Manufacturer of collaborative robot arms (cobots) with payloads from 3 to 35 kg for industrial automation
Universal Robots A/S
Odense S (HQ) · Munich · Novi, MI · Shanghai · 18 branches worldwideNew on Amplifa
About Universal Robots
Universal Robots A/S is a Danish manufacturer of collaborative robot arms (cobots) headquartered in Odense. Founded in 2005 by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy and Kristian Kassow, the company is considered a pioneer of collaborative robotics, having sold its first cobot in 2008, and employs more than 1,000 people. The product portfolio comprises the e-Series (3–12.5 kg payload), the UR Series (20–35 kg payload) and the seventh-generation g-Series, complemented by controllers (CB7 Core), teach pendants (TP7 Core), the Smart Panel SP7 and the PolyScope X software platform. The cobots achieve repeatability of ±0.03 mm and are used in applications such as palletizing, welding, machine tending, assembly, material handling and quality inspection. Products are developed, tested and assembled under a unified global production model; the UR+ ecosystem offers more than 500 certified components, kits and software solutions. Since 2015, Universal Robots has been part of the US group Teradyne Inc. In 2024, a joint 20,000-m² headquarters with MiR was opened in Odense; in 2025, the milestone of 100,000 cobots sold was reached.
- Site
- Odense S
- Processes
- Palletizing, Welding (arc welding applications), Machine Tending (loading CNC and injection molding machines), Assembly, Dispensing, Finishing (Sanding/Polishing), Material Handling, Material Removal (Sanding, Drilling, Grinding, Deburring, Milling, Routing)
- Materials
- e-Series Cobots (UR3e, UR7e, UR12e), g-Series Cobots (UR10g, UR17g, UR18g), UR Series (UR20-1750, UR30-1300), CB7 Core Controller, TP7 Core Teach Pendant & SP7 Smart Panel, PolyScope X Software, UR+ Ecosystem, AI Accelerator
- Certificates
- CE Marking (Europe), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2005
- Employees
- 1000+
- Industries
- Electronics, Metal processing/Mechanical engineering, Logistics, Automotive suppliers, Food processing, Wood processing
- 01
Development and engineering in Odense (Denmark)
- 02
Manufacturing and assembly under a unified global production model
- 03
Testing and validation of every robot incl. CE conformity
- 04
Sales via a global distribution and partner network
- 05
Integration via the UR+ ecosystem (end effectors, vision, software)
- 06
Service, training and fleet management (UR Care, UR Academy)
Products & Platform
e-Series Cobots (UR3e, UR7e, UR12e)
Lightweight cobots with 3 to 12.5 kg payload and reaches of 540 to 1300 mm for workstation automation.
g-Series Cobots (UR10g, UR17g, UR18g)
Seventh robot generation with up to 17.5 kg payload, up to 1750 mm reach and speeds of up to 5 m/s.
UR Series (UR20-1750, UR30-1300)
Heavy-duty cobots with 20–25 and 30–35 kg payload respectively for palletizing and heavy handling, powered by the CB7 controller.
CB7 Core Controller
Controller of the Gen-7 platform with PolyScope X as the control center of the robot cell.
TP7 Core Teach Pendant & SP7 Smart Panel
Operating and programming components of the Gen-7 platform.
PolyScope X Software
Software platform for programming, integration and AI-enabled automation.
UR+ Ecosystem
More than 500 certified end effectors, vision systems, software, application kits and complete solutions from partner companies.
AI Accelerator
Hardware and software toolkit (with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin) for developing AI-enabled cobot applications.
Locations
Odense S, Denmark
DKHeadquarters, development and production (Energivej 51)
Munich, Germany
DEDACH sales (Universal Robots Germany GmbH, Zielstattstr. 36)
Novi, MI, USA
USNorth American Headquarters (Universal Robots USA, Inc.)
Shanghai, China
CNSales for Mainland China (Teradyne Robotics Shanghai)
Singapore
SGSales for Southeast Asia & Oceania
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PalletizingAssembly | – | – | 35 kg (Payload UR30) | – | – |
| Welding (arc welding applications)Joining | – | – | – | – | Metal (metal processing, THG Automation case study) |
| Machine Tending (loading CNC and injection molding machines)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| AssemblyAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| DispensingAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Finishing (Sanding/Polishing)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Material HandlingAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Material Removal (Sanding, Drilling, Grinding, Deburring, Milling, Routing)Machining | – | – | – | – | Aluminum (Rivimetal case study) |
| Quality Inspection (non-destructive 3D measurement, visual inspection)Inspection | ±0.03 mm (precision deviation) | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of cobot hardware (robot arms, controllers, teach pendants)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
11 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR3e-540 | – | Reach 540 mm, payload 3 kg | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR7e-920 | – | Reach 920 mm, payload 7.5 kg | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR10g-1750 | – | Reach 1750 mm, payload 8 kg (extended 10 kg) | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR12e-1300 | – | Reach 1300 mm, payload 12.5 kg | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR17g-1300 | – | Reach 1300 mm, payload 15 kg (extended 17.5 kg), 5 m/s | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR18g-950 | – | Reach 950 mm, payload 18 kg, 4 m/s | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR20-1750 | – | Reach 1750 mm, payload 20 kg (extended 25 kg) | – | – |
| Cobot / Collaborative robot arm | Universal Robots UR30-1300 | – | Reach 1300 mm, payload 30 kg (extended 35 kg) | – | – |
| Controller | Universal Robots CB7 Core | – | – | – | Odense, Denmark (Headquarters) |
| Teach Pendant | Universal Robots TP7 Core | – | – | – | – |
| Smart Panel | Universal Robots SP7 | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Compliance
Every robot undergoes testing and validation to ensure consistent performance and meets all relevant compliance requirements, including CE marking in Europe. The cobots achieve a repeatability of ±0.03 mm (30 microns).
| Evidence | Odense S |
|---|---|
| CE Marking (Europe) | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 2005
Founded by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy and Kristian Kassow at the University of Southern Denmark
- 2008
Sale of the first collaborative robot; the first commercially viable cobot
- 2012
MWP Award in England for the best automation system
- 2013
Best Robotics Provider at the Asian Manufacturing Awards
- 2015
Launch of the tabletop cobot UR3; acquisition by Teradyne Inc.
- 2016
Launch of UR Academy and the UR+ ecosystem
- 2017
2nd place on Fast Company's list 'Most Innovative Robotics Companies'
- 2018
Launch of the e-Series; Esben Østergaard receives the Engelberger Robotics Award
- 2019
Launch of the UR16e (16 kg payload); 'Company of the Year' from Frost & Sullivan
- 2020
50,000 cobots sold
- 2021
Payload of the UR10e increased to 12.5 kg
- 2022
Presentation of the UR20 (20–25 kg) at Automatica Munich; opening of the 100th training center; groundbreaking for new HQ in Odense
- 2024
Presentation of the AI Accelerator; opening of the new joint HQ with MiR in Odense (20,000 m², space for 600 employees)
- 2025
Milestone: 100,000 cobots sold