Hirebotics has introduced new line tracking and linear rail systems for its collaborative robots, enabling manufacturers to automate the processing of moving parts and large assemblies without altering existing production workflows.

The hardware extensions remove the fixed-position limitations of traditional collaborative robots. By expanding the robots’ working range, industrial operators can automate tasks such as painting, welding, and plasma cutting on oversized materials or conveyor-based production lines without stopping machinery or manually repositioning heavy parts.

The line tracking system allows the company’s automated painting robot to follow components as they move along a conveyor belt. Using an encoder and sensor, the system detects arriving parts and automatically adjusts the robot’s programmed path to compensate for changes in conveyor speed, eliminating the need to halt production for stationary finishing operations.

For large-scale manufacturing, Hirebotics introduced a modular linear rail system, available in 1.5-metre (5-foot) increments. The rail allows the robot to travel alongside oversized workpieces, such as 6-metre structural assemblies or large weldments, extending its reach beyond its standard 1.75-metre fixed envelope.

“Manufacturers shouldn’t have to redesign their work around the physical limitations of automation, it should work with the line they already have,” said Matthew Bush, chief executive of Hirebotics.

The linear rail currently operates via manual positioning, allowing operators to slide the robot along the track to reach different sections of a workpiece. A fully automated version, designed to move the robot between positions without human intervention, is scheduled for release at the end of 2026.