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Efficiency in Automation for a More Sustainable Future

When companies reduce their energy consumption, this can save valuable resources. We explain how KUKA robots can help and what we do ourselves to become more efficient.


Optimized energy efficiency for greater sustainability

Efficiency plays a key role on the way to greater sustainability. Efficiency is important not only for the economic profitability of a company, but also for its ecological balance. For sustainable development, valuable resources must be conserved and integrated into the circular economy. The desire for more energy efficiency in production is increasing – also, for example, due to the increase in energy costs. 

By investing in automation, companies can increase the efficiency of their production and reduce the consumption of resources.

Energy-efficient robots and systems play an important role in reducing the consumption levels and therefore the environmental impact. At KUKA, we are continuously working on solutions that reduce the energy requirements of our robots. The development of new products therefore focuses on a streamlined and stable product design. CO₂ emissions are reduced during production by reducing the energy consumption of the robots. The operating costs fall at the same time.

How do we make our robots more efficient?

KUKA robots are among the most energy-efficient robots on the market. With three decisive factors, we ensure greater sustainability and efficiency by reducing the energy consumption of our robots.

  • Weight & design

    Sophisticated and lightweight design with less material input and lower power consumption.

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  • Hardware

    Robot controller with energy-efficient components and algorithms.

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  • Software

    Intelligent path planning, optimized motion behavior and energy-saving options (e.g. ECO mode).

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Two major advantages for KUKA customers –
sustainable & cost-efficient

The term “Total Cost of Ownership” describes the total costs of a product over the entire life cycle. When calculating the TCO, we take into account not only the acquisition costs, but also factors such as energy consumption, integration, spare parts, consumables, maintenance, training and accessories.

Energy consumption can account for the major share of the total costs and even exceed the costs of acquisition, depending on the robot type. It is therefore particularly important, in terms of the costs, to target low energy requirements.

With KUKA solutions, you can increase the economic efficiency of your production by increasing the efficiency. KUKA robotic solutions are among the most energy-efficient solutions on the market.

Sustainable solutions for lower total costs

A power pack does not have to be heavy

With a payload capacity of 420 kg, our KR FORTEC proves that: The current model is about 800 kg lighter, and therefore 30% lighter, than its predecessor. This improves the energy efficiency considerably, because less weight means less energy consumption during operation – and this over the entire service life of the robot. Thanks to the particularly energy-efficient drive and control technology, the low weight results in up to 35% lower energy consumption. In addition, the reduced material input saves valuable resources and reduces CO₂ emissions in the manufacturing process significantly.


The new KR FORTEC – one of the most energy-efficient robots in its class worldwide.

Maximum performance – maximum efficiency

Since the initial generation in 2000, we have continuously optimized the versatile KR QUANTEC, also in terms of energy consumption. The current model consumes about 60% less energy, which saves costs and CO₂ emissions. With a payload capacity of 120 to 300 kg, the KR QUANTEC robot series provides an impressive portfolio, which is available in almost all market segments.

The new KR QUANTEC – maximum performance and energy efficiency in completely different fields of applications.

KUKA circular services: Refurbished robot systems

The transition to a circular economy is crucial for sustainability, climate protection and resource conservation. We want our products to be part of the closed resource cycle and provide KUKA circular services for this purpose. You can benefit from cost-efficient and high-quality second-hand robot systems and spare parts and extend the life of your KUKA robot with efficient maintenance, refurbishment and upgrade services. You can safely and easily sell your outsourced KUKA robot back to us or a third party.
We dismantle outsourced robots that are no longer on sale, either to sell the included spare parts or to integrate them into new robots, depending on their state and compatibility. With circular services, you slow down your use of resources, reduce CO2 emissions and protect the environment.


Circular services "Efficiency Drives Sustainability"

Saving energy with digitization

Whether for condition monitoring, asset management or predictive maintenance – with KUKA iiQoT, you can maximize the operating time of your robots.

The IoT platform offers, among other things, the option of tracking and evaluating the energy consumption of the entire robot fleet. The results can be used to optimize energy efficiency in production.

Calculating potential savings when using iiQoT:

Do you want to find out what effects condition monitoring with the IIoT could have on your production? You can test the efficient fault analysis in an example with our savings calculator.

Fig. Savings calculator

System simulation in just a few minutes

Smart simulation software for efficient offline programming: KUKA simulation tools allow systems and robots to be optimized quickly and easily outside the production environment.

KUKA simulation tools also provide a feature used to predict energy consumption in simulation even before field use and program the robot in a manner to save as much energy as possible.


KUKA simulation software allows energy efficiency to be optimized before the start-up

DC is the future

In the case of direct current (DC), the electric charge flows only in one direction, unlike in the case of alternating current (AC).

Advantages of direct current:

  • Low energy consumption
  • Low losses and easy to store energy
  • Feeding recovered braking energy back into the grid easily and without losses (without converters)
  • Reduction of the peak load and cable cross-section
  • Easy integration of regenerative power (e. g. with PV systems)

To further expand the energy efficiency of our robotic solutions, we at KUKA are developing products that can be integrated into DC networks. Our KR C5 robot controller, for example, is also designed for use with direct current.

Eco mode and standby mode

Eco mode is a software-based motion mode that optimizes the motion characteristics of a KUKA robot for its intended use and field of application. For example, one of the largest German OEMs has been saving up to 10% of the energy costs for its KUKA robot fleet for several years thanks to the standard use of Eco mode – at the push of a button without programming.

Standby mode can save even up to 95% of the energy consumption of a robot system. In this Hibernate mode, companies can react flexibly to their production capacity. In Hibernate state, the drives and controller of the robots are temporarily switched off. The robots are set to reduced power state. In production-free times, the robots thus consume considerably less power.

We are leading the way

For our environmental and social commitment, we were nominated for the German Sustainability Award in 2024 and 2025. This seal distinguishes exemplary sustainability achievements and is Germany’s most prestigious award in the field of "environmental, social and governance". In 2024, KUKA received the ESG TRANSPARENCY AWARD and achieved the excellence class. This award honors companies for their pioneering sustainability concepts and their transparent reporting. 

Nomination for the German Sustainability Award in 2024

What we do at KUKA to save energy

We, too, want to become more sustainable and focus on greater efficiency, resource conservation and environmental friendliness. We are reducing consumption at our sites around the world and increasing energy efficiency with a wide range of measures.

KUKA’s fields of action in the area of sustainability

Efficiency Drives Sustainability: Vision and goals for a more sustainable future

Vision & goals for a more sustainable future

The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations are an integral component of our KUKA identity. By 2030, we aim to reduce our CO₂ emissions by 40% and continue to invest in energy-efficient robotics and advocate for social standards and human rights worldwide.

ESG - the main 3 factors

KUKA meets global challenges with innovative, energy-efficient automation, responsible procurement and resource-saving circular economy. We are committed to occupational health and safety, diversity and community engagement.

Reducing the TCO by reducing the energy consumption

When purchasing a robot, the energy costs are often underestimated, although they can account for up to 40% of the total costs. Every kilowatt hour saved counts – for your budget and the environment.

Energy-efficient robotics

Innovative drive technologies and ultra-compact designs make our robots energy efficient. KUKA is one of the world’s most energy-efficient robots on the market and offers maximum performance.

Simulation for greater energy efficiency

Simulation programming can be used to make the motion of robots predictable in a production environment and optimize them even before the start-up. In this way, the energy consumption of the automation solution is reduced as far as possible to adapt to the production requirements.

Saving energy with Eco and Sleep modes

Companies worldwide are under pressure to reduce cycle times and costs. Motion modes such as Eco and Sleep modes optimize the robot motion and save up to 95% energy.

Second and third life robots

KUKA robots are of high quality and durable, making them reliable production assistants even in their second and third life. By extending life cycles and reusing components, we reduce CO₂ emissions and promote the circular economy.

E-mobility – mobility of the future?

E-mobility is the key to a more sustainable future. As part of research collaborations, KUKA is developing innovative automation processes in order to make up to 96% of the raw materials from e-vehicle batteries safe and efficiently recyclable.

Find out more in our sustainability report

At KUKA, we publish the most important sustainability innovations annually in our sustainability report.

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