History

A vision born from innovation

They envisioned robots that were not only easily reprogrammable but also versatile enough to be repurposed for various functions on factory floors. This vision stemmed from two university research projects aimed at simplifying and enhancing automation.

From research to reality

The first project aimed to create a toy robot so simple to program that a child could do it within half an hour. The second addressed the Danish food industry's need for a flexible automation solution, enabling factory employees to reconfigure production lines for new products. Traditional industrial robots proved too rigid and complex for the task, leading the team to seek a better solution.

The birth of the cobot

By merging the learnings from these projects, Universal Robots' founders created the world’s first commercially viable collaborative robot (cobot). This groundbreaking invention was easily programmable and highly versatile, transforming the way businesses approach automation. Universal Robots' cobots empowered employees to manage production changes quickly and efficiently, making advanced automation accessible to companies of all sizes.

A mission that endures

Our founders' original quest is still reflected in our company's mission - Automation for anyone. Anywhere.

Founded on collaboration

Building an ecosystem was an important goal for our company's founders. From the very beginning, they envisioned an open-source system where others could use the cobot platform to build new, breakthrough solutions. They were convinced that collaboration would create more value for the developer community and end-users.

By inviting others to join the cobot movement and leverage each other’s strengths, our founders built something truly unique. Today, a global team is in place to grow and support the hundreds of developers on the platform.

Universal Robots presents the AI Accelerator

Universal Robots presents the AI Accelerator at ROSCon in Odense, Denmark. Enabled by UR’s next generation software PolyScope X and powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Orin, this ready-to-use hardware and software tookit is created to further enable the development of AI powered cobot applications.

New headquarters opening

Universal Robots, alongside MiR, celebrates a landmark achievement as they inaugurate their new joint headquarters located in the City of Odense. The expansive new headquarters spans 20,000 square meters and is designed to accommodate 600 employees from both companies, facilitating seamless cross-collaboration.

Universal Robots announces the UR20

The UR20 is the first in Universal Robots’ next generation of industrial cobots designed to take performance to new heights, while embracing the UR hallmarks of versatility, usability and small footprints.
It features an entirely new joint design that will allow for even faster cycle times as well as the ability to handle heavier loads. Its 1750 mm reach has been designed to work to the full height of the standard Euro-pallet.

Universal Robots opens its 100th training center
UR now has training centers in 23 countries worldwide.

New headquarters groundbreaking
Together with its sister company MiR, Universal Robots breaks ground for a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Odense, Denmark. It will be the world’s largest cobot and autonomous mobile robot (AMR) Hub and is expected to be completed by January 2024.

Heavier payload for the UR10e

The payload of the UR10e is increased to 12.5kg (27.55 lbs).

50.000 cobots sold

Universal Robots reaches an industry milestone with over 50,000 collaborative robots installed worldwide.

16 kg payload cobot

Universal Robots launches the 16kg heavy-duty UR16e which can handle high-payload tasks such as heavy material handling, heavy machine tending, packaging & palletizing.

Universal Robots introduces the new e-Series

A brand-new generation of Universal Robots’ cobots - called e-Series - is launched at the Automatica show in Munich. The new platform raises the standard for collaborative robots and enables even faster solution development and deployment.

“The Nobel Prize of Robotics”.

Universal Robots co-founder Esben Østergaard is awarded the Engelberger Robotics Award 2018 by the American Robotic Industries Association (RIA). Long considered the “Nobel Prize” for robotics, the award recognizes the development of Universal Robots’ collaborative robot arms as one of the most significant technology breakthroughs coming out of the robotics community in decades.

Academy

Universal Robots Academy is launched to further raise robot literacy. It consists of free-of-charge e-learning modules that make up the basic programming training for UR cobots.

UR+ Ecosystem

Universal Robots presents UR+, a unique ecosystem that adds value for the developer community, distributors and end-users.

Launch of UR3

Universal Robots launches the table-top cobot UR3. The new 3 kilo payload cobot is ideal for light assembly tasks and automated workbench scenarios.

Teradyne Inc. acquires Universal Robots

Teradyne Inc. (Nasdaq: TER) acquires Universal Robots for $285M.

UR10 us launched

Universal Robots’ 10kg payload cobot, UR10, is launched. It is targeted towards manufacturers with larger tasks, the UR10 features a lifting ability of 10 kg and a reach of 130 cm. The company also establishes an American subsidiary, based in New York, USA.

First collaborative robot sold

Universal Robots’ first product, launched in 2008, was the UR5, a six-jointed articulated robot arm that revolutionized the market for industrial robots. Distributors sell the first UR5 cobots in Denmark and Germany.

Universal Robots is founded

Universal Robots is founded by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow, who met at the University of Southern Denmark. Their goal: to make robot technology accessible to small and medium-sized businesses by launching a lightweight robot – cobot – that is easy to install and program.