The IRB 1700 family targets crowded production lines, from electronics assembly to machine tending.
ABB Robotics has introduced two compact industrial robots, the IRB 1700 and IRB 1700ID, for precision-manufacturing work. Assembly Magazine reports that the announcement covers five variants, with payloads from 6 to 12 kilograms.
ABB says the robots can complete cycles up to 20% faster than comparable market models. They use the company’s OmniCore controllers, with path repeatability down to 0.03 millimeter and joint speeds up to 700 degrees per second.
That combination could help lines handling small parts, repeated positioning, or quick transfers. Listed tasks include material handling, arc welding, deburring, sanding, machine tending, and assembling AI server racks. Electronics and automotive assembly are among the target applications.
The main physical change is size. ABB says the IRB 1700 has a footprint 50% smaller than its predecessor, which could free floor space around fixtures, conveyors, and safety equipment. ABB also claims up to 15% lower power use than the previous IRB 1600 when both robots run with the same payload and OmniCore controller.
For maintenance planning, ABB says oil-change intervals extend to 20,000 hours. The platform also supports RobotStudio, AI Robot Trainer, OmniCore EyeMotion, and automatic collision-free path planning.
These remain company-reported comparisons, and Assembly Magazine does not provide independent test conditions in its report. The announcement also does not establish pricing, delivery timing, or production use by customers. Managers should therefore compare the quoted performance with their own cycle-time data, tooling needs, safety layout, and total service costs before building a payback case.