Hirebotics has introduced an explosion-proof collaborative robot (cobot) painting system that combines the company’s no-code Beacon software platform with the FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint robot, targeting manufacturers seeking to automate coating operations in high-mix, low-volume production environments. The Cobot Painter is designed to operate within existing manual paint booths, allowing manufacturers to deploy automated painting without installing dedicated paint cells or making major modifications to exhaust or conveyor systems. According to the company, the system can be installed within days, providing an alternative to manual spraying and conventional automated paint lines.
The product is intended for metal fabrication shops and other manufacturers that have traditionally outsourced coating work because of the cost and complexity associated with automated painting systems. Hirebotics said the portable system enables manufacturers to perform coating operations in-house while maintaining their existing spray environments.
The solution combines the explosion-proof FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint hardware with Hirebotics’ Beacon interface, which allows operators to program the robot using a no-code “click-and-teach” process on a tablet or smartphone. Once guided through a painting path, the robot repeats the programmed motion, including speed, distance and spray angle, for subsequent production cycles.
Matt Bush, co-founder and chief executive officer of Hirebotics, said the system is intended to eliminate the need for dedicated paint cells and complex robot programming while enabling manufacturers to automate coating operations without robotics specialists.
The FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint is approved for liquid painting, powder coating and gel coating applications in hazardous environments. The collaborative robot has a reach of 55.82 inches and is designed to handle large or complex parts while providing consistent paint application and reducing overspray and paint waste.
Dave Wagenhauser, manager of paint robot sales at FANUC America, said the system combines explosion-proof automation with collaborative safety features and that integration with the Beacon platform is intended to simplify setup and programming for manufacturers.
The Cobot Painter currently supports stationary painting applications in which parts remain fixed inside a paint booth during spraying. Hirebotics said future versions are expected to add line-tracking capabilities that would allow the robot to paint parts moving continuously along a production line.
