Seventh-axis collaboration extends cobot ranges up to 10m
6 August 2025 
Regal Rexnord has joined forces with ABB Robotics to simplify the integration of ABB’s GoFa cobots (collaborative robots) with seventh-axis systems from Regal’s Thomson linear motion division, extending cobot operating ranges up to 10m.
The collaboration makes Thomson’s Movotrak CTU (cobot transfer unit) the first seventh-axis technology for cobots that ABB has certified for use by its partners.
“Until now, anyone wanting to use a single, plug-and-play ABB cobot on multiple workstations faced what could be days of programming and communications challenges,” explains Kevin Zaba, Regal Rexnord executive vice-president, and president of its automation and motion control business. “As part of the ABB Robotics partner ecosystem, we have preconfigured our Movotrak CTU, ensuring rapid deployment with ABB cobots right out of the box.
“Integrators, distributors, and end-users can now invest more time using the seventh axis to solve productivity problems than dealing with complex integration details.”
The seventh axis offers:
- Flexible mounting: Cobots can move from one workstation to the next along a rail that is secured to the floor, wall or ceiling.
- Collision detection: The CTU is claimed to be the first seventh-axis system to incorporate collision detection, stopping a cobot when it encounters an obstacle.
- Increased productivity: Reduced downtime, with training and installation said to be easy.
- A single-source, integrated system: The linear axes can be integrated with other Regal Rexnord components, such as its Boston Gear gearheads, Huco couplings, and Kollmorgen motors and software, to create complete assemblies with a single part number
