ABB
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish technology group headquartered in Zurich, formed in 1988, whose Robotics division is one of the world's largest makers of industrial robots. In 1974 an ABB team led by Björn Weichbrodt built the IRB 6, the first commercial microprocessor-controlled, all-electric industrial robot. ABB Robotics has since made welding, painting and handling robots, the fast FlexPicker for food lines from 1998, and in 2015 YuMi, which it called the world's first truly collaborative dual-arm robot. It also builds collaborative robot arms, autonomous mobile robots, added through the 2021 purchase of ASTI Mobile Robotics for US$191 million, and the OmniCore control platform. The division had about 7,000 employees and US$2.3 billion of revenue in 2024, roughly 7 percent of ABB's total, and is led by ABB Robotics president Marc Segura. On 8 October 2025 ABB agreed to sell the division to SoftBank Group for US$5.375 billion, replacing an earlier plan to spin it off. The deal, cleared by the European Commission in March 2026, was expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.
💡Notable Achievement: ABB agreed on 8 October 2025 to sell its Robotics division, which had US$2.3 billion of 2024 revenue and about 7,000 staff, to SoftBank Group for US$5.375 billion.
What Does ABB Do?
ABB is a Zurich technology group whose Robotics division, agreed to be sold to SoftBank Group, is one of the world's largest industrial robot makers, from the 1974 IRB 6 to the collaborative YuMi.
“A 50-year industrial robot pioneer changing hands.”
Pioneering History
The IRB 6 in 1974 was the first commercial microprocessor-controlled, all-electric industrial robot.
Broad Portfolio
Industrial arms, the YuMi collaborative robot, autonomous mobile robots and OmniCore control.
SoftBank Deal
A US$5.375 billion sale to SoftBank Group, cleared by the EU in March 2026.
What Can ABB Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Industrial automation from small-parts assembly to heavy handling.
Collaborative Assembly
YuMi works safely next to people on small parts.
Precision Handling
IRB 1200+ handles compact, fast tasks.
Heavy Payloads
IRB 6750S, 6730S, 6760 and 760PT handle heavy loads.
Mobile Robots
Flexley Mover carries loads around sites.
ABB Robots
Showing 7 of 7 total models
ABB Flexley Mover P603
By: ABB
Launched: 2025
The ABB Flexley Mover P603 is a compact autonomous mobile robot (AMR) designed for heavy-duty intralogistics, handling payloads up to 1500 kg with a lifting height of 160 mm. Featuring AI-driven Visual SLAM navigation for ±5 mm positioning accuracy without reflectors or infrastructure changes, it achieves speeds up to 2 m/s (1.5 m/s with max payload) and turn-on-spot capability. Its modular design enables easy integration of top modules like roller/chain conveyors or custom interfaces via no-code AMR Studio software. Ideal for tight spaces, it offers 24/7 noiseless operation, bidirectional drive, load center-of-gravity monitoring for stability, and compliance with ISO 3691-4/ANSI 56.5. Supports diverse loads including pallets, containers, racks; applications span manufacturing, automotive, logistics for end-of-line handling, kitting, line supply, goods-to-robot transport.
IRB 6760
By: ABB
Launched: 2025
The IRB 6760 is a high-endurance articulated robot optimized for press tending, featuring reinforced axes 1 and 6 for 25% longer lifetime and 7% better cycle times, achieving up to 15 strokes per minute. Available in variants IRB 6760-200/3.2 (200 kg payload, 3.2 m reach) and IRB 6760-150/3.5 (150 kg payload, 3.5 m reach), it excels in heavy-duty tasks with IP67 protection and OmniCore control. Ideal for automotive press lines, material handling, assembly, packaging, welding, milling, deburring, and cutting. Its superior payload, extended reach, and precision enable flexible integration in dynamic production environments across general industries, consumer goods, and electronics, boosting productivity and reliability.
IRB 6730S
By: ABB
Launched: 2025
The IRB 6730S is a next-generation large articulated robot from ABB, offering payloads from 130 to 270 kg and reaches up to 4.0 m across six variants, including LeanID (LID) options for optimized cable management. Powered by OmniCore controller, it delivers class-leading performance with position repeatability of 0.06 mm, path accuracy to 0.9 mm, and up to 20% energy savings compared to predecessors. Designed for unmatched productivity in harsh environments, it features IP67 protection, modular design for flexible mounting, and enhanced rigidity for precision tasks. Ideal for material handling, spot welding, die casting, machine tending, material removal, cleaning, spraying, and high-precision operations in automotive and general industries. Its lean structure reduces weight by up to 10%, supports floor or inverted mounting, and ensures sustainability with lower power consumption.
IRB 6750S
By: ABB
Launched: 2023
The IRB 6750S is a high-performance shelf-mounted articulated robot from ABB's large robot family, designed for heavy-duty industrial applications. It offers superior payload capacities up to 350 kg and reaches up to 3.9 m across six variants, enabling efficient material handling, die casting, injection molding, spot welding, and press tending. Powered by OmniCore controller, it delivers class-leading path accuracy of 0.9 mm and repeatability of 0.06 mm, with 20% energy savings over predecessors. Its modular design shares components for lower ownership costs, while shelf mounting optimizes space with enhanced downward reach for multi-level layouts. LeanID DressPack reduces cable wear, supports offline programming, and boosts uptime. Ideal for high-density production in automotive and foundry environments, it enables coordinated multi-robot operations for increased productivity.
IRB 1200+
By: ABB
Launched: 2015
The ABB IRB 1200+ is a next-generation 6-axis articulated industrial robot family offering payloads from 5 to 9 kg and reaches up to 0.9 m. Powered by OmniCore controller, it delivers class-leading path repeatability of 0.03 mm and pose repeatability to 0.011 mm at speeds up to 1600 mm/s. 20% lighter design reduces energy use and mounting costs. Variants include IRB 1200-5/0.9, -7/0.7, -8/0.9, -9/0.7 for high-precision tasks. Suitable for harsh environments with IP40/IP67, Foundry Plus 2, Clean Room, and Food Grade options. Ideal for compact cells with 15% smaller footprint and 10% faster cycles in material handling, machine tending, assembly, polishing, dispensing, packaging, and electronics.
YuMi
By: ABB
Launched: 2015
YuMi is the world's first truly collaborative dual-arm industrial robot by ABB, designed for safe human-robot interaction without fences or barriers. Featuring two lightweight 7-axis arms with 559 mm reach and 0.5 kg payload per arm, it excels in small parts assembly for consumer electronics, consumer goods, and SMEs. Padded arms, integrated grippers with cameras, and lead-through programming enable precise, flexible operations like pick-and-place, sorting unsorted parts, and high-speed cycles (0.86s for 25x300x25mm). Powered by OmniCore or IRC5 controller, it supports easy integration via Ethernet, offers 0.02 mm repeatability, and mimics human dexterity for agile tasks. Versatile mounting and collision-free paths enhance productivity in collaborative environments, combining human adaptability with robotic precision.
ABB IRB 760PT
By: ABB
Launched: 2020
The ABB IRB 760PT is a 4-axis industrial robot designed for press tending and palletizing applications, capable of handling payloads up to 450 kg with a reach of 3.18 meters. It features a high torque wrist enabling fast, precise movements and 25% faster cycle times compared to other press automation robots. Its compact design allows integration into existing production lines, while the robot’s high wrist inertia supports handling heavier and larger products efficiently. The IRB 760PT supports automatic tooling changes and can be combined with linear axes or Twin Xbar systems to optimize part handling without reorientation. It is widely used in automotive, beverage, chemical, and building materials industries for high-output, full-layer palletizing and press automation.
ABBSoftware & AI Ecosystem
Developer platforms, fleet management portals, autonomy intelligence, and enterprise integrations
OmniCore
Robot Control Platform
Next-generation control platform that ABB says makes its robots faster, more precise and more sustainable, after more than US$170 million of investment.
ABB Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
Fanuc
→Model: P-50iB
Focus: Industrial robot maker
Yaskawa
→Model: MOTOMAN-GP10
Focus: Industrial robot maker
KUKA
→Model: KMP 1500P
Focus: Industrial and mobile robots
Kawasaki
→Model: Kawasaki BX200L
Focus: Industrial robot maker
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
→Model: MELFA RH-10CRH
Focus: Industrial robot maker
What Makes ABB Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Half a century of industrial robot experience, from the 1974 IRB 6.
- ✓US$2.3 billion of 2024 robotics revenue and a global customer base.
- ✓Portfolio spanning industrial arms, cobots and mobile robots.
Core Strategic Focus
Completing the sale to SoftBank Group and integrating physical AI.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Orders and revenue declined from 2023 to early 2025, which led to the divestment.
- •Leadership transition as robotics president Sami Atiya leaves by the end of 2026.
ABB vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
| Strategic Dimension | ABB YuMi | Universal Robots UR18 | Comau MyCo | Denso COBOTTA PRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Focus | Dual-arm collaborative robot | Collaborative robot arm | Collaborative robot | Collaborative robot |
| Weight | 38 kg | 39.2 kg | 18 kg (MyCo-3) upward | 28.5–41 kg |
| Est. Price | USD 45,000 – 65,000 | USD 50,000 – 60,000 | USD 30,000 – 80,000 | USD 25,000 – 40,000 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Articles & Industry News
Showing 7 recent articles and news updates about ABB
ABB’s Flexley Mover P603 targets heavy intralogistics with compact AI navigation
News about ABB Flexley Mover P603
ABB's IRB 6760 Achieves 900-Parts-Per-Hour Production Rate
News about IRB 6760
IRB 6730S Boosts Spot Welds 70 to 80 in 15 Seconds
News about IRB 6730S
ABB IRB 6750S Boosts Spot Welds 14% in 15 Seconds at Automatica 2025
News about IRB 6750S
ABB's IRB 1200+ Delivers 9kg Payload, Superior Speed in 2025
News about IRB 1200+
ABB YuMi Redefines Precision Assembly With Collaborative Dual-Arm Innovation
News about YuMi
ABB IRB 760PT Slashes Cycle Times 25% in Auto Presses
News about ABB IRB 760PT
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about ABB
What is ABB Robotics?
ABB Robotics is the robotics division of ABB, the Zurich-headquartered technology group. It makes industrial robots, collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots and control software for factories and logistics.
Is ABB selling its robotics business?
Yes. On 8 October 2025 ABB agreed to sell its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for US$5.375 billion. The European Commission cleared the deal in March 2026, and closing was expected in mid-to-late 2026.
What is the ABB YuMi robot?
YuMi is ABB's collaborative dual-arm robot, introduced at Hannover Messe on 13 April 2015. It was designed to work safely next to people on small-parts assembly and is sold as the IRB 14000.
Who led ABB Robotics?
Marc Segura is president of ABB Robotics. Sami Atiya, who led the wider Robotics and Motion division since 2017, is leaving ABB by the end of 2026 in line with the divestment.
How big is ABB Robotics?
ABB Robotics had about 7,000 employees and US$2.3 billion of revenue in 2024, roughly 7 percent of ABB Group revenue. ABB Group as a whole has about 110,000 employees.
When did ABB build its first robot?
ABB built the IRB 6 in 1974, led by engineer Björn Weichbrodt. It was the first commercial microprocessor-controlled, all-electric industrial robot, and was supplied to a Swedish engineering workshop.
What is ABB OmniCore?
OmniCore is ABB's next-generation robot control platform, launched after more than US$170 million of investment. It is designed to make ABB's robots faster, more precise and more sustainable.
What is ABB's Flexley Mover?
Flexley Mover is ABB's autonomous mobile robot range, which grew from ABB's 2021 purchase of ASTI Mobile Robotics for US$191 million and carries loads around factories and warehouses.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official ABB datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.