Long reach all stainless steel parallel link robot for the food industry
DR/8-16B Stainless

May 18, 2026
FANUC CORPORATION

In recent years, demand for automation in the food industry has been steadily increasing in order to address labor shortages and improve productivity. FANUC has pursued both functionality and maintainability, required in food production environments. As a new addition to its parallel link robot lineup, FANUC will launch the long reach DR/8 16B Stainless (8 kg payload, 1600 mm operating range), in addition to the existing model DR/6 12B Stainless (6 kg payload, 1200 mm operating range).

Features

Contamination resistant design

• To ensure food safety, strong acidic and alkaline cleaning agents are often used in food production sites for removing contaminants and sterilization. Therefore, all exposed metal exterior parts of the robot are made of highly corrosion resistant stainless steel.
• Bolts exposed on the robot exterior have been minimized to the greatest extent possible, resulting in a smooth surface without gaps or irregularities. This prevents dirt from adhering and makes cleaning easier.
• The robot is designed with an IP69K protection rating to withstand high pressure washdown. It features a design with no horizontal surfaces, allowing cleaning fluids to drain off without pooling after washing.

Wide operating range and high throughput capability

• The robot offers a large operating range with a diameter of 1600 mm, enabling handling distances exceeding 1.2 m, which were difficult for the existing models.
• Compared to the existing model’s 6 kg payload, this model supports up to 8 kg, allowing it to handle heavier workpieces. The wrist drive mechanism has been reinforced, improving torque at the wrist axis and enabling the easy installation of larger robot hands.

Improved maintainability

• The junction box used in the existing models has been eliminated, and the three cables that previously connected the junction box to the robot body have been removed. This reduction in wiring has made robot installation simpler.
• The adoption of battery less pulse-coders eliminate the need for battery installation and replacement, reducing periodic maintenance workload. It also contributes to simplified wiring and reduces environmental impact by eliminating battery disposal. (Available in October 2026)

The DR/8 16B Stainless will be exhibited at the FANUC Open House Show 2026 in May. Please look forward to the next generation of FANUC parallel link robots.

Start of mass production: August 2026

DR/8-16B (existing model, epoxy painted type)