Automate the workthat slowsyour shop down.
Buying guides for collaborative robots, PLCs, sensors, motion control and conveyors, starting with the task, the payload and the cycle time, then the specifications and safety standards that decide fit.
Find equipment by the job
Handle, control, sense, move and protect. Each section starts with the task and the shop.
Understand the specs
Calculate payback and ROI for a robot or automation cell: full project costs, labor and quality savings, throughput gains and the assumptions to test.
Match industrial sensors to the job: photoelectric, inductive and capacitive proximity, ultrasonic and laser distance, with range, output and IP rating checks.
Collaborative robots and industrial robots compared: payload, speed, safety, guarding, programming, footprint and the applications each suits best.
Automation questions, answered
What is a typical payback period?
It varies widely with shifts, labor costs and utilization. Projects running multiple shifts usually pay back faster than single-shift cells.
Read: How to Calculate ROI for an Automation Project →PNP or NPN?
It depends on your PLC inputs. PNP (sourcing) is common in Europe and North America; NPN (sinking) is common in parts of Asia. Match the input card.
Read: Choosing Industrial Sensors →Do cobots need guarding?
Sometimes. A cobot application is only collaborative if the risk assessment shows it is safe, including the tool and the part. Sharp or heavy payloads may still need guarding or scanners.
Read: Cobot vs Industrial Robot →What is the difference between a micro PLC and a modular PLC?
Micro PLCs have fixed or limited I/O for small machines. Modular PLCs add I/O, communication and specialty modules for larger systems.
Read: How to Choose a PLC →Task, payload and safety first
Every comparison uses the published datasheet figures for payload, reach, repeatability and ratings, with the source linked.
Each guide says who the equipment suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The automation equipment index
- 01Robots & cobotsCollaborative robots, industrial arms, SCARA and delta robots, mobile robots and robot selection.1 page
- 02PLCs & controllersProgrammable logic controllers, micro PLCs, HMIs, industrial PCs and communication protocols.1 page
- 03Sensors & visionPhotoelectric, proximity and laser sensors, machine vision cameras, barcode readers and measurement.1 page
- 04Safety & planningSafety scanners, light curtains and relays, risk assessments, ROI calculations and working with integrators.1 page