COLLABORATIVE AUTOMATION

Collaborative Robot / Cobot Procurement Guide

Evaluate cobot projects by task, human interaction, speed, payload, tooling, risk reduction, integration and production economics rather than assuming collaboration is automatically safe.

What to compare

Task and human interaction mode during normal production, setup and maintenance.
Payload, reach, speed, cycle-time requirement and process forces.
Tooling and workpiece hazards, not only robot-arm characteristics.
Risk assessment, separation monitoring, power/force limiting and validation where applicable.
Ease of programming, changeover and operator interaction.
Production uptime, support, maintenance and skills required on site.
Whole-cell TCO compared with a guarded industrial robot alternative.

Questions to answer before requesting quotes

What makes this specific application collaborative, not simply the robot model?
What speed or force reductions are needed around people?
How will tooling and workpiece hazards be controlled?
What production rate remains after required safety functions are active?
Who validates the complete application before production use?

Model the economics before vendor outreach. Use the PROFENG Cobot vs Industrial Robot TCO Calculator with your process assumptions, then replace estimates with supplier and integrator evidence.
Open calculator →

Safety and engineering responsibility

Robot procurement must be evaluated as a complete application. Risk assessment, safeguarding, functional safety, operating procedures, maintenance conditions and site-specific legal requirements need competent engineering review.

Commercial independence

This guide is vendor-neutral. PROFENG may display an approved commercial partner after the analytical content with a clear disclosure. Partner status never changes the comparison criteria.