ZURICH, Switzerland, Apr 24, 2026 – ABB Robotics has introduced the PoWa cobot family with payloads up to 30 kg and speeds up to 5.8 m/s*, targeting industrial tasks that standard collaborative robots cannot handle. The systems are designed for applications that require higher load capacity and faster cycle times while maintaining collaborative operation.
“Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands from both small and midsized companies starting their automation journey as well as large enterprises,” said Andrea Cassoni, head of Collaborative Robots at ABB Robotics. “These customers are seeking higher speeds and payloads, but also greater ease of use, and compact designs. Established manufacturers want to automate heavier, fast cycle applications, without the complexity and operational rigidity of traditional industrial robots. We are meeting these needs with the global launch of our high-speed PoWa cobot family – a name that symbolizes its powerful, industrial-grade performance in a compact collaborative robot form.”
The PoWa family addresses the gap between robots with limited payload and conventional robots used for large-scale automation. It includes six payload categories ranging from 7 kg to 30 kg, with arm reach and load capacity configured for higher-load collaborative tasks.
The PoWa cobots are suited for compact environments and support applications such as machine tending, palletizing, screwdriving, and arc welding. They use arm-mounted programmable controls and no-code programming. Systems can be set up within about one hour and connect with third-party tools through standard interfaces.
PoWa cobots operate on ABB’s OmniCore controller and integrate with Robot Studio and Wizard Easy Programming software. These systems manage motion control, programming, and deployment across production environments.
ABB Robotics estimates the global collaborative robot market will grow about 20% annually through 2028. The PoWa series is part of its work on autonomous and versatile robotics, focused on expanding industrial use of collaborative systems.
* Speed of PoWa 10 and PoWa 13
Source: ABB
About ABB Robotics
ABB Robotics is a business unit of ABB Ltd. that develops industrial and collaborative robots for automation. It produces robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, controllers, and software for manufacturing and logistics operations. The division supplies systems for assembly, welding, material handling, inspection, and packaging tasks. It serves automotive, electronics, logistics, food and beverage, and general manufacturing industries. ABB Robotics traces its origins to ABB’s formation in 1988. ABB Robotics has deployed more than 500,000 robotic systems worldwide. Customers include manufacturers, system integrators, and logistics operators. ABB employs about 110,000 people globally across all business units.