| 1974:
The world’s first microcomputer controlled electric industrial robot, IRB 6 from ASEA, was delivered to a small mechanical engineering company in southern Sweden. The design of this robot had been patented already 1972.
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1975:
First export orders to USA, Germany, and UK. |
| 1975:
The first robot for arc welding sold (IRB 6). |
| 1977:
First robots installed in France and Italy. |
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1979:
First electrical robot for spot welding (IRB 60) |
| 1979:
First robot installed in Spain |
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1982:
Introduction on the Japanese market |
| 1983:
New control system. S2, Outstanding HMI, Menu programming, TCP (tool center
point) and the joy stick is introduced. Allows control of several axes. |
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1986:
ASEA bought Trallfa robot operations, Bryne, Norway. Trallfa launched the
world's first painting robot in 1969. Sales boomed in mid eighties when
the automotive industry started to paint bumpers and other plastic parts. |
| 1986:
IRB 2000 a 10 kg robot - the first robot driven by AC motors - backlash
free gearboxes - large working range, - great accuracy |
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1990:
ABB bought the robot activities of Cincinatti Milacron, USA. Through the
acquisition ABB pronounced the focus on SpotWelding and got a strong base
for growth in the American Automotive Industry. |
1991:
Acquisition of Graco, USA (robotic painting).
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1991:
Acquisition of the paint application group Ransburg Automotive (inventor
of electrostatic painting, Atomizers). |
| 1991:
IRB 6000, a large 200 kg robot, introduced. This first modular robot becomes
the fastest and most accurate spot welding robot on the market. |
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1991:
Unique hollow wrist introduced on painting robots, allows faster and more
agile motions. |
1992:
Acquisition of Astrobotic, France, lays the basis of ABB's activities within
Consumer Industry.
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1994:
Acquisition of the French company ACMA Robotics, lays the foundation of
a strong position in the French Automotive Industry.
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| 1994:
S4 - break-through in user-friendliness (windows type HMI) - full dynamic
models, gives outstanding performance - Flexible Rapid language. |
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1996:
Integrated Arc Welding Power Source in robot cabinet.
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| 1998:
Launch of the FlexPicker robot, the world's fastest pick and place robot |
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1998:
RobotStudio, the first simulation tool based on virtual controller identical
to the real one revolutionise off-line programming. |
| 2000:
The pick and place software PickMaster is introduced. Unique plug and produce
functionality. |
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2001:
Launch of IRB 7600, the world's first industrial robot to handle 500 kg.
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| 2002:
ABB becomes the first company in world to sell 100,000 robots. |
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2002:
VirtualArc - true arc weld simulation tool that gives robot welding engineers full 'off-line' control of the MIG/MAG process.
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2002:
Launch of IRB 6600 at Euroblech, a Power Robot with bend-over-backwards flexibility.
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2003:
TeachSaver, a revolutionary software for reducing programming time in cleaning, is launched at GIFA. |
2003:
Adding Power to RobotStudio - PowerPacs are tailor made applications for various processes such as welding, cutting, painting and foundry.
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2004: 30 years in Robotics.
Since the start in 1974 ABB has sold more than 100,000 robots and is one of the world´s largest robot supplier.
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2004: Launch of IRC5 - the new Robot Controller.
It sets new standards with its modular concept, a completely new ergonomically-designed Windows interface unit, and fully coordinated multiple (up to four) robot control through the MultiMove function.
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2005: Launch of 55 new products and robot functions, included with 4 new robots; IRB 660, IRB 4450S, IRB 1600 and IRB 260
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