Hirebotics used the opening days of IMTS 2026 in Chicago on September 19, 2026 to add two new hardware and software capabilities to its no-code collaborative-robot line: an automatic line-tracking mode that lets a cobot follow a moving conveyor, and a modular linear rail that extends reach in 5-foot increments. Both ship through the company's Beacon platform and work across its welding, plasma-cutting and painting cells.
Line Tracking: Cobots That Keep Up With Moving Work
The line-tracking feature debuted on the Cobot Painter and automatically detects when a part arrives on the conveyor, begins its programmed spray path and continues to compensate for the belt's motion. "Line tracking addresses moving production — the cobot follows the moving part and maintains its programmed painting path while the conveyor continues running," CEO Matthew Bush said. Because everything is configured inside Beacon's tablet interface, no PLC integration or robotics programmer is required.
Modular Linear Rail: Reach That Grows With The Job
Hirebotics' standard Universal Robots-based cell has a 68.9-inch working reach. The new modular linear rail attaches in 5-foot sections — or any custom length — so a single cobot can weld, cut or paint a full trailer, a wind-tower flange or a piece of oversized fabrication without repositioning. Manual positioning is available now; an automated version is slated for release before the end of 2026.
Fabricators Want More From Their First Cobot
Both features respond directly to feedback from customers who have deployed Hirebotics cells for data-center manufacturing and other high-mix fabrication. Adding conveyor tracking removes a common reason to fall back to a fixed six-axis industrial robot, and the linear rail closes the gap in reach that has kept cobots out of large-format work. Universal Robots itself used IMTS to launch its Gen 7 UR-G series, giving Hirebotics an even larger installed base to sell these upgrades into.
Availability
Line tracking and manual-position linear rails are shipping now through Hirebotics' subscription model, which bundles hardware, Beacon software and 24/7 support. The company is demoing both live at Booth 121000 in Chicago through September 24.
Reporting based on coverage from The Robot Report and Hirebotics.