Dürr has unveiled the EcoRP4, a six-axis painting robot and successor to the EcoRP E/L x33iC, targeting automotive paint shops running high-volume standardized lines. The company describes the new platform as "designed through and through for economy," citing fewer components, a simplified mechanical system, and lower lifecycle costs compared with the previous generation.
The defining technical feature is an asymmetrical arm architecture. The tool center point (TCP), which marks the center of the applicator, sits more than 200 millimeters laterally offset from the robot's main axis. That gap increases clearance between the arm's interference contour and the vehicle body, letting the applicator reach door rebates, hinges, and transition zones that a symmetric layout would struggle to access. What's new here is that the offset achieves better reach without expanding the arm's overall footprint. Dürr offers the EcoRP4 in mirrored configurations to support deployment on both sides of a body line.
Arm 1 has been redesigned with a slimmer profile, reducing space requirements in the working area and increasing clearance near the body. Arm 2 continues to carry the applicator, color changer, and metering pumps close to the paint outlet, keeping tubing lengths short. Short runs support faster valve switching and reduce paint and rinsing agent loss during color changes.
Drive technology for axis 2 and axis 3 has been simplified. The pinion gear of each motor now sits directly on the motor shaft, eliminating the angular gearbox and reduction gear stage used in earlier designs. Fewer gear stages mean fewer wear components and reduced maintenance intervals. A revised housing on arm 1 replaces multiple covers with a single continuous panel accessible from the side. Andreas Bokermann, product manager at Dürr, says the change "significantly shortens service times."
The EcoRP4 supports Dürr's HTE process and accepts floor mounting, tower installation, and linear rail configurations. Dürr has shipped nearly 20,000 Ecopaint robots since 1998, and the EcoRP4 represents the fourth generation of that family. Market launch is scheduled for 2027.
