In context
In October 2025, collaborative robots were increasingly expected to match the speed and payload of traditional industrial robots while retaining safety and ease of integration. Universal Robots, a market leader in cobots, addressed this demand by expanding its UR Series with the UR18, targeting high-throughput applications in logistics, automotive, and food and beverage.
What was reported
Universal Robots launched the UR18, an industrial collaborative robot designed for power and speed in a compact form. It features a 950 mm reach, supports larger end effectors, and achieves motion speeds up to 4 m/s, making it suitable for fast-paced pick-and-place, assembly, and material handling.
Weighing only 39 kg, the UR18 can be easily installed on standard gantry systems, reducing the need for costly infrastructure changes. It ships with UR's upgraded freedrive and advanced motion capabilities, including OptiMove and MotionPlus, which enhance control and smoothness.
The UR18 holds UL1740 certification, enabling safe human-robot collaboration and simplifying compliance with industrial safety standards, thus accelerating factory-floor integration.
Why it mattered
The UR18 represented a step toward closing the performance gap between cobots and traditional industrial robots, offering manufacturers a flexible, safe, and high-speed automation option that could be deployed quickly without major facility modifications, potentially boosting productivity in sectors with high-volume handling needs.
“The UR18 gives manufacturers more capability without compromise.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-10-06 · “Universal Robots launches new collaborative robot”