Universal Robots
Universal Robots is a Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), lightweight and flexible robotic arms designed to work safely alongside human operators without the need for protective barriers, enabling automation in small to medium-sized enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, assembly, and logistics.[1][2] Founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark, by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow—who met as students at the University of Southern Denmark—the company emerged from a vision to democratize robotics by creating affordable, user-friendly systems that could be easily programmed and deployed by non-experts.[1][3] Universal Robots pioneered the cobot market with its UR series, launching its first commercially viable collaborative robot, the UR5, in 2008, followed by models like the UR10 in 2012, and the e-Series (UR3e, UR5e, UR10e) in 2018, which introduced integrated force-torque sensing for enhanced safety and precision in tasks such as pick-and-place, welding, and quality inspection. In 2022, the company launched the UR20 model, expanding its payload capabilities.[1][4] In 2015, the company was acquired by U.S.-based Teradyne Inc. for $285 million, accelerating its global expansion and integration with advanced automation technologies, while maintaining its focus on open-platform ecosystems for third-party tools and applications.[5][1] As of 2025, Universal Robots has sold over 100,000 units worldwide, establishing itself as the market leader in cobots with a mission to enable "automation for anyone, anywhere" through intuitive interfaces and versatile payloads ranging from 3 kg to 35 kg.[6][7][8]Overview
Founding and Headquarters
Universal Robots was founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark, by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow, three robotics researchers who had met while studying at the University of Southern Denmark.[1] Drawing on their academic backgrounds in robotics, the founders established the company to address limitations in traditional industrial automation, focusing on the creation of lightweight, user-friendly collaborative robots (cobots) designed for safe human-robot interaction without protective barriers.[9] This initial vision aimed to democratize automation by making advanced robotic technology accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises, enabling easier integration into diverse manufacturing environments.[10] The company's early operations were supported by the founders' expertise and initial seed funding from regional investors, despite challenges in securing broader external investment, allowing them to prototype and refine their cobot concepts in Odense's emerging robotics ecosystem.[11] This early funding approach, rooted in university-derived innovations, laid the groundwork for Universal Robots' pioneering role in collaborative robotics before broader funding rounds in subsequent years.[12] Universal Robots maintains its headquarters in Odense, Denmark, at Energivej 51, where the facility serves as a central hub for research and development (R&D) as well as manufacturing.[13] In 2024, the company, alongside sister firm Mobile Industrial Robots, opened a expansive 215,000-square-foot state-of-the-art headquarters in the same location, consolidating advanced R&D labs, production capabilities, and collaborative spaces to drive innovation and scale cobot production globally.[14] This site underscores Odense's position as a key robotics cluster, supporting Universal Robots' ongoing commitment to technological advancement.[15]Mission and Core Values
Universal Robots' core mission is "Automation for anyone, anywhere," which underscores the company's commitment to developing collaborative robots (cobots) that are intuitive, safe, and adaptable, enabling small businesses and non-technical users to implement automation without extensive expertise or infrastructure.[7] This principle drives the design of cobots that prioritize ease-of-use through user-friendly programming interfaces and flexible deployment options, allowing automation to permeate diverse industries and geographies beyond traditional large-scale manufacturing.[7] The company's key values revolve around innovation in collaborative robotics, ensuring safety in human-robot interactions without the need for protective cages, sustainability in manufacturing processes, and fostering an open ecosystem for seamless third-party integrations. Innovation is pursued by continuously redefining automation possibilities, as seen in the evolution of cobot capabilities to handle varied tasks collaboratively.[16] Safety is embedded in designs compliant with international standards like ISO 10218-1, enabling direct human collaboration in shared workspaces.[17] Sustainability efforts integrate environmental responsibility across operations, aiming to minimize impact through efficient materials and reduced emissions, while the UR+ ecosystem supports interoperability with certified third-party tools and software.[18][19] This mission evolved from the academic inspirations of founders Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow, who envisioned robots as accessible everyday tools to alleviate monotonous human labor, a vision realized through Universal Robots' establishment in 2005 and subsequent global expansion.[20] To support this accessibility, the company demonstrates a strong commitment to education via UR Academy, offering free e-learning modules, certified in-person and virtual training courses worldwide, and completion certificates to empower users at all skill levels.[21]History
Inception and Early Years (2005-2014)
Universal Robots was founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark, by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow, who had collaborated during their academic research at the University of Southern Denmark on lightweight, flexible robot arms designed for direct human interaction.[1] The initial team was small, consisting primarily of the three founders and a handful of early hires focused on prototyping and software development to realize their vision of accessible automation for small and medium-sized enterprises.[22] Development emphasized force-torque sensing technology to enable safe, collaborative operation without traditional safety barriers, addressing a gap in industrial robotics where systems were typically isolated from workers.[23] The company's first product, the UR5—a six-axis articulated robot arm with a 5 kg payload and integrated force-sensing capabilities—was launched in 2008, marking the debut of commercially viable collaborative robots, or cobots.[1] This innovation allowed the UR5 to detect and limit contact forces, facilitating shared workspaces and reducing the need for costly safety enclosures, which was revolutionary at a time when industrial robots were largely confined to caged environments.[24] However, the early years were marked by significant challenges, including limited market awareness of cobots as a novel category, stringent funding constraints that nearly led to bankruptcy, and the need to demonstrate safety without established standards like the later ISO/TS 15066.[22] In 2008, critical support from national and regional innovation funds, including the Danish State Investment Fund, provided the necessary capital to stabilize operations and complete the UR5's commercialization.[25] The first UR5 cobot was installed in December 2008 at Linatex, a Danish manufacturer of plastic and rubber components, where it automated machine tending tasks and demonstrated reliable human-robot collaboration.[26] Subsequent installations followed in Denmark and across Europe from 2009 to 2012, with early adopters in industries such as electronics assembly and light manufacturing using the cobots for tasks like pick-and-place operations and quality inspection to address labor shortages and improve precision.[23] By 2012, Universal Robots expanded into the U.S. market, appointing distributors and showcasing the technology at trade shows, where the lightweight, user-friendly arms gained traction despite initial skepticism about their safety and novelty.[27] This period saw steady growth, with unit sales increasing annually at around 75% from a low base, culminating in approximately 4,000 cobots sold by the end of 2014, primarily to electronics and assembly sectors seeking flexible automation solutions.[28]Acquisition by Teradyne and Expansion (2015-2020)
In June 2015, Teradyne Inc., a leading supplier of automated test equipment, acquired Universal Robots for $285 million net of cash acquired, plus a potential $65 million earnout based on performance milestones.[5] The deal, announced in May and closed later that month, integrated Universal Robots into Teradyne's newly formed Robotics business unit, positioning the Danish cobot pioneer alongside Teradyne's existing automation technologies.[29] This ownership shift marked a strategic pivot for Universal Robots, transitioning from independent operations to a resource-backed entity within a larger corporation focused on industrial automation growth.[30] The acquisition immediately unlocked Teradyne's extensive engineering and financial resources, enabling accelerated research and development in collaborative robotics.[31] Universal Robots' revenue surged 91% in 2015 to approximately $64 million, building on pre-acquisition momentum, while the company's global sales network expanded through Teradyne's established channels, reaching distributors in over 50 countries by mid-2016.[32] This integration facilitated a 62% year-over-year growth from 2015 to 2016, as Universal Robots leveraged Teradyne's North American infrastructure to penetrate key markets like the U.S. and Asia.[33] Key expansions during this period included the 2018 launch of the e-Series collaborative robots, which introduced built-in force/torque sensing for precise applications, 17 configurable safety settings, and improved user interfaces via the PolyScope X software platform.[34] By September 2018, Universal Robots had surpassed 25,000 cobot installations worldwide, a milestone celebrated with a limited-edition gold-plated unit awarded to select customers, underscoring the technology's rapid adoption in manufacturing sectors such as electronics and automotive assembly.[35] Concurrently, the company established its North American headquarters in the Boston area, near Teradyne's facilities in North Reading, Massachusetts, to streamline operations and support U.S.-based R&D and sales teams.[13] Despite these advances, the post-acquisition years presented challenges, including cultural integration between Universal Robots' entrepreneurial Danish roots and Teradyne's structured corporate environment, which required adjustments in decision-making and innovation processes.[36] As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, Universal Robots faced supply chain disruptions, including component shortages and logistics delays, prompting adaptations like diversified sourcing and enhanced remote support for installations to maintain delivery continuity.[37] These hurdles tested operational resilience but reinforced the company's focus on scalable, flexible automation solutions amid global uncertainties.Recent Developments (2021-2025)
Following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal Robots experienced a robust recovery, marked by significant growth in installations and technological advancements. The company reached a major milestone in February 2025, surpassing 100,000 collaborative robots installed worldwide.[38] [39] This expansion was supported by a strategic focus on AI-enhanced cobots, integrated through the PolyScope X platform, which enables developers to build AI-powered applications using tools like the UR AI Accelerator in partnership with NVIDIA.[40] In May 2025, Universal Robots launched the UR15, its fastest cobot to date, featuring a 15 kg payload (extendable to 17.5 kg for certain orientations), 1300 mm reach, and a maximum speed of 5 m/s, enabling up to 30% faster cycle times for applications like pick-and-place and palletizing.[41] Later that month, Universal Robots underwent a key leadership transition when Jean-Pierre Hathout was appointed president, succeeding Kim Povlsen, who moved to new opportunities within the organization.[42] Hathout, previously president of Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), brought extensive experience in robotics to drive further innovation and market growth. This change aligned with broader Teradyne Robotics Group restructuring, enhancing operational synergies across the portfolio.[43] The year 2025 featured pivotal events underscoring Universal Robots' maturity and ecosystem expansion. In October 2025, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary with global events in Denmark and regional offices, commemorating the founding of collaborative robotics and highlighting the evolution from the first UR5 model to a comprehensive automation platform.[44] The anniversary spotlighted the UR+ ecosystem, which by mid-2024 had grown to include over 500 certified products from partner companies, fostering plug-and-play solutions for diverse applications.[45] Earlier in September 2025, at FABTECH in Chicago, Universal Robots unveiled the UR8 Long cobot model, designed for extended-reach tasks such as advanced welding in fabricated metals and automotive sectors, offering improved precision and cycle times.[46] Sustainability remained a core focus, with Universal Robots advancing initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in manufacturing processes. The company's 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility report outlined commitments to minimize environmental impact, including partnerships for climate-neutral goals in Odense by 2030 and increased recycling in production.[18][47] Concurrently, expansion into emerging markets accelerated, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region; in late 2024, Universal Robots established its first overseas production facility in China to meet rising demand, while hosting major events like Collaborate Thailand 2025 to strengthen regional partnerships and adoption.[48][49]Products and Technology
Collaborative Robot Models
Universal Robots offers a range of collaborative robot (cobot) models designed for safe human-robot interaction in industrial settings, with payloads and reaches tailored to various automation needs as of 2025. The current lineup includes the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16e, UR20, UR15, and UR30, each providing 6 degrees of freedom for flexible manipulation tasks.[2] The UR3e is the smallest model, featuring a 3 kg payload and 500 mm reach, making it ideal for compact installations in tight spaces such as assembly lines or lab environments. The UR5e supports a 5 kg payload with an 850 mm reach, suitable for medium-precision operations like pick-and-place or screwdriving. The UR10e offers a 10 kg payload and 1300 mm reach, balancing versatility for tasks requiring greater extension, such as machine tending. The UR16e provides a higher 16 kg payload within a 900 mm reach, emphasizing robustness for heavier loads in constrained areas, while the UR20 delivers a 20 kg payload and 1750 mm reach for heavy-duty applications like palletizing or material handling over longer distances. The UR15, introduced in 2025, features a 15 kg payload and 1300 mm reach, delivering high-speed performance (up to 5 m/s) ideal for space-constrained environments and rapid cycle times in pick-and-place tasks. The UR30, introduced in 2023, offers a 30 kg payload and 1300 mm reach in a compact form, suited for demanding heavy-lift operations such as palletizing and high-torque screwdriving.[50][51][4][52][53][54]| Model | Payload (kg) | Reach (mm) | Weight (kg) | Repeatability (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR3e | 3 | 500 | 11.2 | ±0.03 |
| UR5e | 5 | 850 | 18.3 | ±0.03 |
| UR10e | 10 | 1300 | 28.9 | ±0.05 |
| UR15 | 15 | 1300 | 40.7 | ±0.05 |
| UR16e | 16 | 900 | 33.3 | ±0.05 |
| UR20 | 20 | 1750 | 64 | ±0.05 |
| UR30 | 30 | 1300 | 63.5 | ±0.05 |