KUKA Introduces the KR IONTEC ultra Industrial Robot for Compact Power

KUKA’s latest industrial robot is slim yet still capable of lifting heavy payloads. The new KR IONTEC ultra is suited for working in confined spaces without subtracting lifting potential or overall reach. For all of this capability, the robot is also designed to be easy to install, configure, program, and maintain, making it useful in full-scale production environments where downtime quickly translates to lost revenue.

The new KUKA IONTEC ultras have a payload range of 80 to 120 kg and a reach of 2,300 to 2,700 mm. Image used courtesy of KUKA

KR IONTEC ultra

The new KR IONTEC ultra industrial robot occupies only a small space, considering its capability. With a lift capacity of 80 kg to 120 kg and a reach of 2300 mm to 2700 mm, the new robot rounds out KUKA’s robotics catalog. It bridges the gap between medium and large-capacity lifting robots, fitting in compact robotic welding cells. In terms of the KUKA catalog, it has a smaller footprint than KUKA’s QUANTEC line of robots, with little loss of lifting capacity.

The KR IONTEC ultra can be used to perform spot welds by attaching a lightweight welding gun, move battery clusters with the proper grip, and perform numerous other tasks. The automotive sector, particularly the electric vehicle (EV) market, will especially benefit from this versatile robot.

Entry-Level Robotics

One of the key advantages of the KR IONTEC ultra is its ease of setup and programming. Just like other KUKA products, it is programmable using KUKA.PLC mxAutomation. Each machine is supplied with a controller and is ready for configuration onsite. It can be mounted on the floor or the ceiling. Setup is designed to be painless, with intuitive software and hardware instructions, as this robot is geared towards entry-level automation.

The new KUKA IONTEC ultra is particularly suited for use in handling and spot welding applications. Image used courtesy of KUKA

In terms of maintenance, the robot only needs to have its oil changed every 20,000 operational hours. This means more time in production and less time spent on repairs and maintenance tasks. Furthermore, the in-line wrist design means no belts are required. As belts are often the weak point that must be replaced frequently, a beltless design also reduces downtime. No belts, no straps for the attachments, and infrequent oil changes make this robot easy to maintain and a good entry-level robot for those who are ramping up production and need automation.

Handling, Welding, and Beyond

While KUKA is well-known in virtually all automated fabrication facilities, the company expects the KR IONTEC ultra to have the largest impact in spot welding operations and material handling, particularly of battery packs. These two markets often meet in the EV manufacturing space, where hauling heavy battery packs and welding components unit-bodies are required.

Besides these operations, the KR IONTEC is capable of performing cutting, mechanical machining and polishing, materials separation, pick and pack, machine tending, additive manufacturing, and other such operations.