Universal Robots has debuted the UR30 at Tokyo's iREX expo, advancing its cobot lineup with an ultra-strong platform boasting 30kg payload capacity. Building on the flexible, user-friendly UR heritage, the UR30 slots between the smaller UR10e and bulkier UR20.

Weighing 63.5kg with a 51.2in reach, the UR30's compact footprint belies extreme strength suited for larger machine-tending, palletizing and high-torque applications like chassis screwdriving. New "steady mode" keeps the arm rock-steady against external forces, facilitating strenuous tasks.

The modular UR30 runs the same software architecture as siblings, fast-tracking deployment leveraging existing UR skills and tooling. VP Anders Billesø Beck explains the Goldilocks positioning - "we found that ideal combination of size and power."

Beck suggests order interest already exceeds the UR10e and UR20 in some sectors, requiring amplified capacities. The unveiling anticipates sector trends like automotive EV manufacturing and shifting food packaging needs.

With grippers advancing alongside for heavier objects, Beck says the UR30 brings "a new era of automation agility and mobility despite payload." As industries modernize around flexibility, the cobot aims to future-proof intelligent production floors.

The release also inches Universal Robots nearer a looming milestone - selling its 100,000th cobot. Having pioneered the category and dominated market share, each new UR model builds on proven usability while unlocking roles once unthinkable.

From modest plastic parts to electric truck beds, the UR series has slowly upended perceptions of what collaborative robots can reliably handle thanks to relentless reliability. As it continues redefining heavylifting, the UR30 seems primed for smashing through the six-figure shipment landmark in 2024.