Our Robotic Pick and Place Highlights
A Universal Robots cobot uses vision to pick loosely arranged parts and place them into a machine, and then picks the finished parts and places in an outfeed bin.
This Universal Robots cobot picks parts and loads them into a drilling machine, and offloads the parts after the process is completed.
For this project, we integrated a Universal Robots UR12e and machine vision to pick metal grommets from a bowl feeder and place them onto another robot’s EOAT for injection molding.
Types of Robotic Pick and Place Applications
Bin Picking
Randomly oriented parts are picked from a bin by a robot. 6-axis articulated robots with 3D vision are most commonly used to locate and grasp parts, and robotic pick and place is often used in electronics, automotive, and assembly lines.
Assembly
The robot moves components into precise positions for assembly. SCARA or 6-axis robots with optional vision are typically used to align parts accurately, and automated pick and place assembly is useful for electronics, consumer goods, and automotive manufacturing
Packaging
For automated packaging, products are picked and placed into cartons, trays, or onto conveyors. Delta, SCARA, or 6-axis robots are selected based on speed and size requirements. This application is common in food, beverage, and consumer goods.
Sorting
The robot identifies and separates parts by type, size, or quality. Vision-guided 6-axis or delta robots are typically used to achieve accurate sorting. Robotic pick and place sorting often increases efficiency in logistics, e-commerce, and manufacturing.
Machine tending
The robot loads and unloads parts from CNC machines, presses, or other equipment for robotic machine tending applications. 6-axis or collaborative robots handle precise placement. Check out our robotic machine tending page to learn more about this specific application:
Palletizing
The robot lifts and arranges products onto pallets in programmed patterns. 6-axis or delta robots are commonly used to position items accurately, and automated palletizing is widely applied in food and beverage, consumer goods, and logistics operations. Check out our robotic palletizing page to learn more:
Electronic packaging pick and place using a cobot
Food grade pick and place on moving conveyors
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Bin picking with randomized part orientation
What are the Benefits of a Pick and Place Robot?
Increased Throughput
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Robots transfer parts quickly between pick and place points, often faster than human operators.
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Cycle times remain consistent throughout each shift without fatigue or slowdown.
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Systems can run continuously with minimal downtime, maximizing total output.
Improved Quality and Consistency
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Automated handling minimizes missed picks and misplaced parts.
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Each placement is consistent, improving downstream assembly or packaging accuracy.​​
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Errors such as over- or under-packing are reduced, helping maintain uniform quality.
Data and Traceability
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Each part handled, cycle time, and output rate can be monitored in real time.
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Quality data helps identify and prevent mispicks or misplacements.
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Performance tracking supports predictive maintenance and uptime planning.
Labor Cost Savings
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Fewer operators are required to manage repetitive pick and place operations.
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Robots can run extended hours without incurring overtime costs.
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Operators can be reassigned to higher-value work such as inspection or process improvement.
Is a Pick and Place Robot Right for You?
Automated pick and place can transform production and handling processes, but it isn’t the right fit for every operation. Whether it’s the speed or complexity of your tasks, or the environment in which your products are handled, understanding the demands of your application is key. Here are the factors that we recommend taking into account as you consider pick and place automation.
Choosing automated pick and place depends on your production volume, task complexity, workflow, and environment. By evaluating these factors, you can determine whether a robot will improve efficiency, reduce errors, and support your operational goals without unnecessary cost or complexity. If you would like to speak to an engineer about whether a pick and place robot would benefit your manufacturing process, let us know and we will schedule a meeting.
Robotic Pick and Place Workflow and Integration
Automated pick and place workflow:
Part is staged → Robot detects part → Grasp part → Transport to target location → Place accurately → Repeat cycle
Part flow and system integration:
Efficient part flow and seamless system integration are critical for maximizing pick and place performance.
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Conveyors and Feed Systems: Robots pick parts from conveyors, trays, or bins and place them onto downstream conveyors, packaging lines, or assembly stations. Coordinated timing ensures smooth, uninterrupted operation.
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Vision and Sensing: Cameras or sensors can identify part location and orientation, verify correct picks, and detect defects, enabling robots to handle randomly oriented or mixed parts reliably.
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Machine and PLC Coordination: Robots communicate with PLCs or plant control systems to synchronize movements with upstream and downstream equipment, such as machines, sorters, or packaging lines. This prevents collisions and bottlenecks while maintaining high throughput.
What are the Main Components of a Robotic Pick and Place Cell?
The main components of a robotic pick and place cell are the robot, the end of arm tooling, vision, and conveyors
Types of Robots
Cartesian Robots for Automated Pick and Place
Strengths: High-speed horizontal motion, precise part placement on flat planes, compact footprint, and excellent for repetitive pick and place tasks in confined spaces.
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Tradeoffs: Motion is limited to linear paths, with restricted vertical reach and payload capacity. Not ideal for handling complex picking applications.
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Best suited for: Applications that require high movement speed, assembly, and small-to-medium parts handling with simple movement paths.​​
Cobots - able to work along humans and good for low-to-medium palletizing with a small footprint.
SCARA Robots for Automated Pick and Place
Strengths: High movement speed and repeatability, compact footprint, 360 degrees horizontal movement.
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Tradeoffs: Limited vertical range of motion, less effective for 3D bin picking or complex part orientations compared to articulated robots.
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Best suited for: High speed pick and place applications with a compact required range of movement, tray loading, assembly, simple packaging, small-to-medium parts handling.​​
Cobots - able to work along humans and good for low-to-medium palletizing with a small footprint.
Cobots for Automated Pick and Place
Strengths: Safe to operate alongside humans, easy to reprogram for multiple tasks, flexible for small or mixed-part lines, and ideal for environments where operators interact with the robot.
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Tradeoffs: Slower speeds and lower payloads than industrial robots; may struggle with very high-volume operations or heavy parts.
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Best suited for: Low-to-medium volume complex pick and place applications, flexible assembly or packaging lines, and processes where human-robot collaboration is required.​​
Cobots - able to work along humans and good for low-to-medium palletizing with a small footprint.
Industrial Robots for Automated Pick and Place
Strengths: High payload capacity, full 3D reach, fast cycle times, and capable of handling complex orientations and large parts.
Tradeoffs: Requires safety guarding in human-accessible areas, less flexible for frequent product changes, and occupies a larger footprint than other robots.
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Best suited for: High-volume pick and place, bin picking, machine tending, and applications involving heavy or irregularly shaped parts that require precise 3D manipulation.​​
Industrial robots - ideal for high-volume and heavy duty palletizing.
End of Arm Tooling
End-of-ar tooling (EOAT) is selected based on part size, shape, weight, fragility, and surface characteristics to ensure reliable handling without damage. The right EOAT allows a robot to perform tasks efficiently across a variety of applications, from assembly to packaging. Common types of EOAT for pick and place applications include:
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Vacuum grippers
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Magnetic grippers
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Finger grippers
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Soft/ adaptive grippers
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Custom/ hybrid (often a mix of multiple types of grippers)
Vision
Vision systems allow pick and place robots to identify and locate parts accurately, even when they are randomly oriented or closely spaced. They also enable inspection tasks, such as detecting defects or verifying part orientation before placement.
Common uses include:
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Bin picking: Locate and orient randomly arranged parts in bins or trays for precise robot handling.
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Sorting mixed SKUs or product types: Identify different part types or sizes on a conveyor and direct them to the correct location.
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Pick and place with conveyors: vision allows for picking of moving parts.
Integration notes: Vision systems are typically mounted above the workspace or on the robot itself and communicate with the robot controller or PLC. Proper lighting, calibration, and software configuration are essential to the accuracy of the vision.
Vision is not required for all robotic pick and place, but when integrated it allows for movement of products with mixed SKUs or varying orientations.
Conveyors
Conveyors provide a reliable way to feed parts to pick and place robots or transport them to downstream processes. They can be simple belt, roller, or modular designs, or can be smart conveyors to enhance the capabilities of the automation cell. The conveyors are often paired with trays, bins, or accumulation systems to ensure a smooth, continuous flow of parts. Conveyors add a critical element to pick and place automation by eliminating bottlenecks, ensuring parts arrive at the robot and are moved downstream efficiently.
