Epson Launches AX6, Its First Collaborative 6-Axis Robot

Epson Robots announced the AX6 collaborative robot on September 22, 2026, expanding its 6-Axis robot lineup with what the company describes as its first collaborative robot and completing what it says is now a full portfolio of robotic safety tools.

As part of the AX Series, the AX6 is designed around power- and force-limiting features that, with a proper risk assessment, can allow operation without traditional safety barriers, according to Epson. With the release, the company said its safety lineup now spans industrial robots that maximize speed and performance, collaborative robots that maximize worker interaction and redeployability, and industrial collaborative tools that balance the two use cases.

“Collaborative robots have lowered the barriers to entry for many new robot users by simplifying programming and integration, while enabling new applications where space and user interaction are critical,” said Rick Brookshire, director, Product Development, Robot Development. Brookshire said the AX6 allows Epson to address those applications while offering customers a complete range of robotic safety solutions.

No-Code Software and Development Tools

Epson said it designed the AX6 to provide a fluid operating environment for users of all skill levels, pairing no-code software with an intuitive user interface. Combined with AX Portal, the company’s collaborative robot software, the robot offers a range of development tools intended to address diverse automation needs.

For more advanced applications, a customizable Python development environment lets users upload custom libraries and modules to develop more complicated robotic application workcells. Industrial kinematics generate straight-line, curved or joint motions from either the no-code or the Python-based environment.

End-of-arm multifunctional user buttons include three customizable and two dedicated buttons, and operators can teach positions by manually moving the robot in free space and using the Teach buttons. A 3D simulator lets users test programs in simulation before running them within a workcell.

Hardware Design, Ratings, and Connections

The AX6 is built around a compact, lightweight carbon fiber structure that Epson describes as creating a space-efficient and lightweight workcell. The robot is IP54 rated and complies with ISO Class 5 (ISO 14644-1) cleanroom standards, and Epson said that combination makes the AX6 suited to collaborative applications where space and controlled environments are at a premium.

An end-of-arm Ethernet port and pneumatic connections simplify end-of-arm tooling for devices such as grippers and dispensers. A multicolor status LED ring at the end of the arm lets users assess the robot’s status through fixed color status lights. The AX6 supports multiple power sources, from 100 V to 240 V AC and 48 V DC.

Earlier Development Announcements

Seiko Epson Corporation first disclosed the project on June 3, 2025, announcing that it was developing its first collaborative robot solution with a launch planned for 2025. Initial sales were planned for Japan and Europe, with a phased rollout to additional regions to follow, and the company said it was targeting manufacturing and logistics as well as laboratory automation in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.

The robot described in that development announcement carried a 6 kg payload capacity with a 900 mm arm length and weighed 17 kg, a build Epson said would allow easy relocation and reconfiguration. Its controller measured 440 by 205 by 135 mm and weighed less than 6 kg, designed for installation on mobile robots such as automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots.

The 2025 design called for clean transfer compliant with ISO 14644-1 Class 5 standards and IP54 protection against dust and splashing water, though Epson noted at the time that this compliance was based on design evaluation and was not guaranteed at the time of shipment. Its smooth chassis, free of screw holes and sharp edges, was designed to minimize dust accumulation and reduce contamination risks in cleanrooms. The development-stage robot supported Python programming and was compatible with power sources from 100 to 230 VAC and 48VDC.

In June 2026, Epson Robots previewed the upcoming cobot platform at Automate 2026, held June 22–25 at McCormick Place in Chicago, with the platform planned for 2026. That release also described Epson’s SafeSense technology, which uses sensors to detect when a user enters the robot’s workspace, enabling high-performance automation with safe human interaction.

The AX6 is now available through Epson Robots’ channel of distributor partners.