January 19, 2026 (Tokyo, Japan) – Automation leader OMRON Corporation has unveiled a new range of high-payload collaborative robots alongside a significant upgrade to its TMflow software suite, aimed at advancing performance, flexibility, and safety in modern industrial automation environments.

The newly introduced cobots are designed to handle heavier loads than previous models, enabling manufacturers to automate more demanding tasks that were traditionally difficult to robotise with collaborative systems. Coupled with improvements in the TMflow software — which serves as the core programming and orchestration platform for OMRON’s robotic portfolio — the update underscores a growing trend toward more capable, adaptable, and user-friendly automation solutions.

“Our mission is to empower manufacturing operations with collaborative automation that delivers both strength and precision,” said an OMRON spokesperson. “These high-payload cobots and the enhanced TMflow software offer a combination of power, safety, and seamless integration that supports a wide range of today’s production challenges.”

Key Highlights of the Announcement

• High-Payload Collaborative Robots Introduced: OMRON’s new cobots deliver increased load-handling capacity, broadening the scope of tasks that can be automated collaboratively.

• TMflow Software Upgrade: The latest TMflow release offers enhanced programming tools, improved motion control, and expanded connectivity features to streamline deployment and operation.

• Enhanced Productivity and Safety: The combination of stronger cobots and advanced software aims to improve throughput while maintaining the inherent safety characteristics of collaborative robotics.

• Flexible Automation Integration: The upgrades support easier integration with existing production lines and allow for more complex task coordination across multi-robot workcells.

Strategic and Operational Implications

Industry analysts view OMRON’s move as a response to increasing demand for automation solutions that can take on heavier work without sacrificing the adaptability and human-centric safety features of collaborative robotics. By enabling higher payloads, these cobots can reduce reliance on traditional heavy-duty industrial robots for certain tasks, offering manufacturers a more versatile automation toolkit.

The enhanced TMflow software also reflects the broader push toward software-driven robot orchestration, where ease of use, interoperability, and advanced motion planning are critical differentiators in deploying complex automation cells.

For manufacturers facing labour shortages, quality consistency challenges, and the need to adapt production lines rapidly, OMRON’s latest offerings provide a pathway to smarter, stronger, and safer automation solutions that support both current and future needs.