IRB 930 SCARA robot from ABB is designed for pick-and-place, assembly tasks

ABB Robotics this month added the IRB 930 to its industrial SCARA robot portfolio. The company said it designed the new robot to meet the demands of new growth opportunities in traditional and new markets. The IRB 930 has three variants capable of handling payloads weighing 12 and 22 kg (26.4 and 48.5 lb., respectively).

“Our latest SCARA addition broadens our portfolio, offering our customers even more automation choices,” said Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, in a release.

“Whether 3C [computer, communication, and consumer electronics], automotive electronics, electric vehicle battery cells, or solar panels, our new IRB 930’s higher payload and longer reach brings the performance advantages of our wider SCARA range to new and traditional segments alike,” he said. “With the global SCARA market predicted to grow to $15.54 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4%, the IRB 930 positions ABB well for growth.”

IRB 930 adds speed and force

ABB Robotics said its new system is engineered for fast point-to-point tasks that demand high payloads and large work areas. The IRB 930 has three variants, which ABB Robotics claimed provide the highest payload capability of any SCARA robot in its class.

In addition, the 22 kg variant delivers a 10% increase in throughput by handling more and heavier workpieces at once, it asserted.

The IRB 930 also provides a 200% increase in stronger push-down strength, with a maximum downward force of 250N. This makes it suitable for force-intensive operations such as screwdriving and assembly tasks required when working with components such as battery cells, display panels and solar modules, said ABB.

ABB touts precision and expanded product line

The company said its OmniCore controller will power the new IRB 930 offering “best-in-class motion control through TrueMove and QuickMove alongside built-in digital connectivity and scalable functions.” The motion control delivers a cycle time of 0.38 seconds, with a repeatability deviation position of 0.01 mm, it explained.

“This performance empowers the IRB 930 to enhance hourly production rates while upholding high-quality manufacturing standards,” said ABB.

The new IRB 930 joins the IRB 910INV, IRB 920 and IRB 920T in the company’s range of SCARA robots to customers, meeting their requirements for handling payloads ranging from 3 to 22 kg (6.6 to 48.5 lb.). ABB said its high-performance robots are designed for use in various industries such as packaging and manufacturing, where high speed and high repeatability pick-and-place and assembly operations are required.

The global market for SCARA robots could expand from $6.1 billion in 2023 to $19.2 billion by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%, according to Fact.MR. It cited growing demand in the automotive, chemical, food and beverage, and chemical industries.

Similarly, industryARC listed ABB as a market leader, and it noted the utility and relatively low cost of ownership of SCARA robots for applications in the food and beverage industry.