When a producer considers implementing automation of their operations, one of many first questions that usually arises is: What’s the price of a cobot? At first look, this looks like an easy inquiry, however the reply is much from easy. Including a cobot to your manufacturing line isn’t simply an expense—it’s a strategic funding in effectivity, consistency, and long-term financial savings.
The value varies based mostly on the mannequin and options, however with the fitting grippers, software program, and setup, a cobot can rework your operations. Understanding the total price image helps you make an knowledgeable determination and unlocks the true worth of automation. Let’s break it down so you possibly can see how shortly a cobot will pay for itself.
As with many merchandise, the price of cobots varies broadly. This variability may be in comparison with one thing akin to the worth of a automobile. Simply as a fundamental economic system automobile may be bought for a number of thousand {dollars}, whereas high-end luxurious fashions can price tens of 1000’s, cobots additionally are available in varied worth factors.
Typically talking, the price of a cobot arm can vary from as little as $15,000 for an entry-level Chinese language-made mannequin to upwards of $60,000 for top-of-the-line, high-quality fashions that boast superior reliability and superior options.
Nevertheless, a cobot arm by itself doesn’t do a lot. Simply as a automobile wants gas, upkeep, and a driver to function, a cobot wants further parts to operate in an industrial setting. This results in an important second consideration: the price of your entire cobot system, not simply the arm itself.
Cobot System Prices: What’s Included?
While you’re budgeting for automation, it’s vital to acknowledge that the cobot arm is just one a part of the equation. To actually get worth from the cobot, you’ll want further parts, together with:
- Finish-Effector: That is the a part of the system that interacts with the product, akin to a gripper or suction cup, and its price varies relying on the precise process.
- Integration & Setup: Relying in your manufacturing line, it’s possible you’ll want to switch current methods (conveyors, air methods, electrical infrastructure) to accommodate the cobot.
- Software program & Programming: A cobot may require customized programming to operate in your particular atmosphere, or, in some circumstances, it’s possible you’ll want a specialised interface to assist the cobot work together together with your current methods.
If you happen to’re choosing a turnkey system the place all the pieces is pre-packaged and able to go, the price of a cobot system may be fairly affordable.
Nevertheless, in case your software requires a extra custom-made resolution, the fee can escalate shortly. In these circumstances, the price of engineering experience and the time required to create a tailor-made system can drive the whole price a lot larger.
Customized Options Concerns
One of many largest components that may improve the price of a cobot system is customized engineering. When you have a fancy process that requires particular tooling or specialised modifications to your manufacturing line, you’ll must put money into engineers to design and implement the answer.
Engineering expertise, significantly these skilled with automation methods, is in excessive demand and may come at a premium. Customized options additionally are likely to have longer lead instances, that means you’ll must plan forward for the potential delays in getting your system up and operating. Moreover, customized methods may face reliability challenges since they usually incorporate distinctive parts that haven’t been mass-produced or totally examined over time.
That being stated, a customized resolution could also be mandatory for sure duties, and in these circumstances, the elevated funding may yield useful enhancements in effectivity and productiveness.
Nevertheless, in case your process is comparatively easy, there are various off-the-shelf methods that may do the job successfully, conserving prices down.
What’s the Actual Price of Automation?
When contemplating the price of a cobot system, it’s important to concentrate on the whole price of automation, which incorporates each the preliminary funding and ongoing operational bills. That is the place the idea of Return on Funding (ROI) comes into play. ROI is the important thing metric that producers want to contemplate to evaluate whether or not the automation undertaking is definitely worth the funding.
To calculate ROI, you’ll want to doc the present price of working your manufacturing line or the precise process you propose to automate. This consists of the labor prices related to operating the road, such because the variety of workers wanted, their hourly wages, and every other prices associated to the operation. You must also issue within the annual output of the road, each when it comes to income and gross revenue. This can present a baseline for evaluating the prices earlier than and after automation.
After getting the baseline, you possibly can calculate the price of automation. This consists of the price of the cobot system itself, in addition to any collateral bills akin to line modifications, downtime, and extra infrastructure prices. You need to use our Lean Robotics ROI calculator as a instrument to estimate the ROI of a cobot in your manufacturing facility ground.
The Payback Interval
Sometimes, corporations have a look at the payback interval over a five-year horizon. The payback interval is the time it’ll take for the financial savings generated by the cobot system to equal the preliminary funding.
For instance, some producers have seen excessive ROI circumstances, akin to a vaccine producer who recovered a $200,000 funding in simply two months. Whereas that is an distinctive case, it illustrates the potential for speedy returns when the system allows vital will increase in manufacturing output or when gross margins are excessive.
The Price of Inaction
Whereas calculating ROI is vital, producers additionally want to contemplate the price of inaction. If you happen to resolve to not put money into cobot automation, it’s possible you’ll proceed dealing with growing labor prices, rising manufacturing prices, and potential challenges with assembly buyer demand. The price of not automating can eat into your margins over time as labor turns into dearer, and also you’re much less productive than your rivals who’ve adopted automation.
In lots of industries, the strain to scale back prices and improve output is simply rising. As labor shortages and financial challenges persist, the choice to automate turns into extra pressing. By investing in cobots now, you’re securing your future competitiveness in an more and more automated world.
The Hidden Advantages of Cobot Automation
Past the apparent monetary advantages, cobots additionally provide intangible benefits that may have a big affect on what you are promoting. These embrace:
- Lowered Ergonomic Dangers: Cobot methods can tackle repetitive, bodily demanding duties, decreasing the chance of harm to your employees and bettering office security.
- Worker Morale & Retention: By automating repetitive duties, you permit your workers to concentrate on higher-value work, which may enhance job satisfaction and morale.
- Flexibility and Scalability: Cobot methods are extremely versatile and may simply be reprogrammed for brand new duties or scaled to satisfy elevated demand. This makes them ideally suited for companies that must adapt shortly to altering market situations.
- Enhanced Buyer Notion: Many companies discover that clients recognize seeing automation in motion, which indicators innovation and a forward-thinking method.
Able to put money into a cobot?
Talking with an professional can present useful insights to make sure you make the fitting choices to your automation wants. Our consultants might help you assess your objectives, perceive the technical capabilities of cobots, and information you thru the method of choosing and integrating one of the best resolution to your operations.
