iiQKA.OS2 and ISO 10218:2025 – what you need to know now

The standard will come into force at around the same time in the EU, the UK, Turkey, and the US, among other countries, but regulations vary globally. In the EU, the old standard can’t be used later than the start of Machine Regulation on January 20th, 2027. The USA and the UK enter the same regulation about two months later. Canada and India manage product regulations differently; the standard is voluntary. Other countries such as South Korea, Mexico or Australia have no information on the adaptation of the standard available yet.

We launch the new iiQKA.OS2 operating system and the new controller KR C5 for iiQKA.OS2 on the market in several consecutive releases. We started with small robots and the low payload class. Higher payload classes are following. We aim to have the full portfolio available by end of this year. All robots launched with iiQKA.OS2 are ready to be compatible with the new ISO 10218:2025 after an additional software update from iiQKA.OS2 V9.2 to V9.3 in mid 2026.

The Technology Packages and Core Extensions are also released in consecutive steps. Many are already available, such as iiQKA.mxAutomation, iiQKA.ArcTech and iiQKA.ForceTorqueControl.

No, iiQWorks is only available with iiQKA.OS2. For KSS there are KUKA.WorkVisual and KUKA.Sim available. Nevertheless, as iiQKA.OS2 uses the KSS core there is full KRL compatibility.

Due to the new format for option packages to support multi-instance VRC, simulation and the new modularized project handling on the controller under Linux, the new release versions of the application technologies only support iiQKA.OS2 and higher versions.

The new iiQKA.OS2 does not influence the KSS systems, but the ISO 10218:2025 does. Every newly integrated industrial robotics product must comply with the new standard ISO 10218:2025 when it is placed on the market after the standard comes into force on January 20th, 2027, together with the new Machine Regulation. Customers can continue to operate robots, control systems etc. that they put into operation before that. However, they must ensure a safe operation.

KSS will be available with new robot systems at the latest until the end of the new ISO 10218:2025 grace period which is currently expected to be in the second half of 2027. Nevertheless, customers will get the usual long-term support continuing after that. KUKA.Sim still is going to be available for KSS users.

Our Customer Service is making sure to find a solution for every KUKA system.

There are different upgrade options available – ranging from an exchange of singular parts of the KR C5 S/M/L controller to a KR C5 S/M/L controller for iiQKA.OS2 compatible with the ISO 10218:2025, to reviewing whole systems.

Please contact Customer Service for further assistance. You can find contact options at the end of this website.

Running production systems with KSS can still be used by our customers in the future, there is no need for a switch. If there is a significant change to the system after the 20th January 2027, it needs to be compliant with the ISO 10218:2025, which KUKA robots with KR C5 (micro) for KSS are not. Our Customer Service will support our customers to find a solution for every KUKA system.

Part of our portfolio is already available with iiQKA.OS2 and only needs a software update, available by mid-2026, to be compliant with the ISO 10218:2025.

In case of further questions please contact Customer Service. You can find contact options at the end of this website.