Epson has begun taking orders in Japan for the AX6-A901S, the company's first collaborative robot, marking a new product category for a manufacturer long known for industrial SCARA and six-axis arms. Orders opened October 29, with the launch detailed in a report by Notebookcheck on November 2.
The AX6-A901S is a six-axis arm with a 900mm reach, a 6kg maximum payload, and repeatability of ±0.03mm. Built with a carbon-fiber structure, the arm weighs approximately 18kg. It pairs with Epson's RC-A101 controller, a 5.5kg unit that supports both standard AC power and 48V DC operation, a feature aimed at integrators who want to mount the cobot on mobile platforms such as AGVs and AMRs.
Programming and Deployment Flexibility
Epson built Python support directly into the AX6-A901S, alongside a visual block-based programming interface and its AX Portal software platform. That combination targets two different buyers: experienced automation engineers who want direct code-level control, and smaller manufacturers who need a simpler drag-and-drop setup without a dedicated robotics programmer on staff. The robot is also rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance and ISO Class 5 cleanroom compatible, with a smooth exterior designed for easy wipe-down cleaning, extending its reach into electronics assembly and pharmaceutical packaging lines.
A Later Entry Into a Crowded Market
Epson's move into cobots comes years after Universal Robots established the category and well after rivals including ABB, Fanuc, Techman and Dobot built out competing lineups. North American companies alone ordered roughly 4,605 collaborative robots valued at approximately $178 million through the first three quarters of 2026, according to Association for Advancing Automation data, with cobots making up 16.7% of all robot units ordered in the third quarter.
Epson's pitch is less about undercutting established cobot makers on price and more about leveraging its decades of precision-motion expertise from SCARA robots used in electronics and semiconductor assembly, where its 0.03mm repeatability figure is a notable selling point against general-purpose cobots built for coarser pick-and-place work. The 48V DC-compatible controller also signals an intent to court mobile-robot integrators rather than only fixed-station buyers.
For now, the AX6-A901S is available only in Japan, with Epson not yet disclosing a timeline for wider international release or pricing details beyond quote-based sales. How quickly Epson expands availability will determine whether the launch is a meaningful new revenue line or a niche addition to its existing robotics portfolio.