A practical checklist for production and procurement managers: 9 criteria that separate a reliable integrator from one that disappears after installation — certifications, SLA, CE file, industry experience, and more.
Choosing a robot integrator is one of the most consequential decisions a production manager will make. The robot itself — FANUC, ABB, Shibaura — is ultimately a very sophisticated piece of metal. What determines whether a project pays back within a year or becomes a liability is the integrator who installs, programs, connects, and supports it. Here are 9 criteria that separate the two types.
1. Official Manufacturer Certification
Manufacturers like FANUC and ABB run formal integrator programs — Certified Integrator and Authorized Partner, respectively. These certifications are not automatic for anyone who sells robots; they require engineer training, site audits, and minimum service standards. A certified integrator has direct access to manufacturer technical support, early software versions, and shelf-stocked spare parts. Ask: "Do you hold written certification from FANUC or ABB?" — and request to see the document.
2. CE File and Warranty for the Complete Cell
In Israel, any machine marketed after 1995 must carry CE marking and a Declaration of Conformity. A robot installed in a production cell constitutes a "composite machine" — the robot, gripper, guarding, conveyor, infeed table, and all accessories are a single unit. The integrator is obligated to issue a CE declaration for the entire cell after performing a risk assessment per EN ISO 12100. An integrator who does not issue a complete CE file exposes you to legal liability and voids your facility's insurance coverage.
Field tip: Ask to see a CE declaration the integrator issued for a similar project — not the CE certificate of the robot itself. These are two completely different documents.
3. Written SLA
Every integrator will tell you "we're available 24/7." Ask them: "How long until an engineer arrives on my site when the line stops?" — and write down the answer. Then ask them to put it in the contract. The standard Israeli industry SLA for a line-stopping fault is 8 hours emergency response. If the integrator refuses to write a number into the contract — that says one thing.
4. Proven Experience in Your Specific Sector
An integrator who specializes in automotive arc welding automation is not necessarily the right choice for a palletizing line in a food plant. Ask for three projects similar to yours — not "robots in industry" in general, but "palletizing dimpled bags with irregular products" or "machine vision for defect detection in plastics." Request the phone numbers of those customers and call at least one.
5. What Is and Is Not Included in the Price
Items that must be defined in the quote:
- Gripper / end-effector — design, build, and testing
- Programming — including pallet layer patterns and TP/RAPID programs
- Electrical panel and PLC — included or separate?
- Safety guarding, light curtain, or laser scanner
- Operator HMI interface
- Operator and maintenance technician training
- Risk assessment and complete CE file
- Warranty — how many months, what is covered
- Minimum spare-parts inventory to be held on site
6. Staff: In-House Engineers or Subcontractors?
Small integration companies sometimes sell a project and then send a subcontractor to execute it. That is not automatically bad, but you must know who will be on your site, what their experience level is, and who is accountable at the first line of contact when there is a problem after installation. Ask for names and check the LinkedIn profiles of the engineers who will work on your project.
7. Spare Parts Access and Supply Continuity
A robot that stops because an aging controller failed and no spare part is available in Israel can halt a line for weeks. Ask: "What parts do you keep in inventory? What is the lead time for a part from the manufacturer's warehouse?" Major integrators maintain local stock in Israel; those who import only on order expose you to significant downtime risk.
8. Feasibility Study Before Contract
A serious integrator will not sign a contract before visiting your site, measuring the line, defining the SKU and gripper, and calculating a realistic cycle time. A quote emailed within 24 hours without a site visit is based on assumptions, not facts. When reality arrives, the price goes up.
9. What Happens After the Warranty Period
Standard warranty is 12 months. Ask what happens in month 13: what are annual service costs? What is included? Is there a preventive maintenance contract? What is the average uptime of similar systems the integrator has deployed? An integrator who plans only the handover dinner and not the morning after — you probably will not see much of them after the final payment clears.
Xpert Robotics is the only integrator in Israel simultaneously holding FANUC Certified Integrator and ABB Authorized Partner status. 8-hour emergency SLA. Every project includes a full CE file. First feasibility meeting at no charge.
