ABB Robotics has launched the PoWa cobot range. It covers six payload classes from 7 kg to 30 kg, with speeds reaching 5.8 m/s. Those are numbers more commonly associated with industrial robots, not cobots. Target applications include machine tending, palletizing, arc welding, and screwdriving processes that have historically been too demanding for collaborative setups.
ABB projects the cobot market will grow at 20% annually through 2028, fuelled by small and mid-sized manufacturers looking to automate heavier, faster tasks without the complexity or the safety fencing of traditional industrial robots. PoWa addresses that gap directly.
Setup is straightforward: arm-mounted buttons enable no-code programming, and units are operational in under an hour from unboxing. The robots work alongside people without fencing, certified for collaborative safety while delivering industrial-grade motion control.
