New Higher Capacity Allows Wider Range of Applications

LONG BEACH, Calif. - DENSO announced that it has increased the maximum payload capacity of its VM Series six-axis articulated robots from 10 kg to 13 kg. The new payload capacity, an increase of 30 percent, allows the VM-Series robots to handle a wider range of applications.

"Our VM-Series robots occupy an important market niche," said Peter Cavallo, robotics sales manager, DENSO Sales California. "They are compact, operate at high speeds and with a high repeatability, yet they have an exceptionally long reach. Their new higher payload capacity means they can be used in even more application areas, giving our customers greater flexibility in choosing a robot that meets their particular requirements."

Along with their new 13-kg payload capacity, DENSO VM-Series robots offer reaches from 1,000 to 1,300 mm and standard cycle times of 0.89 to 0.95 sec. Repeatability is from ±0.050 to ±0.070 mm.

The long, slim arms of the VM-Series robots allow them to reach easily around tooling or peripheral equipment and into deep, narrow spaces such as plastic injection molds. In addition, their high maximum allowable moment of inertia (0.36 kgm² at J4 and J5 and 0.064 kgm² at J6) is 2.5 times greater than conventional robots, allowing a wider choice of end-effectors.

DENSO's compact robot design features a small footprint and concealed electrical wiring and air lines, facilitating integration and saving valuable factory floor space. The robots can be mounted on the floor or overhead with no special tooling required. Standard, dust- and mistproof and Class 100 cleanroom models are available. ANSI and CE compliance allows global deployment.

Typical applications include assembly, dispensing, inspection, machine tending, material handling, material removal, packaging and test handling. Complete product specifications and downloadable CAD files are available on the DENSO Robotics website at http://densorobotics.com/products_6axis_vm.php.

DENSO is the world's largest user of small assembly robots, with more than 16,000 DENSO robots designed and used in its own manufacturing facilities. More than 60,000 DENSO robots are used in other companies worldwide. DENSO Robotics offers a complete line of robots, controllers and software for a wide range of applications. For more information, visit www.densorobotics.com.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electric, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 35 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs approximately 120,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, totaled US$37.7 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.3 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges.

In North America, DENSO employs 13,000 people with consolidated sales totaling US$6.4 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.