Hirebotics unveils no-code explosion-proof cobot for painting

Hirebotics' new Cobot Painter handles liquid paint and powder coating without needing a dedicated paint cell. | Source: Hirebotics

Hirebotics LLC today launched the Cobot Painter, an explosion-proof system built on its no-code Beacon platform and the FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint hardware. The company says it gives metal fabricators and manufacturers a high-mix, low-volume alternative to manual spraying and complex automated lines.

“The Cobot Painter removes the need for dedicated paint cells and complex programming,” said Matt Bush, co-founder and CEO of Hirebotics. “By pairing FANUC’s world-class explosion-proof hardware with our intuitive, no-code Beacon platform, we’ve created an affordable, flexible finishing solution.”

“Shops can now bring coating work in-house, deploy automation within days in their existing booths, and deliver the flawless finishes customers expect,” he added. “And they can do it all without a single robotics specialist on staff.”

Founded in 2015, Hirebotics designs and builds force- and power-limited robots for the metal fabrication industry. Its Cobot Welder, Cobot Cutter, and Cobot Painter all run on the company’s proprietary Beacon platform. According to the Nashville, Tenn.-based company, these systems let welders and fabricators automate without any programming.

Cobot Painter gives fabricators greater control over operations

In the past, fabrication shops and manufacturers had to outsource coating work. Traditional automation lines were too expensive and complex, leading to lost control over lead times, quality, and profit margins.

Conventional paint systems often require dedicated cells and major exhaust or conveyor infrastructure upgrades. Hirebotics says the portable, lightweight Cobot Painter operates inside an existing manual spray booth. Users can deploy the solution and have it running in days, not months.

The company says it designed the Cobot Painter to be fully accessible to operators with no robotics or programming background. Using the Beacon interface on any tablet or phone, operators can guide the robot through the motions once with “click-and-teach” paths. The cobot then repeats the exact speed, distance, and angle for every cycle.

The new system currently supports stationary painting, where parts are placed in a paint booth and the robot handles all spraying. According to Hirebotics, future versions will support line tracking, allowing the robot to follow and paint parts as they move continuously along a production line.

FANUC delivers repeatable precision

The FANUC CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot is an explosion-proof collaborative robot approved for liquid painting, powder coating, and gel coating in hazardous environments. It has a 55.82-inch (141.7 cm) reach.

The cobot can handle large, complex parts with repeatable precision, according to Hirebotics. The company adds that the system delivers a consistent coat every time while significantly cutting paint waste and overspray.

“Built on the CRX-10iA/L Paint cobot, this system brings the safety and precision of explosion-proof automation into standard manual coating environments,” said Dave Wagenhauser, manager of paint robot sales at FANUC America.

“The CRX Paint series is designed to deliver consistent, high-quality performance in painting and finishing, combining collaborative safety features, ease of deployment, and FANUC’s proven reliability for manufacturers seeking flexible automation,” he said. “Our collaboration with Hirebotics and its Beacon platform further streamlines setup and programming, reducing integration complexity and enabling faster deployment in high-mix, low-volume production environments.”