KUKA Rolling Out Foundry Robot Line

March 28, 2005
Floor- and shelf-mounted units for demanding applications

KUKA Robotics Corp. has developed a new line of robots for foundries and diecasters, and is introducing them to the North American market. KUKA, based in Clinton Twp., MI, is a subsidiary of KUKA Roboter GmbH, Augsburg, Germany, a leading global manufacturer of industrial robots.

KUKA plans to demonstrate the new line of foundry robots at CastExpo 2005 in St. Louis, April 16-19.

The floor-mount robots in this series consist of 11 models that handle payloads from 16 to 500 kg. The line's low-profile, shelf-mounted robots are offered in six models that handle 16- to 210-kg payloads. Each mechanical model can be configured in dozens of variations.

The foundry robots are designed for high-duty cycle applications, and offer heat and contamination protection so customers may automate more applications with a longer robot life and reduced maintenance needs. The wrists of the new robots are IP 67-rated to operate trouble free in harsh environments. The wrists and forearms are coated with a corrosion-resistant and high-heat reflecting finish, so they function for short periods in environments up to 180°C. They reach up to 3,700 mm, giving them a larger work envelope. The line's mounting options give customers the flexibility to install on the floor, wall, ceiling, or on top of a casting machine.

Joe Campbell, director of strategic alliances for KUKA Robotics Corp., said: "KUKA robots have No. 1 marketshare in Europe, and are highly regarded throughout the foundry, diecasting, and forging industries. We're bringing the industry's broadest foundry product line to the U.S., which will assure our customers can optimize their complete range of applications."

KUKA’s 5- and 6-axis robots range from 3-kg to 500-kg payloads, and 635-mm to 3,700-mm reach, all controlled from a common PC-based controller platform.