B&R Prepares 2026 Launch of Codian AR Six-Axis Robot

B&R, the Machine Automation Division of ABB, plans to expand its machine-centric robotics portfolio in 2026 with the introduction of the Codian AR, the company’s first kinematic six-axis robot. The launch follows the 2025 introduction of the Codian SR, further advancing B&R’s integrated robotics offering.

Designed to execute complex 3D motion paths and multi-angle manipulation, the Codian AR provides six degrees of freedom and the flexibility to move in and out of confined workspaces repeatedly. Target use cases include handling, sorting, and assembly operations that support automation environments across industries such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, metals, electronics manufacturing, and consumer packaged goods.

“The new Codian AR and SR families expand our robotics portfolio to deliver unmatched flexibility, precision, and performance, empowering machine builders with compact, integrated solutions for even the most complex automation tasks,” said Sebastian Brandstetter, Product Manager Machine Centric Robotics at B&R Industrial Automation.

The Codian AR is engineered for adaptable deployment, with working ranges from 600 mm to 1,400 mm and mounting configurations that include wall, ceiling, and floor. By combining delta, SCARA, and six-axis robot mechanics within a cohesive platform, the expanded Codian portfolio gives machine builders greater freedom to select purpose-built robotics for specific tasks.

The robot’s high-stiffness transmission design maintains rigidity under load, enabling stable operation, precise positioning, and fast response times. Precision-engineered gearboxes and bearings help extend accuracy and durability. At the same time, an advanced trajectory algorithm optimizes motion in real time using model-based control and state-of-the-art optimization techniques. These capabilities support smooth, efficient robot movements and consistently high throughput across a wide range of operating conditions.

Codian robots are integral to B&R’s Machine-Centric Robotics (MCR) approach, which unifies machine control and robotic control within a single architecture. This allows machine builders to use a single controller and a single engineering environment for development, diagnostics, and maintenance. The plug-and-play integration eliminates the need for a separate robot controller or specialized programming tools, enabling reduced component counts, lower engineering overhead, and faster commissioning—particularly for companies adopting robotics for the first time.

About B&R

B&R, a division of ABB Group, is a global industrial automation company headquartered in Austria. The company provides integrated solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI, and safety technology. Its portfolio includes Industrial IoT communication standards such as OPC UA, POWERLINK, and openSAFETY, as well as the Automation Studio engineering environment. B&R focuses on delivering tightly integrated automation systems designed to streamline engineering processes across a wide range of industrial applications.

For more information, visit www.br-automation.com.

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