Choosing a pick and place robot starts with matching the configuration to the task, not the other way round. This page walks through the main types available, what each suits, and how to source a refurbished unit from ABB, FANUC or KUKA backed by over 20 years of refurbishment experience. Pick and place is one of several robotic systems we supply, alongside palletising and welding applications.
Types of Pick & Place Robot (and What Each Suits)
Four configurations cover most industrial pick and place applications. Each trades off payload, speed and precision differently, so the right choice depends on what you’re moving, how fast, and how accurately it needs to land.
Articulated Arm Robots
Articulated arm robots are the most versatile option, typically offering four to six axes of movement. They suit tasks that need reorientation before placement, such as loading parts into a fixture or packing irregularly shaped products into a box. Payload capacity ranges widely by model, from a few kilograms up to several hundred, which is why they dominate general-purpose pick and place work across assembly, packaging and machine tending.
SCARA Robots
SCARA robots move in a horizontal plane with a vertical insertion axis, making them fast and precise for flat, repetitive placement tasks such as electronics assembly or placing components into trays. They’re less suited to work requiring complex reorientation but outperform articulated arms on cycle time for planar tasks.
Delta Robots
Delta robots trade payload for speed. Their parallel-arm design keeps moving mass low, which allows very high cycle rates, often used for sorting or packing lightweight items such as confectionery, small electronics or pharmaceuticals on fast-moving conveyor lines. Payload is typically limited to a few kilograms.
Gantry Robots
Gantry robots move along linear rails across the X, Y and Z axes, giving them the largest working envelope of the four. They suit applications spanning a wide area, such as loading large sheet materials or servicing multiple stations along a production line, where an articulated arm’s reach would fall short.
| Configuration | Typical payload | Typical speed | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articulated arm | Few kg to several hundred kg | Moderate | General assembly, packaging, machine tending |
| SCARA | Up to around 20kg | High for planar tasks | Electronics assembly, tray placement |
| Delta | Typically under 5kg | Very high | High-speed sorting, food, pharma packaging |
| Gantry | Varies, often high | Moderate | Large-format handling, multi-station lines |
Our Refurbished Pick & Place Robots
At Global Robots, we supply refurbished pick and place robots from ABB, FANUC and KUKA, covering articulated arm and SCARA configurations across a range of payload capacities. Every unit goes through our refurbishment process before sale to confirm it meets its quality operating specification, and every robotic system we sell comes with a 90-day warranty as standard.
Working across all three brands means we can compare options objectively rather than steering you toward a single manufacturer’s range. If you already know the model you need, we can source it. If you don’t, our team can help you work out which configuration fits your application before you commit.
Choosing Refurbished Over New
A refurbished pick and place robot typically costs a fraction of the equivalent new unit while performing very close to its original specification, provided the refurbishment has been done properly. The questions worth asking before buying any used industrial robot are straightforward. You want to know if it has been tested under load, what’s been replaced rather than just cleaned, and what warranty backs it if something goes wrong in the first few months.
We’ve been refurbishing ABB, FANUC and KUKA robots for over 20 years, which means we know the common failure points on each manufacturer’s models and what to check before a unit goes back into service. That experience is what sits behind the 90-day warranty rather than a generic guarantee applied without inspection. If a unit does need attention after purchase, our servicing and repair team supports all three brands, and more so reach out to our expert team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What industries use pick and place robots?
Pick and place robots are widely used in food and beverage packaging, electronics assembly, pharmaceuticals, automotive component handling and general warehouse logistics. The right configuration depends on the size, weight and fragility of what’s being handled rather than the industry itself
How do I choose the right pick and place robot for my application?
Start with payload and speed requirements, then check whether the task needs reorientation (favouring an articulated arm) or fast planar movement (favouring a SCARA or Delta robot). Our team can talk through your specific application if you’re unsure which configuration is best for your needs.
What's included in a refurbished pick and place robot's warranty?
Every robotic system we sell comes with a 90-day warranty as standard. Get in touch for full terms relevant to the specific model and application you’re considering.
Can Global Robots help integrate a pick and place robot into an existing line?
Our expert team can help you select the right unit for your business. We’re able to support integration planning to make the process as smooth as possible when setting up your new industrial robots. Contact us to discuss your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re weighing up which pick and place robot suits your line, or want to compare refurbished ABB, FANUC and KUKA options, our team can talk it through with you.