en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hirebotics, a US provider of metalworking collaborative robot solutions, has launched the Cobot Painter, the first explosion-proof collaborative robot painting solution. This solution is based on the no-code Beacon platform and Fanuc CRX-10iA/L Paint hardware. Now available on the market, it offers metal fabricators and manufacturers an alternative that balances high-mix, low-volume production needs between manual painting and complex automated production lines.
Previously, job shops and manufacturers often outsourced painting processes due to the high cost and complexity of traditional automated painting systems, resulting in a loss of control over lead times, quality, and profit margins. Compared to traditional automated painting systems, the portable and lightweight Cobot Painter can operate within a manufacturer's existing manual painting environment without the need for dedicated cells or extensive exhaust and conveyor infrastructure modifications, enabling deployment and operation within days. This solution handles both liquid and powder coatings, delivering repeatable precision to meet flexible, low-volume production needs.
Matt Bush, co-founder and CEO of Hirebotics, stated that the Cobot Painter eliminates the need for dedicated painting cells and complex programming. By combining Fanuc's explosion-proof hardware with the no-code Beacon platform, it provides a cost-effective and flexible solution for surface finishing. He also noted that shops can now bring painting processes in-house, deploying automation within existing spray booths in just days without requiring robotics experts.
The Fanuc CRX-10iA/L Paint collaborative robot is the first explosion-proof painting cobot approved for liquid painting, powder coating, and gel coat applications in hazardous environments. With a reach of 55.82 inches, it delivers consistent coatings with repeatable precision when handling large, complex parts, while reducing paint waste and overspray. Similar to Hirebotics' welding and cutting solutions, the Cobot Painter is designed to be fully usable by operators with no robotics or programming experience. Through the Beacon interface on any tablet or phone, operators can guide the robot through motions using a "teach by tapping" path, and the robot automatically repeats the same speed, distance, and angle in each cycle.
Dave Wagenhauser, Sales Manager for Painting Robots at Fanuc America, noted that the system, based on the CRX-10iA/L Paint collaborative robot, brings the safety and precision of explosion-proof automation into standard manual painting environments. The CRX Paint series combines collaborative safety features with ease of deployment, making it suitable for manufacturers seeking flexible automation. Collaboration with Hirebotics and its Beacon platform helps reduce integration complexity, enabling faster deployment in high-mix, low-volume production environments.
The Cobot Painter currently supports fixed painting mode, where parts are placed in the spray booth and the robot performs the painting operation. Future versions will support production line tracking functionality, allowing the robot to track and paint parts while moving continuously along the production line.
