HOW MUCH DO INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS AND COBOTS COST?

New industrial robots with controllers and teach pendants can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $200,000+, with an average of around $50,000–$100,000 for mid-range 6-axis models. New collaborative robots (cobots) can cost $15,000 to $60,000, with an average of $25,000–$35,000 for standard 6-axis models.

 

The total cost of an industrial robotic system that is application-specific can cost $150,000 to $500,000. The total cost of a total installed cobot system can cost $40,000 to $150,000, including grippers, vision systems, software, and setup. 

 

To get a ballpark budget for what your robotic system is going to cost, elliTek's Application Engineers typically do a quick roll-up of the hardware cost and multiply it by three.

 

Usually, the hardware cost is roughly a third of the overall cost of the project. That often will give a high watermark, especially if integrators, machine builders, and OEMs are allowed to come in and work with you.

 

If you choose elliTek for your robot project, our engineers will sit down with you and ask: 

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• What parts can you do or provide?
   

• Can you do this cheaper than we can or for less expense by using your people and/or your facilities? 

 

This way, you don't have to pay an outside person for the work you can do in-house.

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Considerations to keep in mind:

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The application to be performed has a direct impact on the cost of a robotic system. The application governs the end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT), the peripherals, and the safety mechanisms.

 

To choose the right robot for your application, our automation experts suggest that you take into consideration the workspace requirements, the reach and payload limits, and the product needs.

 

elliTek's Systems Group shares more insight on selecting the right robot.

 

It's recommended that you have a clear understanding of the scope of your robotic system during the research phase.

 

Some things to consider are:

 

• Your current costs for the number of employees per shift.
   

• The number of shifts per day.
   

• Your employee(s) yearly cost.
   

• Downtime costs.
   

• Scrap parts costs.

 

Industrial robots and cobots have a quick return on investment (ROI) and can typically pay for themselves within a year or less.

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Reach out to an Applications Engineer or your local FSE to learn how industrial robots can open the door to new opportunities for your employees so they can engage in value-added tasks and more fulfilling jobs. Discover if your company should use industrial robots.