Head to head
ABB IRB 1600 vs Comau Racer-5
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Compact fast arm tuned for arc welding cells
Compact fast arm for assembly and light handling
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the ABB IRB 1600 carries more, 10 kg to the Comau Racer-5's 5 kg, and the ABB IRB 1600 reaches farther, 1450 mm to 809 mm. If precision drives the job, the Comau Racer-5 holds the tighter repeatability at ±0.03 mm. They run different controllers, the ABB IRB 1600 on the IRC5 and the Comau Racer-5 on the R1C, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the ABB IRB 1600 lists Floor, Wall, Shelf, Tilted, and Inverted, and the Comau Racer-5 lists Floor, Ceiling, and Wall. Both are aimed at machine tending, with the ABB IRB 1600 stretching to arc welding and material handling and the Comau Racer-5 to assembly and dispensing.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the ABB IRB 1600 when
- High acceleration for short-cycle welding
- Compact envelope for tight fixture layouts
- Reliable in multi-shift welding duty
- Strong integrator familiarity
Watch for
- Payload limits it to light tooling
- Reach is modest for large-part welding
Choose the Comau Racer-5 when
- Low weight for flexible mounting orientations
- Fast cycle times for light-payload tasks
- Slim arm profile for tight fixtures
- Simple to relocate between cells
Watch for
- Low payload limits heavier tooling
- Short reach for large fixture layouts
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- ABB
- Controller
- IRC5
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the ABB IRB 1600 run through ABB's IRC5 stack.
- Brand
- Comau
- Controller
- R1C
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Comau Racer-5 run through Comau's R1C stack.
These arms run different controllers (IRC5 vs R1C). If your team already programs one of them, retraining programmers and stocking a second set of spares usually costs more than a small payload or reach advantage on paper.
Mounting, footprint, and mass
How the arm can be oriented in the cell, and how much mass you have to mount.
| Field | ABB IRB 1600 | Comau Racer-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor, Wall, Shelf, Tilted, and Inverted | Floor, Ceiling, and Wall |
| Robot mass | 250 kg | 32 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP54 body / IP67 wrist (sensitive parts); IP67 optional Foundry Plus 2 | IP54 |
Heavier arms want stiffer bases and more clearance around the swept volume, and they push freight and rigging costs up on the install. IP ratings only cover the section they name, so a wrist-only rating protects the wrist and nothing else; check the body rating separately before you commit the arm to a washdown or dusty cell.
Application fit
Where each arm is aimed, based on the applications listed on its robot page.
Both pages list machine tending, with the differences below.
ABB IRB 1600 also covers
Comau Racer-5 also covers
Speed and cycle-time planning
Speed is rarely a single datasheet number across brands. Use payload, reach, and class as the planning frame, then confirm cycle time in a path study.
The ABB IRB 1600 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 10 kg at 1450 mm with ±0.05 mm repeatability. The Comau Racer-5 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 5 kg at 809 mm with ±0.03 mm. Class changes how speed shows up in a cell: collaborative arms slow down near people and can speed up in a guarded mode, while industrial arms run at rated speed inside a fence or scanner field. Which arm cycles faster on your part depends on the path, the payload, and the safeguarding, so confirm the takt with a path study before you quote it.
Common questions
- Which has more payload, the ABB IRB 1600 or the Comau Racer-5?
- The ABB IRB 1600 has more payload at 10 kg versus 5 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The ABB IRB 1600 has more reach at 1450 mm versus 809 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The Comau Racer-5 holds tighter repeatability at ±0.03 mm.
- Should I choose the ABB IRB 1600 or the Comau Racer-5?
- Match the pick to the job. The ABB IRB 1600 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 10 kg and 1450 mm. The Comau Racer-5 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 5 kg and 809 mm.
- Do the ABB IRB 1600 and Comau Racer-5 use the same controller?
- No. The ABB IRB 1600 uses IRC5 and the Comau Racer-5 uses R1C.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The ABB IRB 1600 is rated IP54 body / IP67 wrist (sensitive parts); IP67 optional Foundry Plus 2. The Comau Racer-5 is rated IP54. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.