Used industrial robots for welding, handling, palletizing, machine tending, packaging and factory automation. Technical articles, buying guidance and application insights from URT.
Why buying a used ABB IRB 6700 requires more than checking price A used ABB IRB 6700 can be a sensible investment for manufacturers looking to expand automation capacity without committing to the purchase cost of a new robot. However, the purchase only makes financial sense when the robot’s mechanical condition, exact model variant, controller … Read more
A used industrial robot may be ready for immediate purchase, but the buyer still needs to confirm whether maintenance teams can keep it running. When evaluating used robot spare parts, purchasing managers must distinguish between equipment availability and long-term serviceability. A robot may pass an operational test while relying on a controller board, motor, drive, … Read more
A repetitive manufacturing process may offer a clear automation opportunity, but the investment can still create financial uncertainty. The Robot-as-a-Service vs buying decision requires manufacturers to compare capital exposure, production stability, integration requirements, and long-term operating costs. A lower initial payment does not necessarily produce a lower total project cost. Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) allows manufacturers to … Read more
An industrial robot can remain mechanically functional long after its controller, software, or spare parts become difficult to support. That creates a difficult decision for maintenance and production managers: continue operating equipment that still performs its task, or begin investing in a replacement before a major failure occurs. Effective robot obsolescence planning addresses this decision … Read more
A low purchase price can make a used industrial robot attractive, but missing used robot documentation changes the decision. The buyer must evaluate more than the robot’s visible condition. Missing records can hide uncertainty about maintenance, software, configuration, previous applications, and integration requirements. This does not automatically make the robot a bad purchase. A technical … Read more
A lower robot price does not make the grinding cell lower risk A project with used grinding robots can make financial sense when the equipment matches the process. The robot, controller, abrasive tooling, fixtures, and part presentation must work as one system. Problems start when a buyer focuses on the robot price and treats the … Read more
A Missing Teach Pendant Changes More Than the Equipment List A used robot teach pendant can look like a secondary accessory when the buyer focuses on the robot arm, controller, and purchase price. In practice, the pendant can affect programming, commissioning, diagnostics, and recovery. The buyer should therefore determine whether the complete package supports the … Read more
Digital Product Passports Could Reduce a Familiar Used-Equipment Risk For buyers of used industrial equipment, digital product passports matter only if they reduce uncertainty about a machine’s history. A digital record can provide useful evidence about configuration, maintenance, and previous changes. It cannot prove current mechanical condition or suitability for a new production process. The … Read more
The Real Question Is How Much of the Failure You Need to Cover A used robot backup can make more operational sense than a shelf of spare parts. This is especially true when a robot failure could stop a critical process, and the plant cannot predict which component will fail. Keeping a compatible robot can … Read more
A used ABB robot can look mechanically suitable and still become the wrong purchase because of its controller. With an ABB IRC5-equipped robot, the buying decision should therefore go beyond the arm, visible condition, and purchase price. Controller configuration, installed software, communication requirements, backups, support, and compatibility with the intended cell can determine how much … Read more