Kuka launches new range of Fortec industrial robotic arms

Industrial robot maker Kuka has launched a new range of Fortec industrial robotic arms, saying that they especially meet the new requirements of the electromobility sector.

The company says the robots of the KR Fortec ultra family “set new standards” in the heavy payload range from 480 kg to 800 kg, adding that they are ideally rated for high payloads and moments of inertia.

The new Kuka KR Fortec ultra family includes five robot variants – each ideally suited to a specific application. The KR 800, for example, handles payloads up to 800 kg. The two KR 480 variants reach up to 3,700 mm.

The High Inertia variants of the KR 640 and KR 560 increase the maximum permissible mass moment of inertia significantly with extended grippers.

Wolfgang Bildl, portfolio manager at Kuka, says: “We developed the robots of the new KR Fortec ultra family in close cooperation with our customers. They are our response to the automotive industry’s changing requirements, with bigger vehicles, heavy batteries and very large components for electric cars.”

The most striking feature of the new KR Fortec ultra family of robots is its double link arm, an innovative design that reduces weight while it ensures high stiffness and accuracy.

This reduces the use of materials, which results in higher dynamic performance, optimal cycle times, less energy consumption and a lower CO2 footprint.

Bildl says: “To cover a payload range of 800 kg and high mass moments of inertia, customers of other manufacturers must settle for robots in the next payload class up, which are significantly heavier and more cost-intensive to purchase and maintain.”

With a first-class power-to-weight ratio, the new KR Fortec ultra family eliminates these drawbacks.

Kuka says the “very high Mean Time Before Failure” of up to 400,000 hours offers customers low spare parts costs and high availability.

Furthermore, the robots of the new KR Fortec ultra family meet all customer upkeep requirements, with very good component accessibility and ease of maintenance and repair.

For example, these robots need only three forms of maintenance: oil changes, visual inspection, and lubrication of the cable set and the bearings on the counterbalancing system.