Are Cobots Worth the Cost?
The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) reports that the collaborative robot market is growing quickly. Advances in robotic manufacturing technology are enabling robot workers to be integrated into the labor force with a wide range of new tasks and applications, increasing productivity and efficiency. The robots themselves are relatively inexpensive, making them a more viable solution for small and medium businesses.
However, the upfront costs savings might not make up for the loss of production, with full-scale industrial robots being at least three times faster than cobots. On the other hand, the larger robots do take up more room, which can be a disadvantage in a smaller space.
So it is important to understand your robotic system needs and whether a collaborative robot setup is truly the best fit for your company. Often, it makes more sense to choose a cobot when there is a specific need, such as a setup where a robot fills a container, and a person sitting next to it puts the lid on. That could also be done in a non-collaborative setting, but it would have to pass through a fence, take longer, and use up more floor space.
MJ Engineering can collaborate with you on your collaborative robot needs and make the recommendation that is the best fit for your company, budget, and space.