Universal Robots UR18 Collaborative Robot Arm — 18 kg Payload, 950 mm Reach
Universal Robots
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Universal Robots UR Series | Collaborative Robot
Next-Generation High Performance. Maximum Payload. Maximum Reach.
The UR20 is the first of Universal Robots' next-generation high-performance cobots — redesigned from the ground up to deliver up to 30% more speed and torque than the platforms it succeeds. With a 20 kg standard payload (expandable to 25 kg under boundary conditions per the user manual), 1750 mm of reach, and 5 m/s maximum TCP speed, the UR20 addresses the heaviest and most reach-demanding collaborative automation applications in manufacturing.
The UR20's 1750 mm reach is its defining characteristic — 800 mm longer than the UR18 and sufficient to cover full pallet height, access deep machine interiors, span large welding fixtures, and handle wide conveyor configurations that no other UR cobot can reach. At 64 kg arm weight with a Ø245 mm footprint, it is purpose-built for heavy, fixed-cell applications where reach and payload are the primary constraints.
The UR20 is IP65-rated at the arm, ISO 14644-1 Class 6 cleanroom-certified, UL 1740 and TÜV-certified, and compliant with EN ISO 13849-1 (PLd Category 3) and EN ISO 10218-1. It is available on both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X, with 6m and 12m cable options on most variants.
| Robot Model | UR20 (UR Series — next-generation high performance) |
| Payload (Standard) | 20 kg (44.1 lbs) |
| Payload (Expanded) | 25 kg (55.1 lbs) — boundary conditions per user manual |
| Reach | 1750 mm (68.9 in) |
| Repeatability (ISO 9283) | ±0.1 mm |
| Maximum TCP Speed | 5 m/s |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 rotating joints |
| Robot Arm Weight | 64 kg (141.1 lbs) |
| Footprint (base diameter) | Ø245 mm |
| IP Rating (Arm) | IP65 |
| Cleanroom Classification | ISO 14644-1 Class 6 at ≤80% velocity & payload |
| Noise | <65 dB(A) |
| Operating Temperature | 0–50°C (32–122°F) |
| Power Consumption (max) | 750 W |
| Power Consumption (moderate) | 500 W |
| Configurable Safety Functions | 21 |
| Safety Standard | EN ISO 13849-1, PLd Category 3 · EN ISO 10218-1 · UL 1740 |
| Arm Mounting | Any orientation |
| Tool Flange | EN ISO-9409-1-80-6-M8 |
| Software Platforms Available | PolyScope 5 & PolyScope X |
| Joint Architecture | 2-1-3 |
30% More Speed and Torque — Redesigned from the Ground Up
The UR20 is not an incremental update — it is a ground-up redesign of the high-performance cobot architecture. Advanced motion control capabilities, higher joint torque, and 5 m/s maximum TCP speed deliver throughput improvements that matter in high-duty-cycle palletizing, welding, and machine tending applications.
The Only UR Cobot That Covers Full Pallet Height
1750 mm of reach from a single floor-mounted or gantry-mounted position covers the full working height of a standard Euro pallet — without repositioning, without a linear track, and without the infrastructure cost of a traditional palletizing robot. This is the single most important differentiator for the majority of UR20 buyers.
25 kg Expanded Payload Under Boundary Conditions
Under boundary conditions defined in the user manual, the UR20 supports up to 25 kg — accommodating heavier grippers, multi-part tooling, and large weldment fixtures without stepping up to a full industrial robot platform. Consult the UR20 User Manual for boundary condition requirements before specifying the expanded payload.
IP65 + Cleanroom for Harsh and Regulated Environments
IP65 at the arm and ISO 14644-1 Class 6 cleanroom certification (at ≤80% velocity and payload) make the UR20 deployable in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and precision manufacturing environments where contamination control is a production requirement alongside heavy payload handling.
Advanced Force Sensing at Scale
The UR20's integrated wrist force/torque sensor has a wider range than lighter UR models — ±200 N force and ±20 Nm torque — appropriate for the contact forces involved in heavy part seating, large-fixture welding setup, and high-force press and insertion operations at 20 kg payload.
6m and 12m Cable Options
The UR20 is unique in the UR Series for having both 6m and 12m robot cable options across most PSX variants — giving integrators flexibility for controller placement in large-cell layouts where the standard 6m cable doesn't reach.
The UR20 is the right cobot when 1750 mm of reach at 20 kg payload is the requirement — applications where the UR18's 950 mm reach is the constraint, not the payload. It is the definitive palletizing cobot in the UR Series, and the platform for any application that requires reaching deep into a large machine, across a wide fixture, or over a tall pallet.
Palletizing
The UR20's 1750 mm reach covers full standard pallet height from a single mount point — the defining application for this model. At 5 m/s TCP speed and 20 kg payload, it handles standard case weights plus a full vacuum gripper assembly at throughput rates that make palletizing ROI straightforward. IP65 and Class 6 cleanroom certification make it deployable in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical palletizing environments without compromise.
Welding
1750 mm reach covers large weldment fixtures and long weld seams that smaller cobots cannot reach from a single position — reducing fixturing complexity and eliminating repositioning cycles. The UR20's 20 kg payload headroom handles heavy torch assemblies, wire feeders, and complex EOAT packages at full rated capacity. Advanced motion control delivers smooth, consistent arc paths across every cycle.
Pick & Place / Vision-Guided Handling
Heavy multi-cup vacuum grippers and wrist-mounted vision systems combine payload weight that challenges lighter cobots. The UR20's 20 kg headroom accommodates complex end-of-arm tooling — including integrated cameras, sensors, and multi-part gripper assemblies — without approaching the payload limit. Force sensing at the wrist confirms contact and detects anomalies on every pick cycle.
Injection Moulding Machine Tending
The UR20's reach accesses deep inside large injection moulding machine enclosures, while 20 kg payload handles heavy moulded parts and multi-cavity gripper tooling at full rated capacity. OEM variants (SKUs 200128, 200129, 200169, 200170, 200375, 200376) include the SPI AN-146 / Euromap-67 interface for direct machine integration. The embedded wrist force/torque sensor confirms part extraction and detects resistance anomalies before they become defects.
Heavy Material Handling
Transfer and positioning of large castings, heavy fabricated components, and bulky sub-assemblies between workstations — covering spans and heights that require the UR20's 1750 mm reach envelope.
Dispensing on Large Parts
Adhesive, sealant, and gasket dispensing on large automotive, appliance, and industrial panels — where the reach envelope covers the full part surface from a single mount position without repositioning.
Sanding, Polishing & Material Removal
Force-controlled surface finishing on large castings and fabricated components. Advanced force sensing (±200 N range) and 1750 mm reach enable consistent finishing across large part surfaces with programmed contact force limits.
The UR20 is built on Universal Robots' collaborative safety architecture — 21 configurable safety functions, an integrated wrist force/torque sensor, and full compliance with EN ISO 13849-1 (PLd Category 3), EN ISO 10218-1, and UL 1740. Even at 20 kg payload, the UR20 can operate in shared workspaces with appropriate risk assessment and safety configuration — allowing operators to program, monitor, and interact with the robot without requiring a dedicated safety cage in all deployment scenarios.
| Configurable Safety Functions | 21 |
| Safety Rating | PLd Category 3 (EN ISO 13849-1) |
| Robot Safety Standard | EN ISO 10218-1 |
| UL Certification | UL 1740 |
| Safety System Architecture | Dual channel safety-rated |
| Force/Torque Sensing | Integrated wrist sensor — ±200 N force range, ±20 Nm torque range |
| 3PE Teach Pendant | Standard on all pendant variants — required for ISO 10218-2 compliance when operator enters safeguarded space |
| Safety Configuration | Password-protected via PolyScope safety configuration screen |
The UR20 sits above the UR18 in the UR Series — delivering nearly double the reach of the UR18 at 2 kg more standard payload. It is the right choice when 1750 mm reach is the requirement, not just the payload step-up.
| Specification | UR18 | UR20 | UR30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload | 18 kg | 20 kg (25 kg expanded) | 30 kg |
| Reach | 950 mm | 1750 mm | 1300 mm |
| Max TCP Speed | 4 m/s | 5 m/s | — |
| Arm Weight | 39.2 kg | 64 kg | — |
| Footprint | Ø204 mm | Ø245 mm | — |
| IP Rating (Arm) | IP65 | IP65 | — |
| Cable Options | 6m only | 6m & 12m | — |
| Best For | Heavy payload, compact cell | Max reach + heavy payload + speed | Maximum payload |
Need maximum payload beyond 20 kg? The UR30 steps up to 30 kg at 1300 mm reach. Need heavy payload in a compact cell without the long reach? The UR18 at 950 mm may be the better fit. Contact Automation Distribution to discuss your application: 1-888-600-3080.
The UR20 is available with both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X. Both platforms run on the same robot arm. PolyScope X variants are available with 6m or 12m robot cable — the 12m option is not available on PS5 OEM variants.
PolyScope 5
Available on SKU 200482, 200128, 200129
PolyScope X
Available on SKU 200005, 200374, 200169, 200375, 200170, 200376
Robot Arm
| Cable Length (robot arm) | 6 m (236 in) or 12 m depending on SKU |
| Connector Type (tool) | M8 8-pin female |
| Materials | Aluminum, plastic, steel |
| Status Identification | Light ring at robot base |
| Humidity | ≤90% RH (non-condensing) |
Force Sensing — Tool Flange / Torque Sensor
| Parameter | Force (x-y-z) | Torque (x-y-z) |
|---|---|---|
| Range | ±200.0 N | ±20.0 Nm |
| Precision | ±5.5 N | ±0.2 Nm |
| Accuracy | ±10.0 N | ±0.1 Nm |
Axis Movement
| Joint | Working Range | Maximum Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Base | ±360° | ±120°/s |
| Shoulder | ±360° | ±120°/s |
| Elbow | ±360° | ±150°/s |
| Wrist 1 | ±360° | ±210°/s |
| Wrist 2 | ±360° | ±210°/s |
| Wrist 3 | ±360° | ±210°/s |
I/O — Tool Flange
| Digital Inputs | 2 |
| Digital Outputs | 2 |
| Analog Inputs | 2 or 1 RS-485 |
| Power Supply Voltage | 12 V / 24 V |
| Power Supply Current | 2 A (dual pin) / 1 A (single pin) |
I/O — Control Box
| Digital Inputs | 16 |
| Digital Outputs | 16 |
| Analog Inputs | 2 |
| Analog Outputs | 2 |
| Quadrature Digital Inputs | 4 |
| I/O Power Supply | 24 V, 2 A |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s |
| USB | USB 2.0 + USB 3.0 |
| Mini DisplayPort | Yes |
| Industrial Protocols | Modbus TCP (Client/Server), EtherNet/IP Adapter, PROFINET Device / PROFIsafe, ROS/ROS2 |
| Power Source | 100–240 VAC, 47–440 Hz (AC variants) · DC available on OEM variants |
| Control Box IP Rating | IP44 |
| Control Box Size (W × H × D) | 460 × 449 × 254 mm (18.2 × 17.6 × 10 in) |
| Control Box Weight | 12 kg (26.5 lbs) |
| SPI / Euromap-67 Interface | OEM control box versions only (SKU 200128, 200129, 200169, 200170, 200375, 200376) |
3-Position Enabling Teach Pendant (SKU 200482, 200005, 200374)
| IP Classification | IP54 |
| Display Resolution | 1280 × 800 pixels |
| Size (W × H × D) | 300 × 231 × 50 mm (11.8 × 9.1 × 1.97 in) |
| Weight (incl. 1 m cable) | 1.8 kg (3.961 lbs) |
| Cable Length | 4.5 m (177.17 in) |
The UR20 is available in nine configurations across two software platforms. All pendant variants use a 3-Position Enabling Teach Pendant — there is no Standard TP option on the UR20. Both 6m and 12m cable lengths are available on most PSX variants.
| SKU | Software | Teach Pendant | Controller | Cable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200482 | PolyScope 5 | 3PE TP | Standard AC | 12m |
| 200128 | PolyScope 5 | None (OEM) | OEM AC | 6m |
| 200129 | PolyScope 5 | None (OEM) | OEM DC | 6m |
| 200005 | PolyScope X | 3PE TP | Standard AC | 6m |
| 200374 | PolyScope X | 3PE TP | Standard AC | 12m |
| 200169 | PolyScope X | None (OEM) | OEM AC | 6m |
| 200375 | PolyScope X | None (OEM) | OEM AC | 12m |
| 200170 | PolyScope X | None (OEM) | OEM DC | 6m |
| 200376 | PolyScope X | None (OEM) | OEM DC | 12m |
Not sure which SKU to order?
All UR20 pendant variants ship with the 3-Position Enabling Teach Pendant — there is no Standard TP option on this model. OEM variants include the SPI AN-146 / Euromap-67 injection moulding machine interface. Contact Automation Distribution to confirm availability and lead times: 1-888-600-3080.
UR Academy
Free online training with step-by-step programming tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and certification courses for both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X. New users are typically productive within a single day.
UR Care Services
24/7 support, remote connectivity monitoring, and on-site field service. UR Care and UR Care Premium warranty extensions are available for the UR20 — contact Automation Distribution for pricing.
UR+ Marketplace
Certified third-party plugins and accessories — heavy-duty grippers, force/torque sensors, vision systems, welding packages, and more — all validated for UR Series compatibility.
UR20 Product Family | SKU 200005, 200128, 200129, 200169, 200170, 200374, 200375, 200376, 200482. Specifications sourced from Universal Robots UR20 Technical Specification (April 2026). Expanded payload of 25 kg requires boundary conditions per the UR20 User Manual — consult documentation before specifying. Verify all specifications against current Universal Robots documentation prior to installation. Specifications subject to change without notice. Automation Distribution — Authorized Universal Robots Distributor, Hatfield, PA.