KUKA unveils KR FORTEC industrial robot

KUKA AG has revealed its KR FORTEC industrial robot. This latest robot fits between KUKA’s KR QUANTED and KR FORTEC ultra robots. 

This latest industrial robot has an extended arm that has a reach of 145 in. (368.3 cm) and can handle payloads of up to 529 lb. (240 kg). The company said that with the KR FORTEC, it hopes to deliver versatility with a smaller footprint. Its compact shape makes it suitable for tasks such as handling and spot welding, according to KUKA. 

“We developed the KR FORTEC to achieve a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and to launch a resource-saving product on the market,” stated Maximilian Pettkuhn, portfolio manager at KUKA, in a release. “The KR FORTEC is up to 700 kg [1,543.2 lb.] lighter than its predecessor.”

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Modularization means lower costs for customers

KUKA said it provides cross-model modularization to ensure a high transmissibility of robot series components. The company said that modularization results in lower costs for spare part storage. Customers can expand the KR FORTEC’s working envelope with the KL 4000 linear unit, which is modularly adaptable between 4.9 and 98.4 ft (1.5 and 30 m). 

Also, KUKA noted that KR QUANTEC can fit on the KL 4000. This enables customers to use the KL 5000 with the KR FORTEC ultra on the same linear unit. Customers can use this feature to continue adapting and combining products to meet their individual requirements, the company claimed. 

The KR FORTEC features two in-line wrists adopted from the KR QUANTIC and the KR FORTEC ultra models. The wrists are waterproof and dustproof as standard equipment. The robot can operate between 0º C and 55º C, and foundry variants are available for harsh and dirty environments. 

KUKA.MixedReality software

Last week, KUKA released its KUKA.MixedReality software, which visualizes the environment of robot cells live on smartphones. The company says the system aims to support fast, safe, and intuitive robot startup.

With the new software, the company said that users can detect and correct errors quickly, which can accelerate installation and increase safety. For example, the software can simulate robot motion with a virtual gripper. To prevent damage to either part, any potential collisions that show up in the augmented reality environment can be prevented early in the real environment. 

The program consists of the KUKA.MixedReality Assistant app, plus the KUKA.MixedReality Safe technology package, which is installed on the robot controller. This allows users to simulate scenarios from their phones. 

Augsburg, Germany-based KUKA is one of the world’s leading suppliers of robotics. The Midea Group unit’s robots work in a variety of markets, including automotive, electronics, metals and plastics, consumer goods, e-commerce and retail, and healthcare.