SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Michigan, June 4, 2026 — KUKA Robotics will display its advanced robotic automation solutions for machine tool tending with the company’s system integrator, Formic Automation, at IMTS 2026 from Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Visitors to booth #236807 in the North Building will experience live demonstrations that highlight how KUKA is making automation easier for manufacturers to adopt robotic machine tending through a scalable, service-based approach that reduces complexity and supports evolving production needs.
The real-world demonstration with Formic Automation will feature a KR CYBERTECH robot integrated with an EMAG WPG 7 cylindrical grinding machine. Designed for high-precision grinding applications, the WPG 7 combines rigid machine construction with optimized thermal stability to enhance grinding accuracy and process consistency. The machine achieves cylindricity accuracy deviations of less than one micrometer through continuous in-process measurement systems from Marposs, along with advanced monitoring and control technologies.
At the center of the demonstration is KUKA’s machine-tending automation technology paired with Formic’s Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, which enables manufacturers to adopt automation without significant capital expenditure. The collaboration highlights how flexible automation helps manufacturers address labor shortages, respond to increased production demands and expand their machining capabilities.
All KUKA automation solutions, including those shown during IMTS 2026, are backed by the company’s expert service and support for training, complete system engineering and simulation, readily available spare parts, robot refurbishment and more, all of which are easily accessible through the my.KUKA.com site.
About KUKA
KUKA is an international automation group with sales of around EUR 3.7 billion and approximately 15,000 employees. As one of the world's leading suppliers of intelligent, resource-saving automation solutions, KUKA offers industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) including controllers, software and cloud-based digital services, as well as fully networked production systems for various industries — primarily for markets such as automotive with a focus on e-mobility & battery, electronics, metal & plastic, consumer goods, food, e-commerce, retail and healthcare. The company is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.