HD Hyundai Robotics HDC Series Cobots

Taking on the Heavy Work

Moving heavy parts, loading machines and stacking products are the main jobs Hyundai highlights for the HDC Series. All three models are offered for heavy material handling, while the HDC25-18 and HDC35-18 are specifically highlighted for loading and unloading CNC machines and other machining equipment. The HDC50-17 focuses on heavier handling and palletizing, where its 50 kg payload allows for a larger combined load of tooling and products.

One concrete example is Hyundai’s HDC35-18 application handling 8 kg long shafts. Equipped with a dual gripper, the robot connects part pickup, machine loading, unloading, alignment and final stacking in a repeated workflow. The process also incorporates a deburring stage. It shows how an HDC robot can link several production steps together and reduce the manual handling needed between them.

Safety That Responds to the Workspace

The HDC Series combines an industrial robot’s working capabilities with features designed for human–robot collaboration. Its built-in radar senses workers and the surrounding environment, while Hyundai’s SafeSpace 2.0 control system monitors robot status and manages safety-related behaviour. According to Hyundai, the robot adjusts its operating speed and switches between high-speed and safety modes based on workspace conditions and worker position.

This means the robot can adapt its movement as someone approaches the work area. Hyundai describes slowing the robot as operators come closer and restoring full-speed operation when the area is clear. Collision detection forms another part of the safety system. Together, these features are intended to support collaboration while limiting interruptions to production; the available operating speed depends on the working conditions and safety setup.

How the hybrid design works

The HDC series combines industrial robot performance with safety functions for collaborative work. Its radar system monitors movement in configured zones, allowing speed and separation monitoring to reduce the robot’s speed as someone approaches. Collision detection provides another layer of monitoring.

The operating mode matters. The headline TCP speeds describe industrial performance, while collaborative operation uses lower speed limits. Hyundai’s manual also makes clear that collision-detection and safe-motion settings affect the permitted maximum speed. Hand-guided teaching lets an operator guide the arm to teach positions and paths, and the workflow-based interface supports setup and programming. Together, these features help adapt the robot to shared-workspace applications, with the permitted motion and protection measures determined by the configured workcell and its risk assessment.

Comparing the HDC Models

The main choice is between payload and reach. The HDC25-18 and HDC35-18 both reach 1,880 mm, with the latter providing another 10 kg of payload capacity. The HDC50-17 increases payload to 50 kg, while reach becomes 1,700 mm. All three share six axes, ±0.05 mm repeatability and a listed body weight of 215 kg.

Model: HDC25-18
Payload: 25 kg | Reach: 1,880 mm | Robot Weight: 215 kg | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm
Best suited for: Long-reach material handling and machine tending where the combined workpiece and tooling load fits within 25 kg.

Model: HDC35-18
Payload: 35 kg | Reach: 1,880 mm | Robot Weight: 215 kg | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm
Best suited for: Handling and machine tending that require more payload capacity while retaining the same reach as the HDC25-18.

Model: HDC50-17
Payload: 50 kg | Reach: 1,700 mm | Robot Weight: 215 kg | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm
Best suited for: Heavy material handling and palletizing applications requiring the highest payload capacity in the series.