Buying Your First Robot for the Small to Medium Sized Company

In every successful manufacturing or distributing company there comes a time when production needs exceed current employment and output capabilities. For a small or medium sized company, the decision to expand now includes a variable not thought of even ten years ago: ROBOTICS. Expansion leaves managers with two choices: add employees or automate the system. In today’s marketplace, industrial robots are now affordable to the first time buyer, offering advantages in reliability and cost justification only available to large manufacturers a decade ago.

Buying your first robot is more affordable than ever. The first decision is whether to purchase a new or used robot. The number of reliable used robots available makes owning a pre-owned robot a widely accepted concept for both small and medium sized companies. The savings associated with pre-owned robots allows the buyer to spend more of their resources on integration and tooling. These two components of robotics are what make the system work.

Finding a reliable dealer/integrator is the single most important decision a new buyer must make. If you choose wisely, this company will support your automation throughout the installation, maintenance, and service life of your robot. Choose a reputable company with knowledgeable service technicians, customer-oriented management, and qualified references.

There are many things to consider when choosing a robot for your application. Features like payload, reach, repeatability, and work envelope all affect the success of your automation project. Choosing and engineering the end of arm tooling is critical in making the system work. A reliable dealer will work with you through each of these options, helping you to make an educated decision.

Finally, investigate the safety issues of robotics. It is important to install the robot according to safety standards established by OSHA. A well-planned robotic cell will increase the overall safety of your operation by eliminating human errors that cause industrial accidents.

By Bobby Griffin & Connie Carrier

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