Kawasaki Robotics Embarks on New Automated Horizons at IMTS

Students and long-time machinists will both find robots matched to their needs at Kawasaki Robotics’ booth. At this year’s IMTS, the company is debuting and demonstrating a wide variety of robotic automation products, including a 3D-printed entry level robot, a full line of cobots and a robot arm integrated with a Hurco machine.

The company’s launch of the Astorino, a 3D-printed educational robot, marks its first foray into the educational space, with company representatives saying it is available for a lower price than competitors’ learning robots even as it includes training programs for students in high schools and technical schools. Kawasaki Robotics is demonstrating the robot not only in its booth, but also at the Smartforce Student Summit, which the company is participating in for the first time.

Kawasaki’s soft launch of its CL cobots expands to a full showing at IMTS 2024. In addition to a tube bending demonstration, the company has an interactive demo unit on display that attendees can move around. In providing this demo unit, Kawasaki hopes to demonstrate its robots’ “Zero G Force” technology, which enables users to move the robot with minimal force and resistance, simplifying the teaching process for its cobots.

A Hurco mill equipped with a robotic arm is also on display at the booth, in celebration (and demonstration) of Kawasaki Robotics and Hurco’s new strategic partnership. Buyers of Hurco machines will now be able to integrate Kawasaki robots as a no-code, turnkey automation solution targeting large and heavy parts.

In addition to this machine, Kawasaki is demonstrating a welding robot equipped with its new turnkey positioners. Company representatives say that these modular positioners enable simple reconfiguration within a certain set of dimensions.