Universal Robots UR30

The UR30 is Universal Robots' heavy-capacity cobot, released in 2023 with a 30 kg rated payload and 1300 mm reach. It shares the PolyScope environment with the rest of the UR line, so operators moving up from a UR10e get productive quickly. Use it where a smaller cobot has been running out of headroom on part weight or fixture size.

Rated payload is 30 kg, and the UR manual allows 35 kg under specific boundary conditions on posture and dynamics. Quote the 30 kg figure by default and only rely on 35 kg after reviewing the manual against your part and tooling. Parts near the top of the boundary window can still cycle, they just need the constraints checked.

Common jobs include palletizing, machine tending, and collaborative assembly on medium and heavy parts. The 1300 mm reach covers a full pallet from one side with the right base height. For very tall stacks you may still need a lift column or a second arm.

Repeatability is ±0.1 mm pose repeatability per ISO 9283, which is the standard UR reports across the current cobot line. That is not micron-level, so precision insertion still benefits from compliant tooling or vision guidance. Plan your orientation moves and fixture tolerances accordingly.

The arm mounts in any orientation and is IP65 rated, so ceiling, wall, and angled bases are on the table. Mass is 63.5 kg, so any cart, pedestal, or mobile base should be sized for the arm plus tooling and full payload. Confirm PolyScope Control Box location and cable reach at layout time.

Collaborative operation still requires a risk assessment, and fenceless speeds are usually lower than a caged arm of similar reach. Many integrators add a SICK safety scanner or safety PLC integration to allow higher speeds when the operator is out of the zone. Compare against smaller cobots if you need lighter payloads or a tighter footprint.