Before deploying a palletizing robot in the workplace, determine whether the process is ideal for your operations. Let’s assume you have compared other alternative options in the market and are sure that a robotic palletizing cell is appropriate. The next step involves understanding how much the deployment will cost you.
Getting the right answer to the cost factor can be difficult. This is because often, there will be extra costs that you may not beware of. Read on to understand how to determine the cost of deploying a palletizing robot
Look beyond the Robot’s Price
When entrepreneurs are considering a robotic solution, they are likely to check the unit’s price only. Often, they will request a quotation and compare it against their current budget. They will then rely on this limited data to gauge their ability to deploy palletizing robots in the workplace.
Sometimes, entrepreneurs might perform a quick ROI estimation and use sketchy details to determine whether robotic palletizing is ideal for their operations. While calculating the return on investment and comparing costs against your budget is crucial, they are no comprehensive. When it comes to palletizing robot solutions, there are various factors that you should consider. These help you come up with the precise cost calculation.
How to Determine the Actual Palletizing Robotic Cost
Palletizing robotic solutions vary. A traditional palletizing robot may require extra components that are not part of the original cost to operate smoothly. Further, there could be integration and design costs that can be critical for traditional palletizing.
Sometimes the extra costs may be quite high in some robotic solutions. Such could raise the robot cost by up to 5 times to get an accurate estimate. This may not be ideal for entrepreneurs who what to calculate their robotic solutions more accurately. It’s worth mentioning that every entrepreneur has unique palletizing needs.
Your unique needs will determine the amount you have to pay for your robotic palletizing solution. Here are some considerations to make when calculating robotic palletizing costs.
Robot Accessories
You may need a wide range of accessories for robotic palletizing, depending on your needs. Some of the common ones include:
- Box and pallet sensors
- External axes to stretch the robot’s work area
- Cable management network
- An end effector for holding boxes
Some of the advanced palletizing robotic solutions in the market today come complete with all these components. You may need to have these custom made if you are using the traditional palletizing robot systems.
Cost of the Robot Base
Getting a quotation from the robot supplier is simple. However, this quotation does not define the entire cost. Remember, traditional palletizing robots need more extra components that their collaborative counterparts.
Controller and Robot Software
Many conventional industrial robots lack the software and a controller. You will need to buy the robotic software separately. If you choose this unit, ensure to include its cost in your calculations. Remember, you may need specialized palletizing software to: reduce cost, effort, money, and time spend hard-coding palletizing functions manually.
Additional Technology
You may need additional technology, depending on your setup. These include:
- Conveyor systems to facilitate the movement of boxes close to the robot
- A tier sheet shelf and palletizing dispenser
- Sensors or safety fencing. Remember, collaborative palletizing solutions may need these components to facilitate high-speed and safe palletizing.
Maintenance Costs
Some robots need preventive maintenance to guarantee smooth operation. In this case, you will need to incur more costs. Many novice robot users often forget to incorporate these when calculating robot costs. Studies show that collaborative palletizing solutions are maintenance-free, which makes them less costly.
The ROI (Return on Investment)
As is the case with any other investment, calculate the return on investment of your palletizing solution. If you choose a collaborative palletizing solution, then the payback time will be within a few months. Other robotic solutions stretch the payback time.
Finally
These tips should help you determine how much you need to deploy palletizing robots in the workplace.
