ABB IRB-4600 vs KR AGILUS sixx
Side-by-side comparison of ABB IRB-4600 (ABB) and KR AGILUS sixx (KUKA Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ABB IRB-4600Switzerland
- KR AGILUS sixxGermany
Year First Available
- ABB IRB-46002015
- KR AGILUS sixx2020
Verified Deployments
- ABB IRB-46000 Deployments
- KR AGILUS sixx0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Availability Status
- ABB IRB-4600ACTIVE
- KR AGILUS sixxACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Repeatability
- ABB IRB-4600±0.05 mm
- KR AGILUS sixx±0.03 mm
IP Rating (Arm)
- ABB IRB-4600IP67
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Reach
- ABB IRB-46002,550 mm
- KR AGILUS sixx1,100 mm
Payload
- ABB IRB-460060 kg
- KR AGILUS sixx10 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- ABB IRB-46006
- KR AGILUS sixx6
Path Accuracy
- ABB IRB-4600±0.5 mm
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Robot Weight
- ABB IRB-4600235 kg
- KR AGILUS sixx—
IP Rating (Wrist)
- ABB IRB-4600IP67
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Performance
Cycle Time (25/305/25)
- ABB IRB-46000.4 s
- KR AGILUS sixx—
MTBF
- ABB IRB-4600100,000 hrs
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Duty Cycle
- ABB IRB-4600continuous 24 7
- KR AGILUS sixxcontinuous 24 7
Vibration Damping
- ABB IRB-4600active model based
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Safety
Safety Category
- ABB IRB-4600Cat.3 PLd
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Dual Check Safety
- ABB IRB-4600Yes
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Safety I/O Pairs
- ABB IRB-46008
- KR AGILUS sixx—
E-Stop Response
- ABB IRB-460010 ms
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Safe Zone Count
- ABB IRB-46003
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ABB IRB-4600OmniCore
- KR AGILUS sixxKUKA Controller
Programming Languages
- ABB IRB-4600TP, KAREL
- KR AGILUS sixxKRL
Teach Pendant Type
- ABB IRB-4600smart pad
- KR AGILUS sixxwired touch
Offline Programming
- ABB IRB-4600ROBOGUIDE
- KR AGILUS sixxKUKA.Sim
Digital Twin Support
- ABB IRB-4600Yes
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Connectivity
ROS-Industrial Support
- ABB IRB-4600vendor supported
- KR AGILUS sixx—
IoT / Cloud Platform
- ABB IRB-4600FANUC ZDT
- KR AGILUS sixxKUKA Connect
Cybersecurity Certs
- ABB IRB-4600IEC 62443 SL1
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Predictive Maintenance
- ABB IRB-4600threshold based
- KR AGILUS sixx—
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- ABB IRB-4600ISO 9409-1
- KR AGILUS sixxISO 9409-1
Tool Changer (ISO)
- ABB IRB-4600ATI
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Internal Cable Routing
- ABB IRB-4600through arm and wrist
- KR AGILUS sixxthrough arm
Pneumatic Lines
- ABB IRB-46002
- KR AGILUS sixx2
Electrical Lines
- ABB IRB-460012
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Commercial
Warranty
- ABB IRB-46001 yrs
- KR AGILUS sixx3 yrs
Service Network
- ABB IRB-4600global
- KR AGILUS sixxglobal
Spare Parts Lead Time
- ABB IRB-460014 days
- KR AGILUS sixx—
Expected Service Life
- ABB IRB-460010 yrs
- KR AGILUS sixx—
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Switzerland | Germany |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2015 | 2020 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Repeatability (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | ±0.05 mm | ±0.03 mm |
| IP Rating (Arm) (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | IP67 | — |
| Reach (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | 2,550 mm | 1,100 mm |
| Payload (values differ) | 60 kg | 10 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 | 6 |
| Path Accuracy (values differ) | ±0.5 mm | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 235 kg | — |
| IP Rating (Wrist) (values differ) | IP67 | — |
| Performance | ||
| Cycle Time (25/305/25) (values differ) | 0.4 s | — |
| MTBF (values differ) | 100,000 hrs | — |
| Duty Cycle | continuous 24 7 | continuous 24 7 |
| Vibration Damping (values differ) | active model based | — |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Category (values differ) | Cat.3 PLd | — |
| Dual Check Safety (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Safety I/O Pairs (values differ) | 8 | — |
| E-Stop Response (values differ) | 10 ms | — |
| Safe Zone Count (values differ) | 3 | — |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | OmniCore | KUKA Controller |
| Programming Languages (values differ) | TP, KAREL | KRL |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | smart pad | wired touch |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | ROBOGUIDE | KUKA.Sim |
| Digital Twin Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| ROS-Industrial Support (values differ) | vendor supported | — |
| IoT / Cloud Platform (values differ) | FANUC ZDT | KUKA Connect |
| Cybersecurity Certs (values differ) | IEC 62443 SL1 | — |
| Predictive Maintenance (values differ) | threshold based | — |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard | ISO 9409-1 | ISO 9409-1 |
| Tool Changer (ISO) (values differ) | ATI | — |
| Internal Cable Routing (values differ) | through arm and wrist | through arm |
| Pneumatic Lines | 2 | 2 |
| Electrical Lines (values differ) | 12 | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | 3 yrs |
| Service Network | global | global |
| Spare Parts Lead Time (values differ) | 14 days | — |
| Expected Service Life (values differ) | 10 yrs | — |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Price, Battery / Shift Runtime, Max TCP Speed, Communication Protocols, Price (USD)
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | ABB IRB-4600 | KR AGILUS sixx |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | No price | No price |
| Payback period | — | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | — | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | — | — |
ABB IRB-4600, KR AGILUS sixx have no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes ABB IRB-4600 and KR AGILUS sixx?
ABB IRB-4600 is made by ABB, based in CH. KR AGILUS sixx is made by KUKA Robotics, based in DE.
When were ABB IRB-4600 and KR AGILUS sixx launched?
ABB IRB-4600 launched in 2015. KR AGILUS sixx launched in 2020.
How do ABB IRB-4600 and KR AGILUS sixx compare on the Robo Score?
ABB IRB-4600 scores 72.8 on the Robo Score. KR AGILUS sixx scores 66.0. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
How does the reach of ABB IRB-4600 compare to KR AGILUS sixx?
ABB IRB-4600 has a reach of 1811 mm. KR AGILUS sixx has a reach of 1100 mm.
Are ABB IRB-4600 and KR AGILUS sixx in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Industrial Arm on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Industrial Arm robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Industrial Arm TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between ABB IRB-4600 and KR AGILUS sixx?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming
7 min readIndustrial Arms
Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points
9 min readIndustrial Arms
Programming Approaches: Teach Pendant, Offline, AI-Assisted — What Each Costs You
8 min readIndustrial Arms
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
Want to be notified when specs or pricing change for these robots? Drop your email.
Other comparisons
About this comparison
ABB IRB-4600 vs KR AGILUS sixx compares two robots in the industrial-arm category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Score is calculated.