New ABB SWIFTI CRB 1300 industrial cobot delivers speed, accuracy, and safety

ABB has launched the SWIFTI CRB 1300 industrial collaborative robot, bridging the gap between industrial and collaborative robots. Combining speed and accuracy with expanded load handling capability of up to 11kg, the cobot can be used in a wide variety of production and product handling applications – from machine tending and pelletising to pick-and-place and screwdriving.

“Our customers are looking to robotic automation to make their processes more flexible, efficient and resilient, helping to counter labour shortages by enabling their employees to perform more value-added work,” said Andrea Cassoni, Managing Director for Global General Industry Robotics at ABB. “The latest addition to our SWIFTI family is a highly accurate, high payload cobot that’s up to six times faster than other robots in its class.  This means it can be used by both SMEs and large manufacturers looking for collaborative automated solutions to achieve new levels of flexibility and productivity.”

Featuring a high-quality design, backed by expert support, the SWIFTI CRB 1300 incorporates several features that can improve production efficiency by up to 44% compared to other cobots in its class.  In a typical palletising application, SWIFTI’s speed and performance enable it to handle up to 13 boxes per minute compared to the nine boxes possible with other cobots in its class.

Powered by ABB’s OmniCore C30 and C90XT controller, the SWIFTI CRB 1300 is up to five times more precise than any cobot in its class, making it ideal for tasks requiring consistent accuracy and repeatability. This, combined with a top speed of 6.2m/s, and payload options from 7kg to 11kg enables the SWIFTI CRB 1300 to perform a range of higher payload tasks including screwdriving, assembly, pick-and-place, and palletising. With protection against dust and moisture (up to IP67), it can also be used in demanding environments, making it ideal for machine-tending applications.

The SWIFTI CRB 1300 prioritises operator safety, with a safety laser scanner integrated with ABB’s SafeMove collaborative safety software. The technologies enable safe collaboration to be achieved without the space and cost associated with installing protective fencing or other physical barriers.

If the laser scanner detects a worker within SWIFTI’s operating area, ABB’s SafeMove software will automatically slow the robot or stop it completely. As the worker moves away, movement will be restored, returning to full speed for full productivity only once the working area is completely clear. As a further protective measure, a built-in interaction status light provides a visual indication of the cobot’s status when a worker is within the workspace area. Integrating the scanner and software is simple, with SafeMove’s software add-ins enabling workers to quickly set up a safe working zone and other safety features using their handheld FlexPendant operating unit.

The same simplicity applies to programming the SWIFT CRB 1300. Users can set up the robot by either physically guiding it through a process (lead-through programming), or through ABB’s new Wizard Easy Programming software. Based on simple graphical blocks, Wizard Easy Programming makes programming accessible for non-specialists in robotics.

The SWIFTI CRB 1300 is part of a wider cobot portfolio covering payloads from 0.5 to 11kg, with options including the YuMi single and dual-arm robots, the GoFa CRB 15000 and the SWIFTI CRB 1100 industrial collaborative robot for payloads up to 4kg.