What an industrial robot is, which types exist, what each is good at and how to choose — from an integrator that designs, builds and installs robotic cells in Israeli plants.
An industrial robot is a programmable mechanical arm, usually with 4 to 6 axes, that performs repetitive production tasks — lifting, machine loading, welding, assembly, painting and palletizing — at a constant speed and accuracy, shift after shift.
The robot is only part of the solution. To work on a production line it needs end-of-arm tooling (a gripper, vacuum head or welding torch), a controller and software, sensors and often machine vision, and safety measures. Combining all of these into a working production cell is robotic integration — the job of a robotics integrator.
Industrial robots differ mainly in three figures: payload (how much weight the robot lifts, gripper included), reach (the furthest point the arm can get to) and repeatability (how precisely it returns to the same point). Together they decide which robot fits which task.
A classic industrial robot runs fast, so it is installed behind guarding or inside a protected cell, based on a risk assessment and ISO 10218. When the work has to happen next to people, at a moderate pace and lower payloads, the usual choice is a cobot — a collaborative robot.
No single robot fits every task. These are the five main types we integrate in Israeli plants, with figures from the manufacturers' official catalogues.
The most common type: an arm with six joints that reaches almost any point at any angle. Used for palletizing, machine tending, welding, assembly and material handling — from compact robots handling a few kilograms to heavy robots lifting engines and concrete blocks.
FANUC catalogue: 89 models · 4–2,300 kg payload · 550–4,683 mm reach
DetailsFour axes, very fast and rigid in the horizontal plane. Ideal for precise assembly, component insertion, pick & place and bench-top testing — especially in electronics and small products.
Shibaura catalogue: 10 models · 5–20 kg payload · 400–1,050 mm reach
DetailsA parallel robot mounted above the conveyor. The lightest and fastest of all — built for picking light products off a conveyor at very high speed, in food, pharma and packaging, usually together with machine vision.
FANUC catalogue: 10 models · 0.5–12 kg payload · 280–1,600 mm reach
DetailsA robot with force sensing that stops on contact and can work alongside people, usually without fencing, based on a risk assessment and ISO/TS 15066. Easy to move between stations and suited to high-mix production, small batches and moderate-rate palletizing.
FANUC catalogue: 18 models · 3–35 kg payload · 550–1,813 mm reach
DetailsLinear axes at right angles (X/Y/Z). Covers very large working areas with high accuracy and a simple structure — suited to machine loading and unloading, simple palletizing and transfer between stations.
DetailsStacking bags, cartons and blocks on pallets at the end of the line — at a steady rate and pattern, with no physical strain on workers.
Loading and unloading CNC machines, injection molding machines and presses — including night shifts without close supervision.
MIG/MAG and spot welding at consistent quality, with dedicated welding robots and positioners.
Assembly, insertion and sorting at speed and accuracy — from SCARA and delta robots to articulated arms.
Quality inspection, measurement, identification and code reading at line speed, plus guiding the robot to the part's exact position.
Automation at existing stations without changing the layout — when the work has to happen near people.
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Choosing a robot starts with the product and the process, not the catalogue. These are the questions we go through with every customer before recommending a model:
The heaviest product plus the gripper, with a safety margin. Too little payload shortens the robot's life and costs accuracy.
The distance to the furthest point — for example a full pallet's height or a machine's depth. Too much reach wastes floor space and money.
Assembly and electronics need far more precision than palletizing. Accuracy is specified from the product's tolerance.
How many units per hour the line needs. The rate decides the robot type, the number of robots and the tooling design.
Dust, coolant, washdown, cleanroom or food — these set the protection rating (IP) and the robot variant.
Fenced cell or work alongside people, and how much room there really is — the deciding factors between an industrial robot and a cobot.
There is no price list: every robotic cell is custom-built around the customer's product, process and production rate. The robot itself is only part of the project — the difference between cells comes mostly from everything around it.
Many Israeli plants qualify for the Advanced Manufacturing grant, which funds part of an investment in robotics and automation. Read the grant guide
Get a quote for your projectA plant visit, measurements, products and rates — and exactly what the cell needs to do.
Cycle times and reach checked in simulation (FANUC ROBOGUIDE, ABB RobotStudio) before any equipment is bought.
Mechanical and electrical design, tooling, safety and integration with existing controllers and systems.
Cell assembly, programming and acceptance testing against the customer's requirements.
On-site installation, start-up on the line and training for operators and maintenance staff.
Preventive maintenance, spare parts and support — including an SLA under a service agreement.
A FANUC R-2000iC/125L depalletizes, 3D-inspects every block, cuts and palletizes — 240 blocks per hour.
Read the full storyA bag palletizing line with 100% bag weighing, Mesutronic metal detection and a pallet dispenser we designed and built.
Read the full storyTell us the product and the rate — we'll recommend the robot type and the right solution.