Universal Robots A/S today launching an updated version of its UR10e collaborative robot arm. The Odense, Denmark-based cobot leader said the UR10e's increased payload capacity of 12.5kg (27.55 lb.) came in response to customer feedback and expands potential applications such as palletizing, machine tending, and packaging. The robot’s price remains unchanged, said Universal Robots.
“Universal Robots is committed to continuous improvement based on meaningful conversations with customers and our ability to address critical market opportunities,” stated Kim Povlsen, president of Universal Robots. “Our customers have already deployed UR cobots on a wide variety of palletizing applications.”
“Over time, they have identified opportunities to utilize our UR10e cobot in handling tasks with heavier items,” he said. “In response to this demand, we have enhanced the UR10e to support greater payloads, providing customers with exciting new deployment capabilities.”
UR10e offers more help to human co-workers
Universal Robots said the enhanced UR10e retains the small footprint, intuitive programming experience, repeatability, and performance that its customers have come to expect. The vendor claimed that the cobot's increased payload capacity enables users to do more, including the following:
- The UR10e can now be used in palletizing applications with cartons weighing up to 10kg (22 lb.) and a 2.5kg (5.5-lb.) gripper.
- The UR10e can be used in other materials handling tasks, such as loading and unloading heavier workpieces in machine-tending deployments and packaging of heavy items.
- The enhanced payload capacity of the UR10e can relieve humans from more lifting tasks, leading to improved ergonomics and working conditions. With overexertion and repetitive motion accounting for an estimated 24% and 8% of workplace injuries respectively in the U.S. alone, this provides significant relief to human workers.
“Humans are not designed to lift heavy goods repeatedly, but our cobots handle these tasks with ease,” said Povlsen. “By taking over unergonomic activities, UR cobots boost productivity, improve product quality, and help businesses rethink how to best use the creative and problem-solving abilities of their workforce –all while keeping people safe.”
Positive user feedback
Universal Robots said that partner feedback has been very positive so far. For example, MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH in Germany has integrated the UR10e as part of its CoBo-Stack stacking cobot.
“Increasing the payload of the UR10e will make our MBO CoBo-Stack much more profitable for our customers by expanding their application possibilities to include larger packages and heavier products, such as perfect-bound or saddle-stitched catalogs and brochures,” said Sebastian König, head of research and development at MBO Postpress Solutions.
In addition, Universal Robots noted that the updated UR10e includes plug-and-play compatibility with products from its UR+ ecosystem of hardware and software peripherals, so users can quickly and easily get started with collaborative applications.
“The greater payload of UR10e makes a big difference to palletizing applications by enabling users to handle loads up to 12.5kg in weight,” said Nicolas Lauzier, senior product manager at gripper maker Robotiq Inc. “And with 25% greater automation potential, it also means that the UR10e can help whenever there is a single line that needs to palletize a wide range of products of different weights.”
Universal Robots said that customers can place orders with its global distributors now, and shipments of the new UR10e are scheduled to start in the second half of June.
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