Collaborative robot (cobot) developer Hirebotics launched June 25 its first explosion-proof cobot, which includes its no-code Beacon platform and Fanuc’s CRX-10iA/L paint hardware. The company reports that Cobot Painter offers metal fabricators and manufacturers a practical, high-mix, low-volume alternative to manual spraying and complex automated lines.

Hirebotics reports that fabrication shops and other manufacturers typically outsource coating work because traditional automation lines are too costly and complex, which causes them to lose control over lead times, quality and profits. Compared to traditional automated paint systems that require dedicated cells and major exhaust or conveyor infrastructure overhauls, portable and lightweight Cobot Painter works inside a user's existing manual spray environment, so it can be deployed and operating in days instead of months.

“Cobot Painter eliminates the need for dedicated paint cells and complex programming,” says Matt Bush, co-founder and CEO of Hirebotics. “By combining Fanuc’s explosion-proof hardware with our intuitive, no-code Beacon platform, we’ve created an affordable, flexible finishing solution. Shops can now bring their coating in-house, deploy automation in days inside their existing booths, deliver flawless finishes, and do it without an on-staff robotics specialist."

CRX-10iA/L is reported to be the first explosion-proof cobot approved for liquid painting, powder coating and gel coating in hazardous settings. Its 55.82-inch reach handles large and complex parts with repeatable precision, delivering a consistent coat every time while significantly reducing paint waste and overspray.

Cobot Painter supports stationary painting, with parts placed in a paint booth where robots perform all spraying operations. Future versions will support line tracking, with the robot tracking and painting parts while in continuous motion on a production line.

Similar to Hirebotics’ welding and cutting solutions, Cobot Painter is designed to be fully accessible to operators without robotics or programming experience. Using the Beacon interface on any tablet or phone, operators can use its click-and-teach paths to guide the robot through its required motions one time, which lets it flawlessly repeat the same speed, distance and angle for each cycle.  

“Built on CRX-10iA/L, this system brings the safety and precision of explosion-proof automation into standard manual coating environments,” adds Dave Wagenhauser, paint robot sales manager at Fanuc America. “CRX Paint series is designed to deliver consistent, high-quality performance in painting and finishing applications, combining collaborative safety features, ease of deployment, and Fanuc’s reliability. Our collaboration with Hirebotics and its Beacon platform further streamlines setup and programming, helping reduce integration complexity and enabling faster deployment in high-mix, low-volume production environments.”