World's First Compact Folding Arm Technology Provides the Optimum in Motion and Workspace Efficiency

CARSON, Calif. - Sep. 4, 2018 - Expanding on its award-winning Flexion™ N-Series lineup, Epson Robots today announced the new Flexion N6 6-Axis robot. Featuring the worlds first folding-arm design and a strong footprint-to-reach ratio, this compact 6-Axis robot offers a powerful solution for tight or confined spaces in factory automation. The Flexion N6 is available from Epson today.

With a unique ability to fold under itself, the robot helps reduce intermediate points and shorten cycle times. Ideal for vertical load/unload applications, this compact robot provides the ultimate in motion and workspace efficiency. Innovative tight-space motion capability helps ensure the robots arm extremities avoid obstacles, while Epsons proprietary Residual Vibration Technology delivers outstanding speed, precision, acceleration/deceleration rates and more.

The Flexion N6 has a longer arm (1,000 mm) and can handle higher payloads (6 kg) than Epson's previously released Flexion N2 6-Axis robot. The N6 will also have 850mm reach and clean versions due to release late 2018.The Flexion N2, the first robot to feature the unique folding arm design, was awarded the Edison Award for Innovation and UBMs Golden Mousetrap award in 2017.

"Thanks to the unique folding arm technology, our N-Series robots are ideal for a wide range of industries that require extreme precision and dexterity for handling small parts in a very tight environment," said Gregg Brunnick, director of product management for Epson Robots. "By expanding the Flexion N-Series, we are meeting the demanding needs of advanced manufacturing for intelligent, compact solutions."

Key Features

1. Worlds first folding-arm design — built for optimum motion and workspace efficiency
2. Ideal for confined spaces — perfect for load/unload applications
3. Ultra long reach in a compact design — strong footprint-to-reach ratio
4. Unique tight-space motion capability — ensures the robots arm extremities avoid obstacles
5. Outstanding motion efficiency — arm design allows for fast cycle times
6. Powerful arm design — 1,000 mm reach, up to 6 kg payload
7. Remarkable speed and precision — powered by Epsons proprietary Residual Vibration Technology
8. Full-featured Epson RC+® Development Software — makes it simple to create powerful solutions
9. Integrated vision guidance option — designed specifically for robot guidance; easily automates simple applications when vision is required
10. Other integrated options — fieldbus interface solutions; RC+ 7.0 API software for open-platform functionality; teach pendants; and customizable GUIs

While beneficial in a large range of industries, key applications for the Flexion N-Series include micro-sized electronic, automotive, medical, and consumer goods parts assembly, managing of well plates in laboratories, and pill handling in pharmaceutical. The Flexion N-Series is available in both ceiling and tabletop configurations. Compatible and packaged with the RC700A controller, the Flexion N-Series also utilizes Epsons user-friendly RC+ Robot Development Software and can be used with Epsons expansive range of integrated options, including Vision Guidance, Force Sensing, Fieldbus, and GUI Builder. To learn more about the Flexion N-Series, visit www.epson.com/N6.

About Epson Robots
Epson Robots is a global leader in PC controlled precision factory automation, with an installed base of well over 65,000 robots worldwide and a product line of hundreds of models of easy to use SCARA, Cartesian and 6-Axis robots based on a common PC based platform. Building on a 35+-year heritage, Epson Robots today delivers robots for precision assembly and material handling applications in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, biotechnology, consumer product, electronics, food processing, medical device, pharmaceutical, plastics, semiconductor, and telecommunication industries. For more information, visit www.epsonrobots.com

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, watches and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 76,000 employees in 87 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

Epson America, Inc., based in Long Beach, Calif., is Epsons regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonAmerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).




# # #

Note: EPSON and Epson RC+ are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Flexion is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.