Long-reach cobot delivers cycle times that are up to 30% faster
8 September 2025 
The cobot (collaborative robot) market leader, Universal Robots (UR), has unveiled a long-reach cobot designed to tackle demanding automation challenges. With the same 1750mm reach as the earlier UR20 cobot but a much slimmer profile, the new UR8 Long has an 8kg payload capacity, and combines reach, stability and precision in a rugged, compact and lightweight form. It is said to be ideal for space-constrained set-ups and industrial tasks ranging from complex welding tasks, to fast, precise bin-picking and flexible multi-point inspections.
The UR8 Long has an improved joint architecture said to result in cycle times that are up to 30% faster than earlier cobots. It is 30% lighter than the UR20 and its compact wrist design also makes it ideal for mounting on gantries, rails, or overhead systems, where external axes can operate more efficiently.
“The UR8 Long is a smart robotic arm that can reach farther and do more than ever before,” says UR president, Jean Pierre Hathout, who has recently also been appointed president of UR’s parent company, Teradyne Robotics. “It’s designed to help people and businesses work faster, more safely, and with less physical effort. Whether it’s lifting, moving, or handling tasks that are repetitive or hard on the body, this robot makes the job easier. Its longer reach means it can cover more space, and its advanced features open new ways to automate work that used to be done by hand.”
A new advanced motion control technology called MotionPlus simplifies the cobot’s integration with linear axes, rotary positioners and rotary turntables, for precise control, smoother trajectories, and consistent accuracy.
Upgraded freedrive capabilities allow users to guide the arm precisely and easily, making lead-to-teach programming more intuitive and enabling quick, ergonomic set-ups even on complex parts, without needing layered interfaces or external tools.
The new cobot is said to be ideal for welding applications. It “delivers an easier teaching experience than traditional welding robots, better weld quality than manual welding, and less overall rework, saving time and money,” says Will Healy III, global industry manager for fabricated metals at Teradyne Robotics. “Following feedback from fabricators around the world, the UR8 Long was designed with the collaborative welding process in mind, boosting productivity and helping leaders to attract new talent, who are often more motivated to operate a robot than perform repetitive manual welding.”
“The improved features of the UR8 Long enable expansion into new welding and plasma-cutting applications; all without sacrificing safety or man-machine collaboration,” adds Marcus Yakawich, product manager of the US cobot welding specialist, Vectis Automation. “We can’t wait to share these long-reach advantages with our customers.”
The long reach of the cobot allows it to extend fully into a dunnage bins of the type commonly used in the automotive, metals and plastics sectors. The longer reach, combined with a compact tool flange and fast wrist joints, allows the robot to reach deep into the bins’ corners. It will integrate into space-constrained cells and is claimed to offer more picks per bin and more uninterrupted workflows.
The UR8 Long is due to start shipping in October.
