Which industrial robot arms are best suited for pick-and-place packaging tasks?

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FANUC America·https://www.fanucamerica.com**Picking** & Packaging Robots | FANUC America SCARA Robots. FANUC's SCARA Robots are a powerful pick-and-place robot solution for manufacturing operations that require increased speed and repeatability. View SCARA Robots. View Product. Close-up o Robotic Automation Systems·https://www.roboticautomationsystems.com Everything You Need to Know About Pick and Place Robots We will delve into the world of pick-and-place robots, exploring their functionalities, applications, and the benefits they bring to various industries. As always, when you need a team to create the p Samfacc·https://www.samfacc.com Exploring The Different Robot Arm Types: A Comprehensive Guide ...What Are Pick And Place Robot Arms? Pick and place robot arms are robotic systems designed to pick objects from one location and put them in another with precision and efficiency. These tasks are dail PFI - Products For Industry·https://pfi.com.au what types of robots are used in industrial packaging automation What types of robots are used in industrial packaging automation: delta and SCARA for high-speed primary packaging. Delta robots: the speed benchmark for pick-and-place packaging. Delta robots are the Reddit·https://www.reddit.com**Robotic** solutions for picking and packing - Reddit This is where automated warehouse picking comes in — it is gradually setting new productivity standards in various industries. Today's robotic picking systems are equipped with computer vision, sensor AMD Machines·https://amdmachines.com Choosing an Industrial Robot | Payload, Reach & Type Guide Delta robots, also called parallel robots, use three lightweight arms connected to a common moving platform. The motors are mounted at the fixed base, which keeps the moving mass extremely low. The re Motion Controls Robotics·https://motioncontrolsrobotics.com**Robotic Picking** and Packing Essentials - Motion Controls Robotics FANUC Robots for Picking and Packing Applications. Click on robot to learn more. Robotic Picking and Packing. LR Mate – This lighter payload robot line has capacity up to 15 pounds including end of ar Igus·https://toolbox.igus.com Understand industrial robot types: a guide to selection & use Typically, Cartesians have a base X axis, a cantilevered Y axis, and/or a Z axis that move up and down, in and out, and side to side. Gantries, however, are configured with two base X axes, a supporte Staubli·https://www.staubli.com**Robotic Picking** & Packing | High-speed Packaging Automation Fast cycle performance. SCARA and 6‑axis TX2 robots deliver smooth, high‑speed trajectories ideal for continuous picking and packing operations without sacrificing accuracy. Ocado Intelligent Automation·https://ocadointelligentautomation.com What is a Pick and Place Robot ? Uses and Types Types of pick and place robots. There are several pick and place robot types and components, including: Robotic arm – Robotic arms are the most common type of pick and place robots. A 5-axis robotic a

For industrial pick-and-place packaging, the best robot type depends mainly on product weight, required cycle rate, orientation requirements, and hygiene/environment. Based on current manufacturer offerings, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best overall for high-speed packaging: Delta

If you're picking products from a conveyor and placing them into cartons, trays, or flow-wrap packaging, a delta robot is usually my first choice.

ABB's IRB 360 FlexPicker is specifically optimized for high-speed picking and packing, with payload variants from 1–8 kg and reach up to 1.6 m. ABB also offers the 5-axis IRB 365 for lightweight products that need reorientation.

FANUC's DR delta series is likewise aimed specifically at high-speed, hygienic picking and packing, including food applications.

Yaskawa's MPP delta robots are another strong choice where throughput is the priority; Yaskawa cites applications reaching up to four pick cycles per second for its MPP3 series.

🥈 Best for simpler, precise packaging: SCARA

Choose a SCARA when products have relatively predictable locations and you don't need the complex 3D orientation of a 6-axis arm. They're particularly attractive for small products and compact packaging cells.

FANUC's SCARA range covers 3–20 kg payloads and is explicitly designed for pick-and-place and packaging. www.fanucamerica.com ABB similarly positions its SCARAs for rapid-cycle picking and placing.

🥉 Best for flexible/complex packaging: 6-axis

A 6-axis articulated robot makes more sense when the product must be tilted, rotated, inserted at an angle, or picked and placed in substantially different orientations.

Yaskawa specifically recommends its GP-series 6-axis robots when the pick and place directions differ or the product needs to be turned/tilted. www.yaskawa.co.uk Its GP series is also positioned as a balanced solution for reliability, versatility and throughput in packaging lines.

For heavier secondary packaging, ABB's IRB 390 FlexPacker is particularly interesting: its 5-axis version can vertically orient boxes and parcels, with a 10 kg payload, while the 4-axis version goes to 15 kg.

My practical selection rule

• Tiny/light products + maximum throughput: → Delta
• Small products + simple up/down placement: → SCARA
• Products need rotation/orientation: → 5-axis delta or 6-axis
• Heavy cartons/cases: → 6-axis or dedicated palletizing robot
• Variable products / frequent changeovers: → 6-axis or vision-equipped delta
• Packaging next to operators / lower volumes: → Cobot

For a new packaging line, I'd generally investigate ABB IRB 360/365/390, FANUC DR/SCARA, and Yaskawa MPP/SG/GP first. The final choice should be based on your product weight, dimensions, picks/minute, conveyor speed, reach, and whether you need product rotation.

If you give me those six parameters, I can narrow this down to 3–5 specific robot models and compare payload, reach, cycle rate, footprint, and approximate cost.

For pick-and-place packaging tasks, the best industrial robot arm depends mainly on speed, payload, product handling, hygiene requirements, and whether the line is high-volume or flexible. There is no single winner, but these are among the strongest choices:

My shortlist by application

1. Food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods

• Best choices: FANUC delta robots, ABB delta robots, Yaskawa GP series
• Priorities: washdown options, vision guidance, very high cycle rates.

2. Case packing and palletizing

• Best choices: FANUC M-series, ABB IRB heavy handling, KUKA KR QUANTEC
• Priorities: payload, reach, reliability over millions of cycles.

3. Small boxes, electronics, cosmetics, medical products

• Best choices: ABB IRB 1200, FANUC LR Mate, SCARA robots
• Priorities: precision, compact footprint, easy integration with cameras.

4. Flexible packaging lines with frequent changeovers

• Best choices: ABB, FANUC, or collaborative robots
• Priorities: quick programming, vision systems, easier redeployment.

Key specifications to size the robot correctly

• Payload: include the gripper + product, not just the product weight.
• Cycle time: determine required picks/minute.
• Reach: make sure the arm can cover conveyor-to-box positions without awkward mounting.
• End effector: vacuum cups, parallel grippers, servo grippers, or custom tooling often determine success more than the robot itself.
• Vision: useful for random orientation picking, mixed products, and quality checks.

A common high-performance packaging setup is:

• Delta robot + vision system → fastest small-product picking
• 6-axis articulated robot + gripper → cartons, cases, palletizing
• Collaborative robot → lower-volume lines needing human interaction

If you share the product type, weight, pick rate (pieces/minute), and packaging operation (bagging, cartoning, case packing, palletizing, etc.), I can narrow it to specific robot models.

For pick-and-place packaging tasks, the "best" industrial robot arm depends heavily on your line speed, payload weight , and whether you are doing primary packaging (handling bare food, blisters, or sachets) or secondary packaging (case packing, boxing, or kitting).

The three primary kinematics utilized for packaging—Delta, SCARA , and 6-Axis Articulated —are led by top-tier models and manufacturers suited for these specific operational demands.

1. High-Speed Primary Packaging (Delta / Parallel Robots)

Best for lightweight items (under 1-8 kg) moving on fast conveyors that require extreme cycle rates (80 to 150+ picks per minute).

• ABB IRB 360 FlexPicker Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Widely considered the gold standard for high-speed sorting and packaging . It is available in multiple payload variants (1 kg to 8 kg) and reaches up to 1600 mm . It features exceptional trajectory accuracy and washdown/IP69K options for food and pharma.
• FANUC M-3iA / M-1iA Series Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Renowned for high-speed flexibility , FANUC's spider-style parallel robots feature integrated iRVision capabilities to track, orient, and pick randomly arranged products straight off a moving belt with high precision.
• Schneider Electric Lexium Delta (PacDrive)Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Highly integrated for machine builders (OEMs), providing robust, stainless-steel sanitary kinematics ideal for food, cosmetics, and beverage handling.

2. Horizontal & Precise Pick-and-Place (SCARA Robots)

Best for moderate-to-high speeds (60-120 picks/min) requiring precise vertical insertion, stacking, or flat-plane transfer where payloads are slightly heavier or reach needs a rigid Z-axis.

Offers a compact footprint, high-speed 4-axis performance , and great vertical reach capabilities. Perfect for loading cartons, blister packs, and consumer goods.

Known for extreme reliability, vibration-reduction tech, and cost-effective integration into tight cell layouts for sorting and tray-packing.

Delivers rapid cycle times and high repeatability for high-paced repetitive sorting and secondary arrangement lines.

3. Flexible Secondary Packaging & Case Packing (6-Axis Articulated Robots)

Best for complex angles, multi-orientation packing, heavier payloads (10-25 kg+), or when the arm needs to reach around machinery fixtures.

Specifically optimized for rapid cycle times in handling boxes, pouches, and end-of-line case packing.

Compact, highly versatile 6-axis arms that can tilt and rotate products into awkward carton geometries that 4-axis systems cannot manage.

Ideal if your packaging line has high-mix SKUs or requires human-robot collaboration (cobots) working side-by-side without heavy safety caging.

To help narrow down the ideal arm for your facility, could you share:

• What is the weight and type of the product (e.g., 500 g pouch, 5 kg cardboard box)?
• What is your target line speed (picks per minute)?

For pick-and-place packaging, the best robot depends mainly on speed, payload, reach, product geometry, and hygiene requirements. In general, I’d shortlist these:

My top choices

1. KUKA KR DELTA — best for high-speed packaging
If you're picking individual products from a conveyor and placing them into trays, cartons, or packages, a delta robot is usually the first architecture I'd consider. KUKA's KR DELTA is specifically designed for pick-and-place and packaging, with payloads up to 6 kg, cycle times down to about 0.32 seconds, and options designed for food/pharmaceutical hygiene.

2. ABB IRB 2600 — best for heavier/general-purpose packaging
For cases, boxes, bags, or products requiring more reach and payload, the articulated IRB 2600 is a strong choice. It offers up to 20 kg payload and 1.85 m reach, with configurations suitable for material handling and machine tending. ABB also uses IRB 1300/2600 robots in its parcel-picking systems.

3. FANUC M-20 series — strong all-around industrial option
FANUC's M-20 family is well suited to medium-payload material handling. For example, the M-20iA/12L has a 12 kg payload and 2.009 m reach and was explicitly designed for high-speed pick-and-place. Note that this particular model is now a legacy product, so I'd look at FANUC's current M-20 variants when specifying a new cell.

4. KUKA KR SCARA — excellent middle ground
If the products don't require the orientation flexibility of a 6-axis arm, SCARA can be extremely efficient. KUKA lists its KR SCARA family for sorting, loading and packaging, with payloads from 6–60 kg and reach up to 1.2 m.

Quick rule of thumb

• Small/light products + maximum throughput: Delta
• Carton/tray loading: SCARA
• Boxes/cases or varied orientations: 6-axis
• Heavy products: 6-axis
• Frequent SKU changes / lower throughput: Cobot
• Food/pharma: prioritize a washdown/hygienic-rated model, especially delta robots designed for those environments.

For a new packaging line, I'd generally start by comparing KUKA KR DELTA, ABB's delta/SCARA offerings, FANUC's delta robots, and Yaskawa Motoman delta/SCARA models, then select based on the actual cycle-time and payload calculation rather than brand alone. Delta and SCARA robots are particularly well suited to moving products on conveyors; research comparing industrial pick-and-place systems also identifies delta and SCARA as dominant architectures for high-speed conveyor picking.

If you give me product weight, dimensions, required picks/minute, conveyor speed, and whether it's food/pharma, I can narrow this to 3–5 specific robot models and compare their payload, reach, cycle time, and approximate cell requirements.

Choosing the best industrial robot arm for pick-and-place packaging depends heavily on your line speed, payload weight , and product fragility . Packaging tasks typically require distinct kinematic designs—primarily Delta (parallel), SCARA , and 6-axis articulated arms.

Top-tier industrial robot arms and series categorized by their packaging strengths include:

1. High-Speed Delta Robots (Best for lightweight, high-throughput primary/secondary packaging)

Add to list The industry benchmark for high-speed picking and packing. It excels in handling food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods with unmatched acceleration and cycle times, often paired with ABB's vision software.

Add to list Designed for ultra-high-speed picking and packaging. It features a 3-axis or 4-axis design with food-grade (IP67) washdown options, making it ideal for delicate or sanitary product handling on fast-moving conveyors.

Add to list Utilizes a unique four-arm parallel design that provides exceptional rigidity, wider ranges of motion, and high precision for heavy-duty sorting and high-speed packaging lines.

2. SCARA Robots (Best for horizontal assembly, tray loading, and carton packing)

Add to list Renowned for ultra-short cycle times and high repeatability (± 0.01 mm). Their fully encapsulated, hygienic designs are heavily favored in sensitive food, medical, and cleanroom packaging environments.

Add to list Offers compact footprints, exceptional speed, and seamless integration with vision tools (like iRPickTool) for grouping, sorting, and placing products into blister packs or cartons.

3. Articulated 6-Axis & Small Industrial Arms (Best for complex orientations, flexibility, and end-of-line case packing)

KUKA KR AGILUS Series : Small, highly agile 6-axis robots built for tight spaces. Perfect if your pick-and-place task requires complex angular approaches, tilted placements, or multi-orientation packing.

Add to listFANUC LR Mate Series (e.g., LR Mate 200iD Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : A compact, versatile mini-articulated arm capable of high cycles per minute (up to 85 CPM) with food-grade variants, great for secondary packaging cells.

Add to listYaskawa Motoman GP Series (e.g., GP12 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : Six-axis general-purpose industrial arms that handle heavier payloads (like multi-layer cartons or bagged goods) while maintaining fast transition speeds and gentle handling.

To help narrow down the ideal arm for your line, could you share:

• What is the product type and weight (e.g., loose pouches, boxed goods, delicate food)?
• What is your target throughput (picks per minute)?

When selecting an industrial robot arm for pick-and-place packaging tasks , the ideal choice depends heavily on your line speed (picks per minute), payload weight , and workspace geometry . Rather than a single "best" model, the packaging industry categorizes the top solutions by kinematic design: Delta (parallel) robots, SCARA robots , and 6-axis articulated arms.

Watch how high-speed industrial delta and SCARA robots operate on automated packaging lines to handle delicate products with extreme precision:

3:02 Step Into the World of Robotics in Packaging 17 days ago YouTube · Packaging World

1. High-Speed Primary Packaging: Delta Robots

Delta robots (spider-style parallel kinematics) are the undisputed speed champions for lightweight, high-volume pick-and-place packaging. Because their heavy motors are mounted to a fixed overhead frame rather than on the moving joints, they achieve massive acceleration and cycle times under 0.3 seconds. They are ideal for picking items off a moving conveyor and placing them into cartons, blisters, or flow-wraps.

• ABB FlexPicker (IRB 360 series): Widely considered an industry standard, it offers exceptional speed (up to 150+ picks per minute) with payloads ranging from 1 kg to 8 kg, featuring washdown-safe variants for food and pharma.
• FANUC DR-3iB & SR/M-iA series: FANUC provides high-speed delta options with IP69K food-grade ratings, excellent vision integration (iRPick), and clean designs that minimize contamination risks.
• Omron Quattro (EX-4 series): Features a patented four-arm parallel design rather than three, providing superior rigidity, a wider work envelope, and high payload stability at blistering speeds.
• Stäubli TS2 / TP / Fast Picker line: Known for ultra-clean, encapsulated hygienic designs well-suited for primary food and sterile pharmaceutical packaging.

2. Secondary Packaging & Cartoning: SCARA Robots

SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) robots trade away a fraction of the Delta's raw speed for a rigid vertical axis (Z-axis) insertion capability, making them exceptional at pressing or sliding items tightly into boxes, trays, or cartons.

• Epson LS and RS series: Highly reliable with fast cycle times, offering great reach-to-footprint ratios for assembly and case-packing cells.
• Stäubli TS2 SCARA series: Features a hygienic, modular design with repeatability down to ± 0.01 mm, excellent for electronics and sensitive consumer goods packaging.
• YamahaYK-XE series: Provides cost-effective, high-speed horizontal articulation ideal for mid-range bin-picking and packaging integration.

3. End-of-Line / Heavy-Duty Packaging: 6-Axis Articulated Robots

When pick-and-place tasks involve heavier boxes, awkward orientations, deep-reach case packing, or full-layer palletizing, standard parallel or SCARA arms run out of bounds. Full 6-axis articulated arms replicate human motion freedom to handle complex path trajectories.

• FANUC M-410 / R-1000 series: Purpose-built for high-speed palletizing and heavy case handling, capable of integrating custom multi-zone vacuum grippers for mixed-format packaging.
• Yaskawa Motoman GP series (e.g., GP12): Features compact, six-axis movement that slips smoothly into tight packaging lines for gentle part transfer and diverse product compatibility.
• KUKA KR Quantec / Cybertech packaging variants: Highly flexible for complex end-of-line sorting, heavy stacking, and multi-robot coordinated systems controlled via specialized packaging suites like KUKA.PickControl.

Selection Quick-Guide

• Choose a Delta Robot if you are moving lightweight items (< 3 kg) like chocolates, sachets, or medical devices at 100+ picks/minute.
• Choose a SCARA Robot if you need controlled vertical insertion into tight carton slots at moderate speeds (60--120 ppm).
• Choose a 6-Axis Articulated Robot if you are handling bulk cases, heavy payloads (> 10 kg), or need angled maneuvering for end-of-line case packing.

To help narrow down the exact model, tell me:

• What is the weight and type of product you are packing (e.g., loose pouches, rigid bottles, heavy boxes)?
• What is your target throughput (picks per minute)?

For pick-and-place packaging tasks, the “best” industrial robot arm depends mainly on speed, payload, product type, hygiene requirements, and whether the motion is fixed or vision-guided. In packaging, the strongest choices usually fall into a few categories:

Strong industrial robot choices

1. FANUC — excellent all-around packaging choice

• Strong reputation for reliability and high-volume manufacturing.
• Good fit for case packing, palletizing, and vision-guided picking.
• Common where uptime and service availability matter.

2. ABB — strong for packaging automation

• Particularly good when you need integrated packaging software, conveyor tracking, and vision systems.
• The IRB 360 FlexPicker line is designed specifically for high-speed pick-and-place applications.

3. KUKA — strong for fast handling and hygienic applications

• Delta robots such as the KR DELTA are designed for rapid pick-and-place in industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics.
• Also offers articulated robots for packing and handling tasks.

4. Yaskawa Electric — good for material handling

• Common in industrial automation cells requiring dependable motion control and handling performance.

Quick selection guide

• Small items, hundreds of picks per minute: choose a delta robot
  → ABB IRB 360, KUKA KR DELTA, FANUC delta families

• Boxes/cartons/bags requiring orientation changes: choose a 6-axis articulated robot
  → FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa

• Heavy cases or palletizing: choose a larger articulated robot with higher payload

• Changing products frequently: consider a cobot or vision-guided articulated robot

Key specifications to compare:

• Payload: product + gripper + safety margin
• Reach: distance across the cell
• Cycle time: picks per minute
• Repeatability: often more important than absolute accuracy
• IP rating / washdown requirements: important for food and pharma
• Vision integration: essential for randomly oriented products

For a typical high-speed packaging line, a delta robot is usually the first choice, while a 6-axis arm is usually better when flexibility matters more than raw speed.

Selecting the best industrial robot arm for pick-and-place packaging depends heavily on payload, line speed (picks per minute) , and whether you are doing primary packaging (handling raw/unwrapped food or loose items) or secondary packaging (placing items into boxes, cartons, or trays).

The industry breaks down packaging robot arms into three dominant kinematic styles, each led by top-tier manufacturers:

1. Delta (Parallel) Robots — The Speed Champions

Best for: High-speed primary and secondary pick-and-place of lightweight items (confectionery, pharma, cosmetics, loose foods).

• How they work: Motors are fixed overhead on a rigid frame, moving ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber or composite parallel arms. This eliminates moving inertia, allowing for blistering speeds (often 100 to 300+ picks per minute).
• Top Models & Brands:
  • ABB IRB 360 FlexPicker Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: The industry benchmark for high-speed conveyor tracking and picking, with payloads up to 8 kg and exceptional precision.
  • FANUC DR-3iB / M-1iA Series Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Highly agile, food-grade compliant (IP69K washdown options), and optimized for vision-guided random picking.
  • Omron Quattro (parallel 4-arm robot)Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Utilizes a patented four-arm design that provides superior stability and payload capacity at high acceleration across the entire work envelope.
  • KUKA KR DELTA Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: A corrosion-resistant stainless-steel design built specifically for strict hygiene in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

2. SCARA Robots — Precision & Horizontal Footprint

Best for: Fast horizontal transfer, tray loading, stacking, and cartoning where items require precise rotational alignment.

• How they work: Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm. They feature rigid vertical shafts that offer high repeatability (± 0.01 mm to ± 0.02 mm) in a planar workspace, making them faster than 6-axis arms but structurally rigid for insertion tasks.
• Top Models & Brands:
  • [Stäubli TS2 SCARA Range Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.staubli.com/us/en/robotics/applications/picking-packaging-robot.html): Features a completely encapsulated hygienic design with ultra-short cycle times, ideal for sensitive food or cleanroom packaging.
  • Epson LS/RS Series SCARA Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Known for low vibration, high reliability, and cost-effective high-speed parts placement.
  • Yaskawa Motoman SG Series Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Built for fast pouch, bottle, and small-case handling with high vertical stroke availability.

3. Articulated (6-Axis) Robots — Maximum Flexibility & Mid-Line Versatility

Best for: Complex multi-angle picking, bin-picking via 3D vision, case packing, and end-of-line orientation.

• How they work: Replicating human arm flexibility, 6-axis arms can approach packages from awkward angles, tilt products, and handle heavier boxes.
• Top Models & Brands:
  • FANUC M-20iD Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / LR Mate Series: Highly durable, compact, fully enclosed units built to withstand washdown or harsh factory conditions during pick-and-pack operations.
  • Stäubli TX2 Series Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: High-performance 6-axis articulated arms available in humid/wet environment (HE) and cleanroom specifications.
  • [Universal Robots UR20 / UR10e (Cobots)Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.universal-robots.com/): If your line requires working side-by-side with humans or rapid changeovers without heavy safety caging, these collaborative arms excel at secondary kitting and box packing.

To help narrow down the ideal arm, could you share:

• Are you handling primary packaging (unwrapped items/food) or secondary packaging (boxed/cartoned goods)?
• What is the weight (payload) of a single item and your target picks per minute?

For pick-and-place packaging tasks, the “best” industrial robot arm depends mainly on speed, payload, product type, hygiene requirements, and whether items are consistently presented or randomly oriented. The top choices are usually delta robots for high-speed picking and 4–6 axis articulated robots for heavier or more flexible packaging work.

Best robot types for packaging pick-and-place

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Top industrial robot choices

1. ABB IRB 360 FlexPicker — Best for high-speed pick-and-place

Best fit: food, consumer goods, sorting, tray loading

• Delta robot design optimized for packaging
• Payload options roughly 1–8 kg
• Very high cycle rates
• Works well with conveyor tracking and vision systems

ABB specifically positions the IRB 360 FlexPicker for high-speed picking and packing applications.

Choose it when: you need hundreds of picks per minute and products are lightweight.

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2. FANUC Delta robots (such as DR-3iB series) — Best for fast food packaging

Best fit: primary food packaging, sorting, small containers

Advantages:

• Excellent speed
• Strong vision integration ecosystem
• Good reliability in continuous production

FANUC is widely used in packaging automation, especially where vision-guided picking is required.

Choose it when: uptime and throughput matter more than flexibility.

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3. KUKA KR DELTA — Best hygienic high-speed packaging option

Best fit: food, pharmaceuticals, electronics

Advantages:

• Designed specifically for pick-and-place
• Hygienic variants available
• Payloads up to about 6 kg
• Very fast cycle capability

KUKA describes its KR DELTA line as designed for high-speed pick-and-place, packaging, and hygienic applications.

Choose it when: you need sanitary operation or washdown-friendly equipment.

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4. Yaskawa Electric Motoman robots — Best general-purpose packaging workhorse

Best fit: cartons, cases, palletizing, machine tending

Advantages:

• Reliable industrial platform
• Broad payload range
• Good for integrators already using Yaskawa controllers

Choose it when: you need a versatile robot that can handle more than one packaging operation.

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5. KUKA KR 40 PA / palletizing robots — Best for heavier packages

Best fit: boxes, sacks, cases

The KR 40 PA is designed for palletizing and can handle loads up to about 40 kg with long reach and high cycle performance.

Choose it when: your “pick-and-place” includes stacking cartons or palletizing.

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Quick recommendations by application

• Chocolate, snacks, baked goods, small boxes:
  → ABB IRB 360, FANUC delta, KUKA KR DELTA

• Bottles and containers:
  → Delta or SCARA robot + vision system

• Carton loading:
  → FANUC, Yaskawa, ABB 6-axis

• Bag/case palletizing:
  → KUKA KR PA series, ABB IRB 660, Yaskawa palletizers

• Flexible small-batch packaging:
  → Collaborative robots such as Universal Robots models can work well when speed requirements are moderate.

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What I would specify first

For a typical packaging line:

• >60 picks/min, products <5 kg: choose a delta robot
• Mixed products or complex orientations: choose a 6-axis articulated robot with vision
• Boxes >10–20 kg: choose a palletizing robot
• Human operators nearby and frequent changeovers: consider a cobot

If you share the product type, weight, pick rate (pieces/min), packaging format (bags/cartons/trays), and whether vision is needed, I can narrow this to specific robot models and payload/reach ranges.