🇩🇰 Universal Robots

About Universal Robots

Universal Robots (UR) was founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark, by Esben Ostergaard, Kasper Stoy, and Kristian Kassow. The company essentially created the commercial collaborative robot market, introducing a lightweight, easily programmable arm that could be deployed without safety caging in most configurations. Teradyne acquired UR in 2015 for $285 million, providing the capital and distribution infrastructure needed to scale globally. UR is now the world's largest cobot manufacturer by installed base.

The UR cobot range, from UR3e (3 kg payload) to UR20 (20 kg payload), covers the majority of light industrial assembly, machine tending, packaging, and inspection applications. UR's competitive advantage rests on its ecosystem: over 300 certified UR+ accessories, a large global network of certified integrators, the PolyScope interface for accessible programming, and the AcademicSafe designation that has made UR cobots the dominant platform in university engineering and robotics curricula.

The company's scale means that training, spare parts, and integration support are available in virtually every industrial market globally, including comprehensive UK coverage.

Key Products

• UR3e / UR5e / UR10e / UR16e / UR20 / UR30: E-series collaborative arms; payloads 3-30 kg, reach 500-1750 mm, force-torque sensing standard

UK Market Presence

Universal Robots has one of the most developed UK market presences of any robotics manufacturer. Multiple authorised distributors and hundreds of certified integrators operate across England, Scotland, and Wales. Pricing ranges from approximately £22,000 for a UR3e to £55,000 for a UR20 including controller. UK training centres offer PolyScope programming courses and the UR Academy provides free online training. UK automotive, food, pharmaceutical, and electronics sectors all have significant UR installed bases.

Buying Used Universal Robots Equipment

Used UR cobots are among the most available robot arms on the UK secondhand market. eBay, Surplex, and specialist robot resellers regularly list e-Series and CB3-Series units at £6,000 to £25,000. CB3 units (pre-e-Series) are well supported with software still available. Buyers should verify software version, check joint torque calibration, inspect for wear on connectors, and confirm the serial number matches the controller. The large integrator network means finding UK service support for used UR arms is straightforward.