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This section provides an overview for collaborative robots as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 collaborative robot manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked collaborative robot companies as of December, 2024: 1.Iplusmobot Technology Co., Ltd., 2.OnRobot US Inc., 3.Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co.,Ltd.
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Categories Related to Collaborative Robots
Collaborative robots are robots that allow humans and robots to work in the same work area.
Conventional robots are mainly industrial robots that perform assembly and transportation at manufacturing sites for automobiles, for example, but they are installed in dedicated automation lines, and human access is limited to maintenance.
While such dedicated automation lines can dramatically improve productivity compared to manual operations, they tend to require a large initial investment, including design, and are less flexible compared to manual operations in case of minor problems or changes in production items.
In this situation, deregulation in 2013 made it possible to introduce collaborative robots, which work side-by-side with humans. Collaborative robots can work in the same work area as humans without safety barriers, thus helping to alleviate labor shortages. Compared to conventional dedicated automation lines, the initial investment can be reduced and additional robots can be introduced without stopping the operation of the line, making it easier for small and medium-sized companies to adopt these robots.
Currently, cooperative robots are used in a variety of manufacturing sites, including food, automobiles, and electronic components, and catering robots have also been developed and are increasingly seen in our daily lives.
Collaborative robots are relatively small and can perform detailed work in a small workspace. Since they are generally equipped with cameras and image processing capabilities, they are used in a wide range of industries.
In particular, until now, parts have been manually inserted and supplied to the line with their orientation, position, etc. set, but with the acquisition of image processing capability, robots are now able to determine the color, shape, orientation, etc., of large numbers of parts, pick them, and supply them to the next process, making a significant contribution to productivity improvement.
Collaborative robots are more flexible than conventional industrial robots, with 5-axis and 6-axis joints, and are capable of high-speed, high-precision work. Equipped with cameras and sensors, they can recognize not only objects but also the surrounding environment through image processing. Some models are equipped with buttons attached to the arm to control the robot's movement instructions.
In addition, safety measures are taken to ensure that they work cooperatively in the same work area as humans. Many collaborative robots are rounded in shape to prevent injury to humans, and most of them have sensors that detect and stop operation when touched by a human.
Some robots are equipped with LED lights on the robot arm, for example, to indicate the robot's status so that the operator can check the robot's operation. Although the robots are designed with safety in mind, it is necessary to ensure safety through risk assessments by the companies that introduce the robots themselves.
When introducing a robot, whether it is an industrial robot or a collaborative robot, teaching is required to define the work operation and set the robot's control system. There are several teaching methods as follows.
Off-line teaching involves creating a program and installing it on the robot. Although it is possible to create a program if a PC is available, it is not created while checking the actual operation and environment, and there is a possibility of programming errors, making it more difficult to program complex movements or cases where multiple robots are working simultaneously. In response to this, the digital twin technology is being applied to reproduce realistic motions.
Online teaching is a method to configure a program based on the robot's operation history while operating the remote control at the actual site. Since various cases are assumed and implemented on the actual site, it is necessary to stop operation during this time.
In direct teaching, a person directly moves the robot by hand to make the robot learn the operation. The robot arm has a built-in force sensor, torque sensor, or servo motor capable of torque detection. This method automatically calculates the externally applied force, speed, and angle of rotation to compose a program, and is often used in collaborative robots in particular.
In recent years, technologies have been developed that utilize AI to create programs automatically by providing only work targets, making it possible to create work programs easily and in a short time.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Musashi Engineering, Inc. is a Japanese manufacturer specializing in fully-automated dispensing systems and equipment established in 1978 and based in Tokyo. The company produces various valve types, pneumatic and manual dispensers, and pumps that facilitate fluid transport, as well as robots and controllers that can be customized to work with different interfaces. These are primarily used in the cosmetics, automotive, electronics, and medical markets. Musashi Engineering also offers additional services like consultation, training, installation, and product maintenance to customers with demanding requirements.
OnRobot US Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Odense, Denmark, is a robotics manufacturer of tools and software for collaborative automation on various tasks, such as packaging, quality control, materials handling, machine tending, assembly, and surface finishing commonly used in industrial settings. They offer a range of products, including end-effectors, grippers, sensors, and tool changers that can be integrated with cobots from various manufacturers. They were recognized with awards such as the Gold Innovators Award and the Red Dot Design Award, and are certified by Universal Robots.
Universal Robots was founded in 2005 in Odsense, Germany as a manufacturer of collaborative robots known as Cobots. The company provides automation solutions by designing flexible industrial collaborative robotic arms that are implemented for faster production, and increased accuracy. They are light in weight so they can be easily relocated and can be reprogrammed for different applications. Besides Electronics and Technology, numerous industries benefit from Cobots including Education and Science, Food and Beverage, Medical and Cosmetics, and even Metal and Machining.
Stäubli began in Horgen, Switzerland in 1892. Stäubli designs, produces, distributes, and provides support for products for numerous industries including aerospace, alternative fuels, medical devices, packaging, photovoltaics, and semiconductors. Stäubli has 4 primary product lines including electrical connectors, fluid connectors, robotics, and textile. Electrical connector products include cable couplers, modular connectors, and test and measurement connectors. Fluid connectors include mold clamping systems, quick and dry disconnect couplings, and safety breakaway couplings. Robotics include industrial robots, collaborative robots, and mobile robots. Textile includes weaving preparation and frame weaving.
FANUC Corporation, established in 1972 and headquartered in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is a manufacturer of factory automation, robomachine, IoT, and robotics. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including, servomotor, robodrill small cutting machine, roboshot electric injection molding machine, robocut wire electrical discharge machine, and lasers. These cutting-edge products cater to a wide range of industries, spanning from automotive, health care, and aerospace to electronics. The aim of the company is to provide efficient and low-cost products to customers.
DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED was established in 1976 in Aichi, Japan provides industrial solutions through its manufacturing technology by developing and producing automatic identification equipment, industrial robots, controllers, and system solutions. The company is known for creating QR codes and cloud services, which are registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE Inc. These codes and services are used for anti-forgery measures and in business cards or catalogs. Their AUTO-ID products include terminals, scanners, RFIDs, and software that enables various operations. These products are supported by customized system solutions such as QR code solutions and IoT solutions (Internet of Things).
CKD Corporation, established in 1943 under the name of Japan Aircraft Electric Co., Ltd., is a Japanese manufacturer of automation machinery and manufacturing components, headquartered in Komaki, Aichi. Their diverse portfolio includes pneumatic and fluid control components, fine system components, drive components, and labor-saving components. The company has also developed various types of automation machinery, such as transparent object inspection systems, pharmaceutical products packaging machines, and more. These products find applications in various industries, for example their automated food packaging systems are designed for maintaining food quality and hygienic conditions. Their fluid control components are used in the solar cell manufacturing process.
NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP. is a Japanese manufacturer of industrial machinery and tools, such as bearings, hydraulic equipment, robots, and cutting tools. They also provide services such as machine maintenance and repair. The company's products are used in automotive, aerospace, construction, and electronics. One of NACHI-FUJIKOSHI's renowned products is their robotic arm, the "MZR series," which is designed for precision assembly and inspection tasks in industries. They received several awards for their technological advancements and contributions to the industry, including the 2021 Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Medal for new hydraulic equipment technology and the 2020 Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Grand Technology Award.
Iplusmobot Technology Co., Ltd., a company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, is a manufacturer of mobile robots and technologies. The company possesses sub-companies established in Tianzhen and Shenzhen. It specializes in producing logistics automatic, digital, and intelligent products for the manufacturing industry. The company’s products help enterprises increase the configuration efficiency of production and circulation resources and integrated operation efficiency and benefits. The company’s products also cater to the electronics, photovoltaic, FPD, and automobile industries.
Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co., Ltd, a company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Nanshan district, Shenzhen, Guangdong, is a manufacturer of collaborative robots and technologies. Specializing in CR, CRS, MG400, M1 Pro, and Nova, with more than a dozen collaborative robot models. The company’s products and solutions are utilized in consumer electronics, automotive, metal processing, and semiconductor industries. It also finds application in welding, palletizing, loading and unloading, and bin picking. The company received numerous opportunities to showcase its robots at events worldwide, including the Olympics, Google I/O, and more.
Shenzhen Han's Robot Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer of intelligent robots based in Shenzhen and Foshan and established in 2017, Industrial collaborative robots are among the company’s products designed to work alongside humans in shared workspaces. Han's Robot also offers the HR series of multi-sensor automated guided vehicles (AGV) for indoor item transportation. Furthermore, the company develops the STAR mobile manipulator with human-like functional capabilities such as material detection and product handling. The company’s products cater to various industries, including the automotive, healthcare, and semiconductor sectors.
Omron Automation, situated in Hoffman Estate, IL established in 1933 is a manufacturer and supplier of fully integrated automation solutions to various industries. The complete portfolio of the company provides safety services, training, and automation services to keep people safe, protect their capital investment and increase their overall equipment effectiveness. The company has 80+ years of industry experience to benefit its clients. Whether a client is looking to protect their people, understand their functional safety risks, train their team, or refurbish a robot, the company can provide customized services to meet their client's needs.
KUKA AG was founded in 1898 in Augsburg, Germany. The company is a subsidiary of GD Midea Holding Co., Ltd. and is an automation developer, designing and manufacturing robot-based automation solutions for medical, automotive, warehousing, and distribution industries. The company’s product segments include robot systems, production machines, and systems, mobility as a driver of Industry 4.0, and process technologies that provide special welding processes to factories. The company’s services include repair and servicing for robots and machines and engineering services for designing and programming robotic systems.
igus GmbH, established in 1964 and based in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of technical products made using polymers for movement. Its products include injection molding frames, motor control systems, and plain bearings, and it has over 240,000 products in over 1,000,000 variations. It serves 188,000 companies from over 80 countries worldwide in 50 different industries, including packaging, automotive, and renewable energy. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certified, and in 2023, it recorded €1.115 billion in sales. Since 2021, the company has purchased 380 new injection-molding machines and has replaced 275 old ones.
Shinano Kenshi Co. Ltd., founded in 1918 and headquartered in Nagano, Japan, is a manufacturer of drive systems and precision motors and also offers customized motion solutions. Its products include robotic grippers, drivers, actuators, blowers, and pumps, used in several industries, including automation, life environment, automotive, space, and assistive technology. The company stocks over 9000 drive system and motor models, and over 95% are customized. It is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO13485 certified, and it also acquired IATF16949 accreditation.
Omron Corporation, started in 1933 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of automation components, equipment, and systems, and it developed the first contactless proximity switch in 1960. It has four domains, including industrial automation, electronic components, healthcare, and social systems, and it provides products and services in around 120 countries and regions. Some of its products include microsensing devices, access control systems, industrial robots, surveillance cameras, and blood pressure monitors. In 1971, it developed the first online cash machine, and in 1972, it established Japan’s first welfare factory.
Desarrollo de Máquinas y Soluciones Automáticas S.L. (Demasa), founded in 1972 and headquartered in Burgos, Spain, is a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of custom industrial machinery and automation solutions. The company combines experience in material handling robotics production, food industry material handling equipment, and product inspection machines to provide custom automation solutions for individual machines, process lines, and complete plants. It provides solutions for the tire, pharmaceutical, and food industries, among others, with notable clients that include Campofrío, Bridgestone, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Alicona Imaging GmbH, established in 2001 and headquartered in Graz, Austria, specializes in the manufacturing of optical 3D surface measurement systems and metrology solutions. The company has been part of Bruker since 2019 and now operates under the Bruker Alicona brand and its product catalog includes optical measuring devices, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and software for surface metrology. It serves industries like aerospace, automotive, medical technology, and precision engineering. Its products are used for precision quality control, surface roughness analysis, and reverse engineering.
FANUC Corporation was established in 1956 and is headquartered in Japan, manufacturing of industrial robots, CNC systems, and related automation technologies. The company produces products that include industrial robots, CRX Cobots, Lasers, IoT Solutions, and various CNC systems for machine tools. These systems and technologies find applications in a broad range of industries, including automotive manufacturing, aerospace and defense, electronics production, and metalworking. They also help with automated repetitive tasks, performing complex assembly operations, and handling hazardous materials for medical device manufacturing, consumer goods products, and many more industrial applications.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iplusmobot Technology Co., Ltd. |
15.1%
|
| 2 | OnRobot US Inc. |
7.8%
|
| 3 | Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology Co.,Ltd |
7.7%
|
| 4 | Shenzhen Han's Robot Co., Ltd |
7.2%
|
| 5 | UNIVERSAL ROBOTS A/S |
7.1%
|
| 6 | NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP. |
6.1%
|
| 7 | Shinano Kenshi |
4.9%
|
| 8 | Stäubli International AG. |
4.9%
|
| 9 | igus GmbH |
4.4%
|
| 10 | FANUC |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the collaborative robot page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
5 | 38.5% |
|
China
|
3 | 23.1% |
|
United States of America
|
1 | 7.7% |
|
Denmark
|
1 | 7.7% |
|
Switzerland
|
1 | 7.7% |
|
Austria
|
1 | 7.7% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 7.7% |
238 products found
238 products
Sumitomo Corporation Machinex Co., Ltd.
370+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
■What is a collaborative robot? Collaborative robots are robots that can work together with humans. Collaborative robots, which have functions such...
4 models listed
Dyadic Systems Co., Ltd.
120+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Fast Response
■Safe, easy, low cost The robot body has a built-in servo amplifier, controller, solenoid valve, etc., and is ready to use by connecting the includ...
igus GmbH
290+ people viewing
Last viewed: 43 minutes ago
Standard Response
24 models listed
Sakurada Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
■Human cooperative robot that does not require safety fences Universal Robots is a next-generation robot that is easy to operate, friendly and coop...
Sumitomo Corporation Machinex Co., Ltd.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
■What is a collaborative robot? Collaborative robots are robots that can work together with humans. Features of collaborative robots ■Super Safe -...
2 models listed
![[Easy Programming] Collaborative robot “e-Series”/Universal Robots-Daiki Sangyo Co., Ltd.](https://metoree.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/img/products-new/3002589202405132.png)
Daiki Sangyo Co., Ltd.
170+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
■Improve productivity by realizing advanced collaborative work. We will take robot automation to new heights. The e-Series is a collaborative robot...
Sakurada Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
■Human cooperative robot that does not require safety fences Universal Robots is a next-generation robot that is easy to operate, friendly and coop...
NC Automation Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
5.0 Company Review
Next generation joint installed in UR20/30 ■Torque increases by up to 25% Demonstrates power in screw tightening, polishing, and deburring ■Speed...
Sumitomo Corporation Machinex Co., Ltd.
260+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
Standard Response
■What is a collaborative robot? Collaborative robots are robots that can work together with humans. Features of collaborative robots ■Super Safe -...
4 models listed
Linack Co., Ltd.
310+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
■ If you use an electric elevator, the pallet loading work will be quick and easier. ELEVATE ™ is an electric elevator for collaborative robot pall...
Sakurada Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
60+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
4.0 Company Review
■Human cooperative robot that does not require safety fences Universal Robots is a next-generation robot that is easy to operate, friendly and coop...
SSI Co., Ltd.
60+ people viewing
Last viewed: 9 hours ago
Anyone can teach intuitively ■Customers directly touch the robot to move it, use the mouse and keyboard while looking at the monitor, and instruct...
NICEBOT
130+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
■Collaborative robot arm that can be easily set up without any programming required Nicebot is a collaborative robot arm that is inherently safe. A...
Closer Co., Ltd.
120+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
A palletizer that anyone can easily use, even without system knowledge. Both hardware and software (developed in-house) are developed in Japan. It ...
DOBOT JAPAN Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
A new generation of collaborative robots, the CRA series features high-performance integrated joints that reduce cycle times by 25% and deliver unp...
Sanmei Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
5.0 Company Review
■From “robots that work in place of people” to “robots that work together with people” Since you can work together with people, you can easily chan...
Riversys Co., Ltd.
120+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
It is an ideal choice that can cover the diverse needs of each industry, can be quickly applied in a variety of situations due to its wide variety ...
SSI Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
The TM robot product range includes robots without cameras to accommodate customers who wish to integrate their own external cameras. TM Plug&PlayT...
Shinano Kenshi
320+ people viewing
Last viewed: 16 hours ago
Standard Response
The ASPINA robot hand is an end effector for collaborative robots. Large strokes, hollow structures, and detailed adjustments are common features.
DOBOT JAPAN Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
A new generation of collaborative robots, the CRA series features high-performance integrated joints that reduce cycle times by 25% and deliver unp...
Youibot Robotics Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 12 hours ago
The OW12 is equipped with a collaborative robot and is designed to handle 12-inch FOUP PODs in semiconductor chip manufacturing. ■Coordination of ...
