ABB Robotics is expanding its large-robot offering with four new models and 22 variants. These comprise the IRB 6710, IRB 6720, IRB 6730 and IRB 6740; they accommodate payloads ranging from 150 to 310kg, and offer reaches from 2.5 to 3.2m, along with energy efficiency improvements.
Marc Segura, president of ABB’s Robotics Division, said: “Sustainable production is a major priority of automotive manufacturers, with 78% of companies identifying it as important to their business and a further 77% identifying it as a priority for their customers. ABB’s four new robots offer 22 variants and energy savings of up to 20%, responding to our customer’s needs of 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.”
The improved energy efficiency is driven by ABB’s OmniCore controller and lighter robot design. OmniCore also offers high levels of motion control accuracy; it features ABB’s TrueMove and QuickMove motion control technology and allows robots to achieve a minimum of 0.03mm deviation. ABB says these capabilities make the new series of robots ideal for complex tasks such as spot welding, laser welding, screwdriving and riveting, capabilities that allow automotive manufacturers to achieve high-quality assembly.
Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics’ Automotive Business Line, added: “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.”