Kawasaki Launches Medical and Pharmaceutical Robot "MC006V"— New Model in the "MC Series" Combining Clean Environment Compatibility with High Chemical Resistance —
Jul. 01, 2025
Tokyo, July 1, 2025 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it will launch a new model of medical and pharmaceutical robot with 6-axis — MC006V —.
Manufacturing sites in the pharmaceutical and medical fields require countermeasures against work errors caused by human intervention, contamination by microorganisms and foreign substances, and exposure*1 from handling highly pharmacologically active drugs such as anticancer agents. The need for automation and unmanned operation of manufacturing work using robots is increasing. To meet this need, Kawasaki began sales of the "MC Series," robots for pharmaceutical and medical applications, in 2013, and to date they have been widely adopted by domestic and international pharmaceutical companies in pharmaceutical processes such as vial filling, supply to sterilization processes, and packaging processes.
As the latest model in the "MC Series," this product maintains the strengths of previous models—compatibility with the advanced clean environments required in pharmaceutical manufacturing and high resistance to chemicals used for decontamination of manufacturing equipment including robots—while achieving greater "maximum payload," faster "operating speed," and wider "maximum reach" compared to previous models. This enables application to a wide range of manufacturing processes and contributes to further productivity improvements in manufacturing operations.
Moving forward, Kawasaki will continue to provide solutions that meet the needs for automation and unmanned operation in fields requiring high clean environments, including the pharmaceutical industry.
＜Main Features of "MC006V"＞
１）Robot Design Optimized for Pharmaceutical Environments
| ・ | Designed for use in high clean environments (Grade A and B) defined by GMP2*2, the cleanliness standard for pharmaceutical manufacturing. (Also compatible with Class 5*3 equivalent based on the international cleanliness standard ISO 14644-1) |
| ・ | Maximum payload improved to 6kg, the largest in the "MC Series" (previous model maximum payload: 4kg) |
| ・ | Fastest operating speed and widest maximum reach in the "MC Series" (compared to previous models, first axis operating speed approximately doubled, maximum reach expanded by 104mm) |
| ・ | IP67 equivalent waterproof and dustproof performance and smooth body facilitate chemical cleaning operations |
| ・ | Tool cables built into the robot tip minimize interference with peripheral equipment (enabling installation in narrow spaces such as isolators*4, equipment used in pharmaceutical manufacturing) |
２）Chemical Resistance to Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) Used for Decontamination (Sterilization)
| ・ | By adopting materials with high VHP resistance for the robot's surface materials, sealing, and components, the robot supports environments with repeated use of VHP, which has particularly strong corrosive properties among chemicals used for pharmaceutical equipment decontamination |
| Main Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Model | MC006V |
| Launch Date | June 26, 2025 |
| Sales Price | Open Price |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 axes |
| Maximum Reach | 610mm |
| Maximum Payload | 6kg |
| Positional Repeatability | ±0.03mm |
| *1 | Exposure: Workers and others being exposed to bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals |
| *2 | GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice): Quality control standards for the stable supply of safe and quality-assured pharmaceuticals. Classified into four grades (A-D), each specifying maximum allowable particle counts, airborne microbial counts, surface-adhered microbial counts, etc., during operation and non-operation |
| *3 | Class 5 based on ISO 14644-1: ISO 14644-1 is a cleanliness indicator established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Classified into Classes 1-9 based on particle count per 1m³. Class 5 is an ultra-clean space with 100,000 or fewer particles of 0.1μm or larger per 1m³, an environmental standard required for pharmaceutical aseptic processes and semiconductor manufacturing |
| *4 | Isolator: Equipment used when handling sterile or hazardous substances in pharmaceutical manufacturing |
Related Links
■Kawasaki Robotics
https://kawasakirobotics.com/asia-oceania/
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