Note: Price is not mentioned below but hopefully what’s described will help you determine whether the price you are quoted truly provides good value, and when comparing systems, are you comparing apples to apples.
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1) Collaborative Robot Platform
Over the last few years, the number of manufacturers entering the COBOT space has grown. Most of the traditional robot manufacturers have developed their own offerings and many have been adapted for welding applications. How does one differentiate between them?
One of the most important questions to ask is whether it is a proven platform. How many have been deployed in the field and have had success? The road to acceptance for collaborative robots as a viable technology hasn’t always been a smooth one and many hard lessons have been learned along the way. Many of these lessons are unique to collaborative robot technology. Has the platform you are considering been around long enough to have those wrinkles ironed out and best practices baked into its design?
These best practices also factor into the programming interface. Is it logically laid out, with intuitive menus and prompts, or are there multiple layers of menus requiring you to navigate deep for the parameter you are looking for while decoding cryptic codes. One of the promises of collaborative robots is that they are easy to use and deploy. One should feel confident in being able to program it to weld.
2) Functionality/Options/Features
You’re exploring this technology for a reason. You want to see productivity gains as well as potential quality and consistency improvement. The point and weld functionality that most COBOT welding solutions offer does make life easier and does improve productivity. However, if you really want to get the solution to realize ROI it’s the added features that get you there. Features such as through the arc seam tracking allows the solution to be more forgiving of upstream shortcomings to ensure trigger time is used to produce high quality output and not scrap (not to mention reduce or eliminate the need for rework). Same goes for multi pass and pattern tools. Not everyone has the type of production that warrants all these tools, however, if you do, the benefits will be well worth the investment.
Auto TCP (Tool Center Point) is another function that shouldn’t be overlooked. If you plan on retaining and reusing programs over time this will be a definite benefit. It’s important to have the welder calibrated (TCP) to the weld wire to ensure consistent results. After numerous bumps against the welding gun over time calibration (TCP) may go off slightly. If you load a previous program and run it out of calibration you may not get the results you anticipated. You can reprogram the weld pattern in the current calibration but that defeats the purpose of saving programs in the first place.
When it comes to productivity you can also look outside the COBOT welder. Does the OEM provide a suite of deployment methods such as a boom or cart for larger and remote welding work? The beauty of COBOT welding is that you can bring the welder to the workpiece, and you’re not necessarily confined to the immediate reach of the arm. Not everyone will need these alternate deployments, however. Knowing that an OEM has developed and offers them shows that they really understand different welding environments and are conscious of trying to get their customers to maximize the utility of their investment. You plan to grow your business and partnering with an OEM that can support you along that path is important.
3) Levels of Service
As with all capital equipment purchases, the level of support one can expect from an OEM and associated Channel Partner is important. This goes for the equipment itself and any other support you might need.
For the equipment, is there a robust infrastructure or network of support for the COBOT as well as the power unit? This will help determine how quickly you get back up and running should there be a problem.
Does the OEM continuously improve and enhance their solution with relevant functionality? This goes back to the previous point, the more functions the system can perform, the more potential return the system can provide.
Does the OEM offer any other services such as reach studies, do welding/cutting samples or custom options like drop carbide, for example. If this is your first time investing in automation, having an OEM work with real life samples/CAD drawings and document results can give you the confidence the solution will be effective.
It seems cliché today that companies are looking to establish relationships instead of simply transacting. In this case I would argue it’s critically important to partner with an OEM that drives innovation and is committed to your success. In many cases this solution will be a fabrication shop’s first experience with robotics. A robust support system will ensure that initial investments value is maximized through technical support and value-added services.
4) Variety of power sources
Do you have a shop standard or does the work you do require the use of specific power units to take advantage of certain strengths? Some COBOT welding solutions currently offered are only available with one brand of power source. This may be ok if that is the standard that is currently in place in your facility or if you don’t have a preference. However, if you do have a brand preference, you will be limiting yourself on choice and compromising on what works best for you.
5) Ongoing Subscription Fees/Update Fees
More and more equipment and software are being sold in a subscription model. In some instances, this can make sense where a large capital investment can be spread out over time. In other cases, you still make the capital purchase and remain committed to ongoing fees. This can also include access to much needed updates. It’s important to clarify what the after purchase financial commitments will be, if any. If so, you’ll need to factor them in to your operating budget in addition to the capital expenditure.
Bonus For Canadian Fabricators and Manufacturers
A reality for companies located in Canada is the need to ensure equipment meets CSA standards. Often, equipment imported into Canada does meet the standards but simply doesn’t have the markings. It’s important to determine whether the OEM or Channel Partner will have the inspection completed prior to shipment, so you can begin welding as soon as you receive it, or if you’ll need to make arrangements yourself to have the inspection done once received.
There’s something to be said for having the equipment ready to be productive once it’s taken out of the crate.
Have you taken the plunge and invested in a COBOT welding system? Were any of these considerations part of what you used to decide on what solution to invest in? What would be your top 5?
Want to automate your palletizing process, but don’t know where to start? We've rounded up the top five cobot palletizer robots to help you orient yourself in an oversaturated market.
With the right insights, you can pick the perfect cobot palletizer and take the first step toward smarter, more efficient palletizing.
We’ll cover:
Cobot palletizing robots, or cobots, mark a tremendous change in the robotics landscape, blending well into human-centric workspaces.
They're equipped with sophisticated sensors and soft-touch mechanisms that allow them to detect and adapt to their human colleagues' presence, helping make sure operations are both efficient and injury-free.
Of course, this is not something to be trusted blindly, and humans are still expected to follow safety measures around cobots. Don’t go putting your head close to one, is all we’re saying.
Their design philosophy centers around harmony between man and machine, fixing the need for the isolating cages that once defined industrial robotic workstations.
The idea is to foster a more integrated production environment where cobots and humans can share tasks and spaces without the physical barriers that traditionally segmented workflows
Cobot palletizers offer quite a few benefits over traditional, old-school palletizers.
They are:
A cobot palletizer unit typically ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the specific arm selected and other components you need for your application.
The cobot arm itself typically makes up $5,000 to $75,000 of the total cost.
Arms like Techman's TM Robot and FANUC cobots are on the higher end, while Standard Bots’ RO1 is more budget-friendly (but high-quality options).
You'll also need to factor in the cost of integrating the cobot into your production line.
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While most cobots can work with humans some need protective measures, including safety equipment like light curtains, emergency stops, and fencing.
This additional equipment usually adds at least $10,000 to $30,000 to the total cost. Some cobots may require even more extensive guarding and safety controls based on your specific layout and application.
Most cobots are programmed using intuitive software with drag-and-drop functionality, but you'll still need someone to properly program the robot and test the application.
Expect to pay a few thousand dollars for initial programming, plus additional costs for any major changes needed down the road.
The good news? Some cobots now operate on no-code frameworks, making setting them up easier – and cheaper.
Finally, give some serious thought to installation and training fees, which typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more depending on the complexity of your setup.
Now, most cobot manufacturers and distributors offer installation and training services to help get your new robot up and running as efficiently as possible.
As we said: While the upfront cost of a cobot palletizer may seem sky-high, many manufacturers find that cobots can pay for themselves in just 1-3 years through the trifecta of increased productivity, improved safety, and labor savings.
Not all cobot palletizers are worth your time or money. We didn’t just grab the first five off the shelf — we made sure each one actually delivers. No gimmicks, no overpriced hype, just robots that stack boxes like absolute beasts.
Here’s what made the cut:
What else mattered?
Now, it’s time to roll out the red carpet. These are the five cobot palletizer robots you need to have on your radar:
Cool factor: RO1 is compact and modular, fitting snugly into tight spaces – and doesn’t require you to overhaul your shop floor. Plus, its quick-change tooling (compatible with major brands such as OnRobot) handles diverse loads efficiently. The best automatic robot palletizer around.
Cool factor: Vention boasts impressive flexibility, offering single or dual-pallet configurations and adaptable bases for various production lines.
Cool factor: MiniPAL+ shines in tight spaces with its small footprint and lightweight design, with very high repeatability for more precise palletizing.
Cool factor: The PalletizCRX has a very quick deployment and no safety fencing, making it a plug-and-play palletizing solution that doesn’t need extensive shop floor modifications.
Cool factor: The Swifti CRB combines a sleek design with intuitive programming, making it ideal for first-time cobot users.
Traditional palletizers get the job done, but cobots bring flexibility, safety, and cost savings to the table. If you’re still on the fence about making the switch, here’s what makes cobot palletizers so good:
Cobot palletizers can range from $2,000 up to $100,000, depending on the model and features. The arm itself typically makes up about half the cost. You’ll also need to factor in other expenses like integration, safety mechanisms, and conveyors. Many manufacturers offer financing and leasing options to help make cobot palletizers more affordable.
Cobot palletizers are designed to be easy to program, even for operators without an engineering background. Most cobot manufacturers provide intuitive software that allows you to simply “teach” the cobot by moving its arm through the desired palletizing motions. The cobot will then repeat those motions when running automatically.
Some cobots can even be programmed through a tablet or smartphone. Re-programming a cobot for a new product or pallet pattern only takes a few minutes.
Cobot palletizer speed depends on the specific model and your application — in general, cobots can palletize 200 to 500 cases per hour. While not as fast as a high-speed conventional palletizer, cobots make up for it in flexibility, ease of use, and low cost.
Their speed is also increasing over time with continued improvements in cobot technology. For many operations, a cobot can palletize fast enough to keep up with production demands.
Yes, cobots are designed to work safely alongside human workers. They have built-in safety features like force-limited joints, emergency stops, and sensors that detect when a person is nearby. This allows cobots and humans to work in proximity without cages or barriers.
However, proper safety precautions should still be followed, like training workers on how to operate with cobots and demarcating cobot work areas.
Cobot palletizers are used in a variety of industries like food and beverage, consumer goods, logistics, and warehousing. Companies of all sizes, from small craft producers to major manufacturers, are adopting cobot palletizers.
Cobots handle everything from cases of beer and boxes of tissues to crates of vegetables and pallets of packaged meats. Their flexibility and easy redeployment mean one cobot can often handle multiple different products.
Now, you’re armed (pun intended) with the five best cobot palletizer robots that are going to completely revamp the way you handle palletizing in .
With flexible, user-friendly options like Standard Bots’ RO1 and MiniPAL+ or heavy-duty choices like the FANUC CRX, there’s something for everyone, and especially, every budget!
RO1 is the six-axis cobot palletization upgrade your shop’s been waiting for:
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit industrial palletizing robot.