Listen to this article

FANUC America has introduced the  LR-10iA/10 robot designed for machine tending, assembly, dispensing, material removal, picking, packaging and part transfer.

The LR-10iA/10 robot weighs in at 101 lbs (46 kg), and can be mounted to the floor, upside down or on an angle. The robot also mounts to an AGV or other mobile platform to accommodate a variety of repetitive tasks or automate machines that are standing idle.  

The LR-10iA/10 has a 22 lb (10 kg) payload and a reach of 43 inches (1101 mm). FANUC made the robot for companies with limited floor space, and the slim arm fits into machine tools to load and unload parts. 

A fully enclosed structure features built-in airlines, solenoid valves and electrical utilities. An IP67 rating allows it to operate in industrial environments with dust, water and oil mist.

Powered by the FANUC R-30iB Mate Plus Controller, the LR-10iA offers integrated iRVision, force sensing and Zero Down Time (ZDT).  ZDT reduces unexpected down time, helps users maximize production throughput, optimize maintenance costs, increase the life of their robots and access data from anywhere via the ZDT web portal.

Here are some of the key features of the robot: 

• Internal valves, built-in user airlines, solenoid valves and I/O signals.
• Can be mounted to an AGV or other mobile platform.
• 22 lb (10kg) payload with full work envelope; can handle 28 lbs (13kg) with restricted envelope.
• Fully enclosed design with standard IP67 rating.
• 6 controlled axes.
• Designed for machine load/unload and part picking.

FANUC will begin shipping production units of the new LR-10iA/10 in January 2022.

In April 2021, FANUC released its LR Mate 200iD/14L, the 10th model in its LR Mate series of tabletop industrial robots. These smaller robots, with a reach of 35 inches (911 mm), and weight of 59 lbs (27 kg), can be used in the automotive, e-commerce and warehousing, food and beverage, medical device, pharmaceutical and many other industries. 

FANUC invested 26 billion yen ($24 million) in its Shanghai, China plant in March 2021. In the next three years, FANUC hopes to expand the  Shanghai facility five-fold to remain dominant in the Chinese market it currently leads.