JAKA Zu Series Cobots

What Is the JAKA Zu Series

The JAKA Zu Series is JAKA’s main collaborative robot family. It sits in the middle of JAKA’s cobot lineup as a broad, general-purpose range rather than a niche specialist series. The models currently listed on JAKA’s Zu Series page include Zu3, Zu5, Zu7, Zu12, Zu18, Zu20 and Zu30, covering payloads from 3 kg to 30 kg and reaches from 626 mm to 1780 mm.

In simple terms, the Zu Series is the “choose your size” cobot family from JAKA. Smaller models such as Zu3 and Zu5 are better suited to compact workspaces and lighter precision tasks, while larger models such as Zu20 and Zu30 are aimed at heavier handling, packing, palletizing, and industrial applications where more payload or stronger environmental protection is needed. JAKA also positions the series around easy programming, flexible deployment, and collaborative use in production environments.

Applications

JAKA lists a wide set of application scenarios for the Zu Series, including loading and unloading, palletizing, screwdriving, flexible assembly, adhesive application, inspection, packing, handling, labeling, and welding. This makes the series suitable for manufacturers looking to automate repetitive or physically demanding tasks without jumping straight into large traditional industrial robot systems.

The smaller models are a better match for confined workspaces, electronics-style tasks, screwdriving, labeling, inspection, and flexible gripping. Mid-range models such as Zu7, Zu12 and Zu18 are better suited to assembly, machine tending, packing, handling, and heavier workpieces. The Zu20 and Zu30 move further into heavier payload applications, with JAKA describing Zu20 for heavy payload and wide reach tasks, and Zu30 for heavy objects in limited space, including heavy object handling, wafer box loading and unloading, machining, palletizing, and welding.

How the Zu Series Compares With Other JAKA Cobot Series

The Zu Series is best understood as JAKA’s broad general-purpose cobot range. It gives users the widest practical spread of payload options, from compact 3 kg automation through to 30 kg heavier handling. By comparison, JAKA Pro is more focused on harsh industrial environments; JAKA lists IP68 protection on Pro16 and describes it as suitable for demanding environments with dust, particulates, water and oil.

JAKA S is more force-control focused. JAKA describes the S Series with integrated force control, IP65 protection, and precision handling, making it more specialised for force-sensitive tasks than the standard Zu lineup.

JAKA AL is positioned as perception-enhanced, while JAKA A is listed as a standard robot model and JAKA Mini as a mini lightweight series. In practical terms, choose Zu when you want a flexible mainstream cobot family with many payload choices; choose Pro for harsher environments, S for integrated force-control work, AL for perception-enhanced applications, A for JAKA’s standard robot model pathway, and Mini for very small, lightweight or cost-sensitive automation.

Model Comparison

Model: JAKA Zu3
Payload: 3 kg | Reach: 626 mm | Robot Weight: 12 kg | Repeatability: ±0.02 mm | IP Rating: IP54
Best suited for: Compact workspaces, light precision tasks, screwdriving, labeling, flexible gripping, gluing, and inspection.

Model: JAKA Zu5
Payload: 5 kg | Reach: 954 mm | Robot Weight: 23 kg | Repeatability: ±0.02 mm | IP Rating: IP54
Best suited for: Small-scale automation where more reach than Zu3 is useful, including screwdriving, flexible assembly, gluing, handling, flexible gripping, and welding support.

Model: JAKA Zu7
Payload: 7 kg | Reach: 819 mm | Robot Weight: 22 kg | Repeatability: ±0.02 mm | IP Rating: IP54
Best suited for: Assembly lines, pick-and-place, loading and unloading, screwdriving, inspection, packing, and flexible assembly.

Model: JAKA Zu12
Payload: 12 kg | Reach: 1327 mm | Robot Weight: 41 kg | Repeatability: ±0.03 mm | IP Rating: IP54
Best suited for: Higher payload tasks such as machine tending, palletizing, packing, loading and unloading, and handling.

Model: JAKA Zu18
Payload: 18 kg | Reach: 1073 mm | Robot Weight: 35 kg | Repeatability: ±0.03 mm | IP Rating: IP54
Best suited for: Heavy-duty tasks such as machine tending, packing, handling, labeling, additive manufacturing, and adhesive application.

Model: JAKA Zu20
Payload: 20 kg | Reach: 1780 mm | Robot Weight: 68 kg | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm | IP Rating: IP65
Best suited for: Heavy payload and wide-reach tasks, including loading and unloading, packing, palletizing, and handling larger workpieces.

Model: JAKA Zu30
Payload: 30 kg | Reach: 1350 mm | Robot Weight: 65 kg | Repeatability: ±0.05 mm | IP Rating: IP65
Best suited for: Heavy objects in limited space, heavy object handling, wafer box loading and unloading, heavy object machining, palletizing, and welding.