- Four payload variants: 1 kg (800 mm diameter), 3 kg (1130 mm), 6 kg (1600 mm), 8 kg (1130 mm).
- Up to 200 picks per minute (1 kg model) — fastest commercially available delta robot from a Tier 1 manufacturer.
- Stainless steel wash-down variant rated IP69K — direct water jet cleaning, food-safe lubricants, EHEDG/3-A compliant.
- Runs on ABB OmniCore controller with RAPID programming and RobotStudio offline simulation.
- Robot-only price: $40,000–$90,000 depending on variant; full turnkey cell $120,000–$280,000.
Overview
ABB introduced the first FlexPicker (then called IRB 340) in 1998 — the world's first commercial delta robot. The IRB 360 is its successor, now on its third generation. ABB holds strong market share in delta robots, particularly in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics packaging lines.
The FlexPicker uses a parallel kinematic structure: three motorised arms extending from a fixed base, connected to a triangular platform (tool plate) via struts. All three motors are located in the fixed base — the moving mass is the platform and struts only, not the motors themselves. This dramatically reduces inertia and enables the very high acceleration needed for 200 picks/minute.
The fourth axis (tool rotation, or "R" axis) is a separate motor in the base with a concentric shaft through the structure — it rotates the tool independently of the three-axis platform position.
Model Variants
| Model | Payload | Work Diameter | Max Stroke (Z) | Repeatability | Robot Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRB 360-1/800 | 1 kg | 800 mm | 200 mm | ±0.1 mm | 120 kg |
| IRB 360-3/1130 | 3 kg | 1,130 mm | 300 mm | ±0.1 mm | 120 kg |
| IRB 360-6/1600 | 6 kg | 1,600 mm | 300 mm | ±0.1 mm | 120 kg |
| IRB 360-8/1130 | 8 kg | 1,130 mm | 300 mm | ±0.1 mm | 130 kg |
Note that the "work diameter" is the horizontal workspace — a dome-shaped volume beneath the robot. The maximum Z stroke (vertical) is 200–300 mm. For operations requiring more vertical travel (e.g., picking from deep containers), a wider variant does not help — stroke is fixed by arm length.
Pick Rate and Performance
ABB rates the IRB 360-1/800 at 200 picks/min using the standard T1 benchmark cycle (25 mm up, 305 mm horizontal, 25 mm down — the "T1" path defined by ISO 9283). Real-world pick rates in production applications are typically 60–80% of benchmark:
| Scenario | Typical Pick Rate |
|---|---|
| T1 benchmark (25/305/25 mm) | 200 picks/min (1 kg model) |
| Food packaging (100 mm horizontal move) | 120–160 picks/min |
| Pharmaceutical blister pick (150 mm horizontal) | 90–130 picks/min |
| Electronics component placement (50 mm horizontal) | 140–180 picks/min |
| Heavy variant (8 kg, 200 mm horizontal) | 60–90 picks/min |
Vision-guided picking (finding randomly oriented parts on a conveyor) adds 15–30% cycle time over fixed-position picking — the robot must wait for vision to confirm part position and orientation before commanding the pick move.
Hygienic Variants
ABB offers the IRB 360 in three hygiene levels:
- Standard (IP54): General industrial. Not suitable for direct food contact zones or washdown cleaning.
- Wash-Down (IP69K): Stainless steel housing, sealed connectors, food-safe lubrication. Direct water jet cleaning at 80 bar and 80°C. For primary food packaging zones where the robot is inside the hygienic area.
- Clean Room (ISO Class 5): For pharmaceutical manufacturing in clean environments. Sealed to prevent particle generation; uses clean-room compatible materials.
The wash-down variant carries a price premium of approximately 30–40% over standard. The clean room variant adds approximately 50–60%. Both variants use the same OmniCore controller — only the robot arm differs.
OmniCore Controller
The IRB 360 uses ABB's OmniCore controller — the same platform as the GoFa cobot and most new ABB industrial robots. For delta robot applications, key controller features include:
- PickMaster 3: ABB's vision-integrated pick-and-place software. Interfaces with conveyor encoders, vision systems (Cognex, Basler, ABB integrated camera), and multiple robot arms. Handles dynamic part tracking on moving conveyors automatically.
- Multi-robot coordination: Up to 4 IRB 360s can be coordinated on one conveyor line from a single OmniCore controller for higher throughput.
- RAPID: Full RAPID programming for complex conditional logic, reject handling, and integration with upstream/downstream equipment.
- Conveyor tracking: The controller maintains synchronisation between robot motion and conveyor speed via encoder input — the robot "chases" parts on a moving belt.
Applications
| Industry | Application | Best Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food packaging | Chocolate, confectionery, bakery pick-and-place into trays/boxes | Wash-down IP69K | Vision-guided on conveyor; PickMaster handles randomised product |
| Pharmaceutical | Blister pack loading, capsule handling, sachet placement | Clean room or wash-down | High speed + gentle vacuum handling; serialisation vision integration |
| Electronics | PCB component tray handling, connector loading into housings | Standard IP54 | ±0.1 mm repeatability; some applications require SCARA for tighter tolerance |
| Cosmetics/personal care | Bottle orientation and loading into multi-pack carriers | Wash-down | High mix; vision matches bottle orientation to carrier slot |
| Meat and poultry | Whole-muscle portioning and tray loading | Wash-down IP69K | Weight-based sorting with checkweigher integration |
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Highest pick rate of any Tier 1 delta robot (200 picks/min, 1 kg model)
- IP69K wash-down available from factory — no field modification needed
- PickMaster vision software handles conveyor tracking out-of-the-box
- Multi-robot coordination for higher throughput cells
- ABB global service and parts availability — critical for 24/7 food production
- Clean room variant for pharma
Limitations
- Dome-shaped workspace — limited vertical stroke (200–300 mm); not suitable for deep-reach applications
- Ceiling-mount only — requires robust overhead structure; not floor-mountable
- High initial cost vs FANUC M-1iA for equivalent payload
- ±0.1 mm repeatability is adequate for most food/packaging but insufficient for precision electronics
- Requires safety guarding — not collaborative, not safe for human co-presence without full enclosure
ABB IRB 360 vs FANUC M-series Delta
| Feature | ABB IRB 360 | FANUC M-1iA / M-2iA |
|---|---|---|
| Max payload | 8 kg | 0.5 kg (M-1iA), 3 kg (M-2iA) |
| Max pick rate (1 kg equiv.) | 200/min | ~200/min (M-2iA) |
| Wash-down | IP69K from factory | IP67 (M-2iA/WP variant) |
| Vision integration | PickMaster (ABB) | iRVision (FANUC, built-in) |
| Multi-robot per controller | Up to 4 | Up to 4 (FANUC multi-arm) |
| Offline simulation | RobotStudio | ROBOGUIDE |
| Best for | Higher payload, food IP69K | Very small/light parts, FANUC ecosystem |
Pricing
| Item | IRB 360-3/1130 Standard | IRB 360-3/1130 Wash-Down |
|---|---|---|
| Robot arm | ~$40,000–$55,000 | ~$55,000–$75,000 |
| OmniCore controller | ~$15,000–$25,000 | ~$15,000–$25,000 |
| PickMaster software | ~$8,000–$15,000 | ~$8,000–$15,000 |
| Vision system (camera + lighting) | ~$5,000–$20,000 | ~$5,000–$20,000 |
| Cell framework and guarding | ~$15,000–$40,000 | ~$20,000–$50,000 |
| Integration and commissioning | ~$20,000–$50,000 | ~$25,000–$60,000 |
| Total installed | $103,000–$205,000 | $128,000–$245,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the IRB 360 pick from a moving conveyor?
Yes — conveyor tracking is one of the primary use cases. The OmniCore controller takes a pulse encoder signal from the conveyor drive and continuously updates part positions as the belt moves. PickMaster calculates the optimal pick window for each part and commands the robot to intercept the part's trajectory. The robot arm moves in the conveyor direction while picking, matching belt speed, then snaps back for the next pick. This allows picking without stopping the conveyor — critical for throughput in food packaging lines.
What is PickMaster and is it required?
PickMaster is ABB's optional pick-and-place software that adds conveyor tracking, vision integration, and multi-robot coordination on top of the base RAPID controller. It is not required for simple fixed-position picking (no conveyor, fixed part locations) — that can be programmed directly in RAPID. PickMaster is needed when: parts are randomly positioned on a moving conveyor; vision is used to find parts; or multiple robots share one conveyor line. For most food and pharmaceutical applications, PickMaster is effectively required. Licence cost is approximately $8,000–$15,000 per controller.
How does the ABB IRB 360 compare to the FANUC M-3iA?
The FANUC M-3iA is a 6-axis delta robot (3 rotational + 3 translational) compared to the IRB 360's standard 4 axes (3 translational + 1 rotational). The M-3iA's additional axes allow full 6-DOF tool orientation — useful for picking and orienting parts simultaneously. The IRB 360 has only one rotational axis (Z-rotation of tool). For most food and packaging applications, 4 axes are sufficient. For applications requiring arbitrary tool orientation (e.g., picking parts in any 3D orientation), the M-3iA's 6 axes are necessary.
Sources
- ABB IRB 360 Product Specification (2025)
- ABB PickMaster 3 User Manual (2025)
- ABB Robotics Food and Beverage Application Guide (2024)