KUKA Expands KR CYBERTECH Robot Portfolio with New Medium Payload Automation Models

KUKA Expands KR CYBERTECH Robot Portfolio with New Medium Payload Automation Models

(IN BRIEF) KUKA has expanded its KR CYBERTECH industrial robot portfolio with new 25 kg and 35 kg payload variants designed for the medium payload automation segment. The robots offer improved repeatability, flexible mounting options and a newly developed robotic hand that enhances rigidity and path accuracy for demanding applications. Both models are compatible with the new KR C5 slim controller, iiQKA.OS2 operating system and KUKA smartPLUG teach pendant, forming a compact and scalable automation package. The robots are also AI-ready and compliant with ISO 10218:2025 standards, enabling manufacturers to integrate them into advanced, future-focused production environments.

(PRESS RELEASE) AUGSBURG, 5-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — KUKA has expanded its KR CYBERTECH robot portfolio with two new models designed for the medium payload segment, introducing variants capable of handling 25 kg and 35 kg loads. The new additions aim to close a gap in the company’s automation lineup while delivering improved performance, installation flexibility and compatibility with modern digital manufacturing environments.

The latest models are part of the newest generation of the KR CYBERTECH family and reflect a broader industry trend toward more powerful robotic systems without increasing physical size. According to KUKA, the robots provide enhanced performance while maintaining the same compact footprint as earlier versions.

Product Manager Markus Hollfelder-Asam explained that the new robots respond to increasing demand for machines capable of delivering higher productivity without requiring additional floor space. The new models also offer improved repeatability, supporting more precise automation tasks across various industrial applications.

Both robot variants are designed for versatility and can be installed in multiple configurations. They support flexible mounting options and can be positioned on the floor, wall or at different angles depending on production requirements. This flexibility allows manufacturers to integrate the robots into a wide range of automation environments.

The robots are suitable for numerous tasks including material handling, machine loading and unloading, pick-and-place operations and product testing. Their adaptable design enables them to be deployed in industries where speed, precision and reliability are critical.

A key feature of the new models is a redesigned central robotic hand. The updated wrist structure improves rigidity, enabling the robots to perform more demanding tasks that involve additional process forces. This design improvement supports faster pick-and-place operations and improves performance in handling applications.

The new robotic hand also delivers greater path accuracy, which is particularly important in precision manufacturing environments such as photovoltaic production. To ensure durability in industrial settings, the hand has a standard protection rating of IP67, making it resistant to dust and splash water.

KUKA has also introduced a new controller variant called the KR C5 slim, designed to work with the updated KR CYBERTECH robots. The controller is compact and powerful, allowing it to fit into production environments where space is limited while still providing the performance required for advanced automation.

The KR C5 slim controller can be expanded with additional drive units installed in available slots within the controller cabinet, enabling users to scale their automation systems as production needs evolve.

The robots are designed to operate with KUKA’s iiQKA.OS2 operating system and the KUKA smartPLUG teach pendant. Together, these components form a fully integrated automation solution intended to support future-ready manufacturing systems.

KUKA noted that the robots are AI-ready and comply with the latest ISO 10218:2025 safety standards for industrial robots. This ensures compatibility with emerging technologies such as AI-driven production systems while meeting modern safety requirements for collaborative and automated environments.

With the addition of the new payload variants and the introduction of the KR C5 slim controller, KUKA aims to offer manufacturers a flexible automation package capable of supporting modern production demands across multiple industries.

Media Contact:

Sandra Hirsch
Global Content Marketing Manager
KUKA Deutschland GmbH, Zugspitzstraße 140, 86165 Augsburg, Germany
+49 160 92695911

SOURCE: KUKA