thanks to their higher payloads and longer reach. These cobots double the performance of comparable systems with tool centre point (TCP) speeds of up to 2 m/s and repeatability of 0.02 mm. They are capable of difficult operations such as machine tending, welding, part handling, polishing and assembly, as they are IP67 certified against moisture and dust penetration. The GoFa 10 can cover US pallets and has a range of 1.62m, 14% more than competitors in its class.

The GoFa 10 and GoFa 12 cobots are easy-to-use robots with Wizard software, which allows non-specialists to automate applications using simple graphical commands. The ABB SafeMove monitoring application, pre-installed on the FlexPendant robot controller, enables human-machine collaboration without the need for bulky guarding barriers. The combination of intelligent torque and position sensors and the OmniCore controller ensures smooth motion for high-precision tasks.

ABB has introduced its ABB Robotics Ecosystem programme, which integrates third-party add-ons such as gripping devices, vision systems and custom software with ABB’s product range. The programme gives users access to innovation from ABB Robotics’ rapidly growing ecosystem. The GoFa 12 cobot debuted at ABB’s Automatica booth, showcasing its use in high-precision machine tending and ultra-light palletising applications.

ABB introduced its ABB Robotics Ecosystem programme, which merges ABB’s product portfolio with external accessories such as grippers, cameras and specialised software. Users of the programme have access to cutting-edge technology from the ever-expanding ABB Robotics ecosystem. The GoFa 12 cobot debuted at ABB’s Automatica pavilion, highlighting its use in ultra-lightweight palletising and high-precision machine tending applications.

Customers in automotive, electric vehicles and other industries will have more options thanks to the new robots, according to ABB.