Universal Robots unveils new long Cobot at Fabtech

In an exhibit floor full of robots and robotic processes and accessories, Universal Robots made news during the Fabtech show with the addition of a fast collaborative robot that is fast and has a long reach.

Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Universal Robots, as well as parent company Teradyne, introduced at Fabtech the company’s newest Cobot, the UR8L. 

Hathout said the “L” stands for long, and the collaborative robot “brings all the qualities and the high performance” of the UR-15 platform that it introduced at the Automate show last May. The platform brings the highest speeds to the company's portfolio.

“So [it features] speed, accessibility and it's long," Hathout told Cutting Tool Engineering. "It has a long reach, which allows applications like welding, like inspecting, like bin picking; and it does that at much higher speed, up to 6 meters per second. It's the speed of a traditional robot with the qualities of a Cobot working with people in a very safe environment.”

It features a 1,750 mm (68.9 in.) reach that it combines with a rugged, compact, lightweight form, featuring an 8 kg (17.6 lbs.) payload. Hathout said these features makes it ideal for space-constrained setups and industrial tasks, from complex weldments to precision dunnage picking and flexible multi-point inspections.

Its longer reach means it can cover more space, and its advanced features open new ways to automate work that used to be done by hand. Advanced technology for synchronized robot motion, intuitive programming and inverted mounting, the UR8 Long runs with both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X, UR’s software platform, and can be extended with MotionPlus - UR’s new advanced motion control technology that allows for ease of integration with linear axis, rotary positioners and rotary turntables for precise control, smoother trajectories, and consistent accuracy. 

Combined with UR’s upgraded free drive capabilities, users can manually guide the arm with precision and ease - making “lead-to-teach programming” more intuitive and enabling quick, ergonomic setup even on complex parts, all without the need for layered interfaces or external tools. UR8 Long’s lighter mass - 30% less than the UR20 - and compact wrist design also make it suitable for mounting on gantries, rails, or overhead systems, where external axes can operate more efficiently.

For example, at Fabtech showcased its bin-picking capabilities. It showed the UR8L picked up parts from a full dunnage bin into a separate container. The longer reach, combined with the new robot’s compact tool flange and fast wrist joints, allows more pick positions and for the robot to reach deep into bin corners with ease. The improved joint architecture delivers up to 30% faster cycle times compared to earlier generations of Cobots.