The perfectly-formed robot

In making this award for the KR 150, KR 180 and KR 210 standard robots, KR 150 K, KR 180 K and KR 210 K shelf-mounted robots and the KR 180 PA palletizing robot, the contest judges likewise recognized the latest KUKA robot generation for the continued expansion of its range of uses and benefits.

The standard robots are distinguished by greater reach, higher carrying capacity and improved acceleration capacity. In addition, the spectrum of potential applications has been broadened thanks to the robots’ significantly increased flexibility. What is more, this latest generation boasts significantly lower maintenance requirements and thus even higher availability.

The same applies to the shelf-mounted robots, with which KUKA is setting new standards for space-saving robots which can carry out their tasks from above. They can be used to implement integrated automation concepts in combination with machine tools and injection-molding and die-casting machines, and can thus take on many tasks which were formerly the exclusive province of linear feed systems.

The KUKA palletizing robot KR 180 PA guarantees extremely efficient palletizing processes. The advantage this “palletizing expert” has over conventional robots is primarily due to its application-specific, FEM-optimized kinematic system. Its arm is made of carbon fiber composite material (CRP), and has truly remarkable acceleration rates. Despite its lightweight construction, the arm demonstrates extremely high stiffness characteristics, allowing the KR 180 PA to stack loads weighing up to 180 kg to heights of up to 3000 mm. 

In the contest, which was organized by industrie Forum Design Hannover, the KUKA robots succeeded in competition against about 1,100 other qualified contestants. This year, entries were received for some 2,000 products, from firms in 35 different countries. Entries from outside of Germany accounted for nearly 40% of the total. Attendance each year of 300,000 visitors from industry, design and the media attests to the leading role and the growing reputation of the iF design award among other prizes in the field of design.

KUKA Roboter GmbH, a subsidiary of IWKA Aktiengesellschaft, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial robots. The company’s core competencies are the development, production and sale of industrial robots, controllers, software and linear units. In 2000, the company achieved total sales of more than DM 500 million, with an output of over 6,500 robots.