Run the Integrator Test
Robot builders publish product families — Universal Robots, ABB Robotics, and FANUC all do — but very few industrial buyers order an arm and install it themselves. The working cell arrives via an integrator.
The Bot Scout integrator test therefore evaluates the partner rather than the brand: have they built this exact application before, can they name a comparable installation, who does the safety assessment, who trains your staff, and who answers the phone at 3am in year three.
The consequence is that brand loyalty is usually misplaced. A capable integrator working with a mid-range arm reliably beats an inexperienced one working with the best arm on the market, because the arm is the part least likely to fail.
| Purchase element | Who supplies it | What to confirm | Risk if unclear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robot and controller | Builder via distributor | Lead time and software licences | Delay before work even starts |
| Tooling and fixtures | Integrator | Who owns the design | No second gripper for the next part |
| Safety assessment | Integrator or specialist | Who signs it | Cell cannot be commissioned |
| Programming and training | Integrator | Who can change the job later | Contractor needed for every change |
| Service and spares | Builder or integrator | Response time and parts location | Extended downtime in year two |
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Write the task, part, payload, reach, cycle time, quality target, changeover requirement, and exception handling before contacting anyone. That document is what makes competing quotes comparable, as set out in the manufacturing robots guide.
Classify the machine correctly too, since it determines which standards and which vendor category apply — see the industrial robot definition guide.
Budget the complete cell rather than the arm, using the robot arm price guide. Quotes that look wildly different usually scoped different things.
- Write one scope document before contacting any supplier.
- Ask each integrator to name a comparable installation.
- Confirm who performs and signs the safety assessment.
- Establish who can reprogram the cell after handover.
- Get service response time and spares location in writing.
New, Used, and Leased
New equipment brings warranty, current software, and support. Used equipment can suit a stable, well-understood task where documentation exists — the trade-offs are covered in the used industrial robots guide.
Leasing and service-based models shift cost profile and usually bundle maintenance, which suits operations without in-house robotics capability.
Whichever route, safety is a per-application obligation. ISO 10218-1:2025 sets the requirements, and OSHA notes that many incidents occur during programming, setup, and maintenance rather than production.
Bottom Line
Industrial robots are bought through integrators, so evaluate the partner as carefully as the arm. Prepare one scope document, compare complete cells, and confirm who supports the system in year three.
Write the scope document first, then evaluate integrators on comparable installations they can name.
FAQs
Where do you buy industrial robots?
Usually through a systems integrator or a builder's distributor rather than a catalogue. The deliverable is a working cell including tooling, controls, guarding, and commissioning.
Does the robot brand matter?
Less than the integrator. A capable integrator with a mid-range arm generally outperforms an inexperienced one with a premium arm, because the arm is the least likely component to fail.
What should be prepared before contacting a supplier?
A scope document covering task, part, payload, reach, cycle time, quality target, changeover, and exception handling. Without it, competing quotes cannot be compared.
Who is responsible for robot safety compliance?
Safety is assessed per application, and the assessment is normally performed and signed by the integrator or a specialist. Confirm who owns it before the contract is signed.