Robots and cobots come in all shapes and sizes. Like shopping for a vehicle, the needs of an operation determine whether a company purchases a system that runs like a sports car, SUV, minivan or pickup truck.

“If your operation requires high-speed, high-volume repetitive processes where safety, precision and efficiency are high priorities, then industrial robots could offer an independent solution that supports high throughput,” observed Wes Bryant, product group leader for AMF Workhorse, an AMF Bakery Systems brand. “If you are looking for support with more flexible, human-assisted tasks, then cobots are ideal for use in tray and pan loading, case packing and quality inspection.”

The amount of speed needed is one of several factors.

“While cobots generally operate at slower speeds — about seven cycles per minute — this can be sufficient for many bakeries, especially when handling lighter boxes,” explained Marcus Kurle, cofounder of AAA20 Group. “For instance, if a cobot picks up six boxes per cycle, it effectively handles 42 boxes per minute. In contrast, dedicated industrial robots are tailored for environments like beverage companies where operations demand much higher speeds. For bakeries, where the pace is usually less intense, cobots often provide the necessary efficiency without the extra cost and complexity of faster, industrial systems.”

Stephane Vieira, bakery systems sales, Niverplast, mentioned that flexibility, cost, space and safety are additional factors.

“Collaborative robots are flexible and easily reprogrammable, suitable for diverse products and frequent SKU changes. Traditional robots excel in high-volume, repetitive tasks,” he said. “Collaborative robots have a lower initial cost but again may not be suitable for all applications. Traditional robots may have a higher initial cost but offer efficiency gains in high-volume production.”

He added cobots purportedly have a smaller footprint and can work safely alongside people while high-speed robotics require more space, safety barriers and dedicated areas.

Collaborative robots also have lower payloads than industrial robots, Jamie Bobyk, marketing manager, Apex Motion Control. Cobots have a payload range of 20 to 40 lbs while robotics are better for heavier tasks. Still, he recommended bakeries conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for cobots because workers could still come into contact with a 40-lb box in motion.

Stacking heights are another consideration. Bobyk said collaborative arms generally have a reach of 80 to 85 inches in height, but in some cases up to 96 inches with an extended column.

“With a collaborative robot you will need to consider using stationary floor mounts when using long reaches,” he advised. “Once your required stack height or reach goes beyond that maximum, it may be difficult for a collaborative robot to meet your needs. In that kind of case, an industrial palletizer would likely be the better choice.”

Hunter Schultheis, North Central sales manager, BluePrint Automation, mentioned that industrial systems are built to run at high speeds with minimal interruptions, maximizing production throughput.

They’re also designed for reliability and longer uptime, which is critical in continuous operation or high-demand environments.

“Industrial robots operate with limited human interaction, reducing labor costs and potential human error,” he said.

He added that high-speed robotics operate in isolated cells or with protective guarding, which may cost more initially, but can reduce safety incidents while ensuring consistent performance.

This article is an excerpt from the April 2025 issue of Baking & Snack. To read the entire feature on Robotics, click here.