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Universal Robots e-Series Cobots

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Country: Denmark

Year: 2018

Summary

The Universal Robots e-Series is a proven family of lightweight collaborative robot arms designed for flexible, reliable automation across everyday industrial tasks.

Status: Commercially available

Operation: Semi-autonomous, Collaborative, Tethered

Robot Type / Domain: Multi/General-Purpose, Industrial

Tasks: Assembly, dispensing, machine tending, quality inspection, material handling, material removal, finishing, palletizing, and welding.

Technical Specifications (series range)

Reach: 500 to 1300 mm

Reach: 19.685 to 51.181 in

Payload: 3 to 16 kg

Payload: 6.614 to 35.274 lbs

Pose Repeatability: ± 0.03 to ± 0.05 mm

Pose Repeatability: ± 0.001 to ± 0.002 in

Weight: 11.2 to 33.5 kg

Weight: 24.692 to 73.855 lbs

Battery Operated? No, Tethered

Arm Type: Articulated, Collaborative

Number of Axes: 6 DoF

IP Rating: IP54

Mounting: Floor, Ceiling, Wall, Any desired angle

Footprint: N/A

Operating Temperature: 0 ℃ to 50 ℃

Operating Temperature: 32.000 ℉ to 122.000 ℉

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Footprint: Ø128–Ø190 mm depending on model

Maximum TCP speed: 3 m/s to 4 m/s

Power: 300 W to 615 W Max | 150 W to 350 W Moderate Operation

Software: PolyScope 5 GUI or PolyScope X GUI on a 12-inch touchscreen, depending on configuration

Material: Aluminium and PC/ASA plastic

Data Transmission / Communication: Communication: Modbus TCP, Ethernet/IP adapter, PROFINET, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0

Certification: Safety functions with 17 configurable safety functions; EN ISO 13849-1 (PLd category 3) and EN ISO 10218-1

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Top 5+ Qualities (by addoobot)

What we find to be the top qualities of the Universal Robots UR e-Series Cobots:

Proven and Widely Used: The e-Series is Universal Robots’ trusted mid-range cobot family, positioned around reliability, flexibility, and ease of use.
Compact Model Range: From the small UR3e to the stronger UR16e, the series covers light, medium, and compact heavy-duty applications without needing a large robot footprint.
Easy to Reuse Across Tasks: e-Series cobots are built for flexible deployment, so users can move them between jobs such as tending, assembly, inspection, or dispensing when production needs change.
Good Fit for Space-Limited Automation: Models such as UR3e and UR7e are especially useful where the robot needs to fit on a bench, inside a machine, or into a compact workcell.
Built-in Force/Torque Sensing: The e-Series was introduced with a built-in, tool-centric Force/Torque sensor to support tasks that benefit from force control, such as assembly, polishing, sanding, and deburring.
Strong UR Ecosystem Support: The e-Series benefits from Universal Robots’ PolyScope software, UR+ ecosystem, training resources, and support network.
Cost-Efficient Alternative to the UR Series: Compared with the newer UR Series, the e-Series is positioned by Universal Robots as the more versatile and cost-efficient option for broader mid-range applications.

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Where the e-Series Fits

The e-Series is the more established, proven side of Universal Robots’ cobot range. It is not mainly about having the highest payload or fastest motion. Instead, its strength is practical flexibility: compact arms, simple programming, reliable deployment, and enough model variety to cover many common factory tasks. Universal Robots describes the e-Series as proven, reliable collaborative automation for a wide range of environments.

The main difference from the newer UR Series is positioning. The UR Series is Universal Robots’ higher-performance family, built for higher throughput, larger payloads, longer reaches, IP65 compliance, and more demanding production conditions. The e-Series sits underneath that as the trusted, flexible, mid-range family with payloads up to 16 kg and IP54 compliance.

Applications and Use Cases

The e-Series can cover a wide range of everyday automation jobs, especially where the work is repetitive, accuracy matters, and the robot needs to fit into an existing production area. Typical applications include assembly, dispensing, material handling, quality inspection, machine tending, light palletising, sanding and polishing, and material removal. Universal Robots also highlights the e-Series for metals and fabrication, electronics manufacturing, and education/research use cases.

For smaller parts and close-range tasks, the UR3e is the most compact option. For general light-to-medium automation, the UR7e gives more reach and payload while staying relatively portable. For longer reach and broader factory use, the UR12e is the more versatile option. For heavier parts in tighter spaces, the UR16e is the strongest e-Series model. This makes the e-Series useful for small manufacturers, labs, education providers, integrators, and production teams that need flexible automation without building a large robot cell from scratch.

e-Series Model Comparison

Model: UR3e
Payload: 3 kg | Reach: 500 mm | Robot Weight: 11.2 kg | Footprint: Ø128 mm | Repeatability: ±0.03 mm
Best suited for: Bench-top automation, electronics, light assembly, dispensing, small-part handling, testing, and compact workspaces.

Model: UR7e
Payload: 7.5 kg | Reach: 850 mm | Robot Weight: 20.6 kg | Footprint: Ø151 mm | Repeatability: ±0.03 mm
Best suited for: Light-to-medium handling, machine tending, assembly, inspection, dispensing, sanding/polishing, and flexible production setups.

Model: UR12e
Payload: 12.5 kg | Reach: 1300 mm | Robot Weight: 33.5 kg | Footprint: Ø190 mm | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm
Best suited for: Longer-reach machine tending, packaging, material handling, light palletising, welding support, and general factory automation.

Model: UR16e
Payload: 16 kg | Reach: 900 mm | Robot Weight: 33.1 kg | Footprint: Ø190 mm | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm
Best suited for: Heavier handling in compact spaces, machine tending, packaging, multi-gripper setups, and applications needing more payload but not maximum reach.

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Brief History

Universal Robots was founded in Odense, Denmark, in 2005 with the goal of making industrial robot automation easier, smaller, more flexible, and more accessible, especially for businesses that could not justify large traditional robot systems. The company’s breakthrough came in 2008 with the launch of the UR5, widely recognised as the first commercially successful collaborative robot, with early sales in Denmark and Germany. Universal Robots later expanded its original cobot range with models such as the UR10 and UR3, helping establish cobots as a practical category in industrial automation. In 2015, the company was acquired by Teradyne, supporting its global growth, and Universal Robots has since continued expanding its cobot ecosystem through newer platforms such as the e-Series and the higher-performance UR Series.

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References

Find out more details about the e-Series Cobots from Universal Robot's official website

Learn more about UR3e, the lightweight cobot with 500mm reach and 3 kg payload

Learn more about UR16e, the smaller heavy-duty industrial cobot with 900 mm reach and 16 kg payload

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