The five large robot makers all sell dedicated palletizing arms, mostly with four axes: FANUC M-410 (110–800 kg payload), ABB IRB 460, 660 and 760 (110–450 kg), KUKA KR PA (40–700 kg), Yaskawa MPL (80–800 kg) and Kawasaki CP (180–700 kg), with reach of about 2.0–3.3 m. For fast case palletizing the 110–180 kg class is quickest: FANUC rates the M-410iC/110 at 2,200 cycles per hour, ABB the IRB 460 at 2,190 at 60 kg, and Kawasaki the CP180L at 2,050 at 130 kg or less. Heavier models handle full layers, bags and multi-case grippers but cycle slower. None of the makers publishes a price; you buy a palletizer as a cell from the maker or an integrator.
Palletizing robots by payload, reach and rated speed
| Model | Axes | Payload | Reach | Maker-stated throughput (condition) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FANUC M-410iC/110 | 4 | 110 kg | 2,403 mm | 2,200 cycles/h (condition not stated) |
| FANUC M-410iB/140H | 5 | 140 kg | 2,850 mm | Up to 1,900 cycles/h (condition not stated) |
| FANUC M-410iC/185 | 4 | 185 kg | 3,143 mm | Not published |
| FANUC M-410iC/315 | 4 | 315 kg | 3,143 mm | Not published |
| FANUC M-410iC/500 | 4 | 500 kg | 3,143 mm | Not published |
| FANUC M-410iB/700 | 4 | 700 kg | 3,143 mm | Not published |
| FANUC M-410/800F-32C | 4 | 800 kg | 3,203 mm | Not published |
| ABB IRB 460 | 4 | 110 kg | 2,400 mm | 2,190 cycles/h at 60 kg; 2,040 at 110 kg (ABB benchmark cycle) |
| ABB IRB 660-180/3.15 | 4 | 180 kg | 3,150 mm | 1,570 cycles/h (condition not stated) |
| ABB IRB 660-250/3.15 | 4 | 250 kg | 3,150 mm | 1,360 cycles/h (condition not stated) |
| ABB IRB 760-450/3.2 | 4 | 450 kg | 3,180 mm | 880 cycles/h at full load (400/2,000/400 mm cycle) |
| KUKA KR 40 PA | 4 | 40 kg | 2,091 mm | Up to 56 cycles/min (condition not stated) |
| KUKA KR 140/180/240 R3200-2 PA | KUKA states 4 and 5 on one page | 140 / 180 / 240 kg | 3,195 mm | Not published |
| KUKA KR 470-2 PA | 4 | 470 kg | 3,150 mm | Not published |
| KUKA KR 700 PA | Not published | 700 kg | 3,320 mm | 17 cycles/min at 700 kg |
| Yaskawa MPL80 II | 5 | 80 kg | 2,061 mm | Not published |
| Yaskawa MPL160-100II | 4 | 100 kg | 3,159 mm | Over 1,800 cycles/h (condition not stated) |
| Yaskawa MPL160II | 4 | 160 kg | 3,159 mm | Not published |
| Yaskawa MPL300II | 4 | 300 kg | 3,159 mm | Not published |
| Yaskawa MPL500II | 4 | 500 kg | 3,159 mm | Not published |
| Yaskawa MPL800II | 4 | 800 kg | 3,159 mm | Not published |
| Kawasaki CP180L | 4 | 180 kg | 3,255 mm | 2,050 cycles/h at ≤130 kg (400/2,000/400 mm cycle) |
| Kawasaki CP300L | 4 | 300 kg | 3,255 mm | 1,700 cycles/h at ≤250 kg (same cycle) |
| Kawasaki CP500L | 4 | 500 kg | 3,255 mm | 1,000 cycles/h (same cycle) |
| Kawasaki CP700L | 4 | 700 kg | 3,255 mm | 900 cycles/h at 700 kg (same cycle) |
Throughput figures are the makers’ own ratings for one robot, not output you should expect from a whole line. Only ABB’s IRB 760 and Kawasaki’s CP series name the test motion (lift 400 mm, move 2,000 mm across, lower 400 mm and return), so compare them with each other but not with ratings that give no condition. KUKA rates in cycles per minute: 17 per minute equals 1,020 per hour, and 56 per minute equals 3,360. Repeatability is ±0.05 mm on the FANUC M-410iC models and ±0.5 mm on Yaskawa MPL and Kawasaki CP.
FANUC’s Japanese site also lists newer M-410 models on the R-50iA controller (110F, 140F, 185F, 315F, 500F and 800F) alongside the R-30iB Plus versions above. KUKA’s KR QUANTEC PA page lists only the R3200-2 generation; older non-“-2” models no longer appear there.
Which size fits your load
- Single cases up to about 30 kg at high speed: the 100–180 kg class (FANUC M-410iC/110, ABB IRB 460, Yaskawa MPL160-100II, Kawasaki CP180L). Payload must include the gripper’s weight.
- Several cases per pick, bags or heavier cases: 250–315 kg (ABB IRB 660-250, FANUC M-410iC/315, Yaskawa MPL300II, Kawasaki CP300L).
- Full layers or very heavy products: 450–800 kg (ABB IRB 760, FANUC M-410iC/500 to 800F, KUKA KR 470-2 PA and KR 700 PA, Yaskawa MPL500II/800II, Kawasaki CP500L/700L).
- Light loads in a small footprint: KUKA KR 40 PA or a cobot. Our cobot palletizer comparison covers UR20/UR30, FANUC CRX-30iA and Yaskawa HC30PL, which can run without full fencing after a risk assessment.
Palletizing software from each maker
- FANUC: PalletTool for building patterns on the teach pendant, and PalletPRO for simulating a full cell in ROBOGUIDE.
- KUKA: KUKA.PalletTech for single-product palletizing with configurable stacking patterns, and KUKA.FlexPal.
- Yaskawa: PalletSolver for mixed product types and common gripper styles.
- Kawasaki: K-SPARC for planning and simulating layouts on a PC.
- ABB: its current palletizing template targets cobot palletizers; for the IRB 460–760, ask ABB or the integrator which pattern software is included.
What a palletizing cell costs
The makers don’t publish prices, and integrators quote per project. The published ranges come from two cobot vendors’ guides, not from independent surveys: Robotiq (updated 2024) puts a robotic palletizer at about $50,000 to $300,000 and up, and Standard Bots (2026) puts full industrial systems at about $175,000 to $500,000 and up, without itemizing what that includes. Use them as rough brackets only.
A quote is easier to compare when you split it into layers: the robot and controller; the end-of-arm tool; infeed conveyors, pallet and slip-sheet dispensers and pallet outfeed; guarding (fences or safety scanners); software and integration; and yearly service. For what bare arms cost, see our industrial robot arm cost guide and FANUC robot price list.
What to put in a palletizer quote request
- Product range: case dimensions and weights (smallest and largest), bags or trays, and how many SKUs and pallet patterns
- Required rate in cases or bags per minute, both peak and sustained, and the number of lines and pallet stations
- Gripper type (vacuum, clamp, fork or bag gripper) and its weight, so payload with tool is checked
- Pallet size and maximum stack height, slip sheets or tier sheets, and stretch wrapping
- Guarding concept and the safety standards the cell is built to
- Pattern software included, and who can add new patterns without the integrator
- Who owns integration, commissioning, training, warranty and service, and response times
For the wider lineups behind these palletizers, see our FANUC vs ABB vs KUKA vs Yaskawa comparison and the ABB IRB lineup.
FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa and Kawasaki product pages checked October 24, 2026.