Robot, cobot or conventional palletizer? Find out with 5 data points
Enter your piece weight, your speed, your shifts, your lines and your floor space. The recommendation comes from the three comparisons on this site, and each rule carries its source.
The fit for your line
Industrial robot
- Your piece is over the 35 kg per pick published for a cobot palletizer (Robotiq). An industrial robot carries 100 kg to hundreds of kilos per pick.
- Your piece weighs more than 25 kg: from there the comparison recommends an industrial robot, even though a cobot is published at about 35 kg per pick (Robotiq).
- At that weight, manual handling goes past the limit in NOM-036, Mexico's federal standard on manual handling: 25 kg for men and 20 kg for women, ages 18 to 45.
- Your speed is over the 13 cycles per minute published for a cobot, which is 13 pieces per minute if it picks one at a time. Above that, an industrial robot is the better fit.
- Your speed is over the 60 cases per minute the comparisons give for a robot, depending on its tool. At that speed the cell picks several cases per trip or is split across more than one robot: ask for the committed speed in writing.
- You run 3 shifts: on 3 shifts the comparison recommends an industrial robot.
- You want several lines feeding one cell: the robot handles them within its reach, and a conventional layer palletizer struggles because it needs conveying and merging.
- You run several products or patterns: on a robot the changeover is by program, in minutes.
- Your speed falls in the published range of a conventional layer palletizer (80 to 200 cases per minute on a single case type; Seraphim Vietnam, January 2026). That machine calls for one or two products that never change and floor space to spare; with several products, several lines or little floor space, the comparison leans toward the robot. The speed of a robot depends on the tool: ask for that figure in the quote.
- You have little floor space, or the line may move or grow: the robot cell is compact.
- With very little floor space, ask for the cell layout before you decide: the robot works in a fixed cell, with fence and light curtains. The comparisons describe floor space in words, without a figure in meters.
It is the machine Target Robotics builds, with FANUC robots.
Request a palletizer quoteCobot palletizer
- Your piece and your speed fit what is published for a cobot palletizer: about 35 kg per pick (Robotiq) and 8 to 13 cycles per minute, which is up to 13 pieces per minute if it picks one at a time.
- Below 10 pieces per minute on one shift, a cobot may be the most sensible first automation.
- On 1 or 2 shifts, with a light piece and moderate volume, is where the comparison places the cobot.
- Your speed is close to the ceiling of 13 cycles per minute: if the line is going to grow, compare the industrial robot too.
- With very little floor space, the cobot is the one that asks for the least floor, and it can move between lines.
- Safeguards depend on the risk assessment: heavy cases or high paths almost always call for scanners or safeguards, and the speed drops when people are nearby.
Full disclosure: Target Robotics builds palletizers with industrial robots. For this line, the rules point to a cobot.
Conventional layer palletizer
- Your speed falls in the published range of a conventional layer palletizer: 80 to 200 cases per minute on a single case type; Seraphim Vietnam, January 2026.
- You run one or two products that never change: on that machine, a product changeover takes mechanical adjustments.
- You have floor space to spare: it is the machine that takes up the most floor space, and it is fixed. Also line up a team for its mechanical maintenance.
Full disclosure: Target Robotics builds robotic palletizers. For this line, the rules point to a different machine.
For now, by hand or with a mechanical assist
- On one shift and below 8 pieces per minute, the robot vs conventional comparison warns that neither may make sense yet.
- Your pieces weigh under 15 kg: if the station is already ergonomic, staying manual is reasonable.
- Check who does the stacking: for manual handling, NOM-036, Mexico's federal standard, sets 25 kg for men and 20 kg for women, ages 18 to 45.
- Your piece is over the manual handling limit in NOM-036, Mexico's federal standard: at this volume, start with a mechanical assist, such as a vacuum lifter, and run the payback numbers before you ask for a price.
- Before automating, you can improve a lot with a lift table, a tilter or a vacuum lifter.
- If you want to automate now, below 10 pieces per minute on one shift a cobot may be the most sensible first automation.
Your speed is beyond the published ranges
It is over 200 pieces per minute, where the published range of a conventional layer palletizer ends (80 to 200 cases per minute on a single case type; Seraphim Vietnam, January 2026). The comparisons lack figures for a speed like that: have a manufacturer review your case with the data from your line.
Missing data: enter the weight per piece and the pieces per minute.
Which rules does this tool use to decide?
The ones in the three comparisons on this site. Each threshold carries the source it has there.
A cobot palletizer is published at about 35 kg per pick and up to 13 cycles per minute (Robotiq and other published figures, checked November 3, 2026). Above that, with pieces over 25 kg, on 3 shifts or with several lines feeding one cell, the comparisons recommend an industrial robot. A conventional layer palletizer runs 80 to 200 cases per minute on a single case type (Seraphim Vietnam, January 2026) and calls for one or two products that never change and floor space to spare.
| Data point | Rule | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Weight per piece | A cobot palletizer carries about 35 kg per pick; an industrial robot, 100 kg to hundreds of kilos. | Cobot vs industrial robot: Robotiq, published figures checked November 3, 2026. |
| Weight per piece | Above 25 kg per piece, an industrial robot is the better fit. | Cobot vs industrial robot: criterion of the comparison. |
| Weight per piece | By hand, 25 kg for men and 20 kg for women, ages 18 to 45. Under 15 kg and with an ergonomic station, you can stay manual. | Manual vs robot: NOM-036 and criterion of the comparison. |
| Pieces per minute | A cobot runs 8 to 13 cycles per minute, which is up to 13 pieces if it picks one at a time. | Cobot vs industrial robot: published figures checked November 3, 2026. |
| Pieces per minute | By hand, people stack 8 to 10 cases per minute, and 5 to 6 between hours 6 and 8 of the shift. | Manual vs robot: Seraphim Vietnam, 2026. |
| Pieces per minute | A conventional layer palletizer runs 80 to 200 cases per minute on a single case type. | Robot vs conventional: Seraphim Vietnam, January 2026. |
| Pieces per minute | The speed of an industrial robot depends on the tool: the comparisons give it up to 60 cases per minute. Above that the recommendation is still a robot, with a note to ask for the committed speed in writing. This tool decides with the published limits of the other machines. | Robot vs conventional and cobot vs industrial robot. |
| Pieces per minute and shifts | Below 8 pieces per minute on one shift, neither the robot nor the conventional machine may make sense: the recommendation is to stay manual or use a mechanical assist, whatever the weight. Below 10 on one shift, with pieces of up to 25 kg, a cobot may be the first automation. | Robot vs conventional and cobot vs industrial robot: criterion of the comparisons. |
| Shifts | Cobot: 1 or 2 shifts. Industrial robot: 2 or 3 shifts, and on 3 shifts the robot is the better fit. | Cobot vs industrial robot: criterion of the comparison. |
| Lines or product formats | One or two products that never change: conventional. Product changeovers or several lines feeding one cell: robot. | Robot vs conventional: criterion of the comparison. |
| Floor space | In words, with no figure in meters. Cobot: very little floor space. Robot: compact cell. Conventional layer palletizer: the largest floor space, and fixed. | Cobot vs industrial robot and robot vs conventional. |
Rules and figures from the comparisons of cobot vs industrial robot, robot vs conventional palletizer and manual vs robotic palletizing, with the source each one cites. Where it says criterion of the comparison, the rule comes from Target Robotics. It serves as guidance; the machine is defined with the data from your line.
Questions about robot, cobot and conventional
How do I know whether I need a robot, a cobot or a conventional palletizer?
Where do the rules in this tool come from?
Does Target Robotics build cobots or conventional palletizers?
Does the recommendation replace a quote?
Send your load, speed and shifts. We reply with a version and a price range.
Delivered in 12 weeks. Public price reference: US$120,000 (CSi) to US$550,000 (Kaufman), as of November 3, 2026.
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- 1What you palletize
- 2At what speed
- 3How many lines
- 4Your pallet
- 5How many shifts
- 6Space and city