How to Evaluate a Pick and Place Robot Manufacturer in China: 15-Point Buyer’s Checklist

1. Start With Your Application, Not the Robot

A good manufacturer should first understand the application rather than immediately recommend a robot model. Give the supplier a usable description of the product type, weight, dimensions, surface or material, required production rate, pick and placement positions, conveyor speed, product spacing, orientation, accuracy, repeatability and working environment.

Also describe how many products must be picked per cycle and what equipment feeds or receives them. A delicate pouch, a sealed wet-wipe pack, a carton, an electronic component and a rigid plastic part can require different sensing, gripping, motion and sanitation decisions. If the supplier cannot explain how these conditions affect the design, a model recommendation is premature.

2. Ask for Relevant Application Experience

Do not treat “we have experience with pick-and-place robots” as sufficient evidence. Ask whether the supplier has automated products similar to yours and what was different about the application. Food products, wet-wipe packs, pouches, cartons, electronic components and plastic parts may each change the requirements for contact surfaces, product handling, vision and cleaning.

• Relevant project videos or photographs with a clear application description
• The product type, payload, pick pattern and target cycle rate
• The tooling concept and whether single-pick or multi-pick operation was used
• A representative layout showing conveyor, vision and line interfaces
• What the supplier learned from a similar application and what limitations remained

You do not need confidential customer names. You need enough technical context to distinguish relevant evidence from a generic robot demonstration.

3. Verify Real Cycle Speed — Not Just Maximum Speed

Maximum robot speed is not the same as stable production speed. If a supplier uses an illustrative claim such as 150 picks per minute, ask what that number means before comparing it with another quotation. Is it single-pick or multi-pick? What payload, travel distance, working radius, product spacing and conveyor condition were used? Was vision enabled, and was the figure theoretical or demonstrated?

A complete system cycle rate depends on robot motion, product arrival, vision processing, tooling response, conveyor tracking, placement logic and upstream or downstream synchronization. Acceleration limits, safe spacing and recovery after a missed pick can matter more than a brief peak number.

Ask what speed can be maintained continuously under agreed conditions. Request the test method, sample, payload, motion path, conveyor state and observation period. Treat an unqualified maximum as a question, not a production commitment.

4. Understand Repeatability vs Actual Placement Accuracy

Repeatability describes how consistently a robot returns to the same position. Accuracy describes how close the actual position is to the intended target. A brochure value such as ±0.05 mm repeatability does not automatically mean that the finished system places every real product within ±0.05 mm.

System performance can also depend on calibration, camera accuracy, conveyor tracking, product variation, end-of-arm tooling deflection, mechanical setup, encoder performance and coordinate transformation. A robot may repeat its programmed point consistently while the product, camera or conveyor reference introduces a different error.

Ask the supplier how placement performance will be measured on your product. Define the reference point, sample variation, conveyor condition, number of cycles and acceptance method. The useful question is how the complete application performs, not whether one isolated axis can repeat a position in a controlled test.

5. Check the Robot Configuration

Robot type should match the application rather than a general belief that one design is always better. A Delta robot may suit high-speed picking in a defined working envelope; a SCARA robot may fit a different planar handling task; a six-axis robot may be appropriate when orientation, reach or access requires more flexibility.

• Payload, including tooling, product and any dynamic margin
• Reach, working envelope and the actual pick-to-place path
• Number of axes and required product orientation
• Controller, servo system and relevant transmission or reducer
• Installation orientation, available floor or overhead space and guarding
• Environmental protection requirements such as dust, moisture, temperature or cleanability

Ask the supplier to explain the configuration in relation to your line. A larger payload rating does not by itself prove faster or better performance, and a compact robot may not solve a reach or access problem created by the surrounding equipment.

6. Evaluate the Vision System

For random or variable incoming products, the vision system may determine the practical cycle rate. Evaluate whether the application needs 2D or 3D vision, how the camera and lens suit the product, how lighting creates contrast, and how the system handles overlap, orientation, spacing and partially obscured items.

• Camera field of view and usable resolution
• Lighting stability and reflections from the product or packaging
• Conveyor tracking and the latency between detection and robot action
• Calibration method and how coordinate changes are managed
• Vision processing time under the target rate
• The reject or recovery path when a product cannot be recognized

Do not evaluate the camera brand alone. A high-speed robot cannot compensate for an unstable vision system, poor lighting, unhandled overlap or delayed tracking. Ask the supplier to demonstrate the actual product and explain the failure-handling logic.

7. Examine the End-of-Arm Tooling

Many real-world performance problems come from the gripper, suction cups or other end-of-arm tooling rather than from the robot itself. The EOAT is part of the production process, not a small accessory. It must hold the product consistently while meeting speed, hygiene, changeover and maintenance requirements.

• Suction-cup selection, vacuum response and leakage behavior
• Grip stability across product surfaces, weight distribution and variation
• Single-pick or multiple-pick tooling and its effect on cycle time
• Product deformation, marks, contamination and cleanability where relevant
• Changeover between product formats and the time needed to adjust tooling
• Dropped-product recovery, sensor feedback and operator access

Ask which tooling assumptions are included in the quotation and which remain provisional. A design that works on one rigid sample may require a different contact strategy for flexible packaging, porous materials or products with inconsistent surfaces.

8. Check Conveyor Tracking and Synchronization

When products move, the robot, vision system and conveyor must share a reliable reference. Ask how the encoder measures motion, how products are tracked, how moving pick or moving placement is handled, and how tracking latency is controlled.

• Encoder selection, mounting and signal handling
• Coordinate synchronization between camera, conveyor and robot
• PLC communication and line-state signals
• Acceleration, deceleration and upstream speed variation
• What happens when a product is late, missing, too close or outside the tracking window
• How tracking errors are diagnosed and recovered

Impressive robot speed is meaningless if tracking is unstable. Ask to see detection, pick, placement and reject handling as one timed sequence.

9. Ask for a Continuous Running Test

Do not rely only on a short demonstration video. Where the application and factory conditions allow, ask for a meaningful continuous running test using agreed product and line conditions. A practical buyer evaluation may observe approximately one to two hours, but that is a recommendation for evidence gathering, not a universal industry standard or mandatory duration.

• Missed picks, dropped products and double picks
• Placement variation and product damage
• Alarms, jams and vision failures
• Conveyor tracking errors and recovery after interruption
• Consistency of cycle time over the observation period
• What the operator must do when the line stops or a product is rejected

Define the conditions before testing and record the product, payload, rate, conveyor, tooling, vision mode and observations. A continuous test cannot eliminate future risk, but it can show whether the supplier measures performance under conditions resembling the intended line.

10. Evaluate System Integration Capability

The robot is only one part of the system. Integration may include the PLC, HMI, vision, conveyor, encoder, upstream machine, downstream equipment, sensors, safety system, reject handling, production data and line communication.

Ask who is responsible for full-line performance and where responsibility changes between companies. Clarify whether the supplier is the robot manufacturer, the system integrator, both, or a coordinator working with third-party integration partners. The answer affects commissioning, troubleshooting, documentation and what happens when the robot works but the line does not meet its target.

Request a responsibility matrix for design, electrical work, software, safety, installation, commissioning, FAT and after-sales support. Clear boundaries are more useful than a promise to “handle the whole project.”

11. Review Machine Safety and Market Requirements

Review practical engineering items such as guarding, safety doors, emergency stops, interlocks, light curtains where appropriate, safe access, risk assessment and electrical documentation. Buyers should clarify the safety and regulatory requirements applicable to the destination market and project before the design is finalized.

If the machine will be delivered to a market where CE or other conformity requirements are relevant, ask what technical file, declaration, risk assessment and test documentation are included in the agreed scope. A CE mark alone does not prove that a machine is safe for every installation or that the project-specific risk has been addressed.

Clarify these project requirements with qualified parties. Include safety functions in the test plan and record how access, stop, restart and fault recovery behave.

12. Verify Spare Parts Availability

An automation system is easier to support when the buyer understands which parts are proprietary, which are standard industrial components and which can be sourced locally. Ask for recommended initial stock, typical lead times for critical replacements, documented component model numbers and any technically acceptable equivalents.

• Servo and controller components
• Encoders, sensors and electrical components
• Vacuum components, belts and gripper parts
• Parts that require supplier software or a special configuration
• Documentation for identifying, ordering and replacing each critical part
• The escalation path when a part is unavailable or discontinued

Do not accept invented lifespan figures as a substitute for a spare-parts plan. The practical question is how quickly a failure can be identified, sourced and recovered, and whether the buyer will have enough documentation to manage routine maintenance overseas.

13. Ask About Remote Support, Software and Documentation

Overseas support should be discussed before the purchase order, not after the first alarm. Ask whether English-speaking technical support is available, which communication channels can be used, whether remote diagnostics are possible and how urgent problems are escalated after warranty.

• Software, parameter and HMI or PLC backups supplied at handover
• Electrical drawings, manuals, parts lists and maintenance instructions
• What access the buyer receives to the HMI, controller and diagnostics
• How software changes are documented and versioned
• Response expectations for commissioning, production stoppage and routine questions
• What support remains available after the warranty period

Teams or WhatsApp may be practical communication channels, but a channel is not the same as a support process. Clarify what software access, backups and documentation are included in the contract. Do not assume source code must always be provided; define the access and deliverables that the project actually needs.

For a related guide to preparing technical information for Chinese suppliers, see communicating technical requirements with Chinese manufacturers.

14. Evaluate the Factory, Not Just the Salesperson

A polished sales presentation is not the same as proven engineering and integration capability. During supplier evaluation or a factory visit, look for evidence that the organization can assemble, test, commission and support the type of system being quoted.

• Actual robot or system assembly and the condition of the work area
• Engineering or R&D staff who can discuss the application
• Electrical and mechanical assembly capability
• Testing, demo and application areas with relevant equipment
• Project engineering, commissioning and change-control processes
• Quality procedures and a documented spare-parts or support organization

Ask technical questions directly to the people who will design or commission the system. Plan the visit around unresolved questions rather than treating a tour as proof of future performance.

For structured supplier evaluation in China and factory visit support in China, define the evidence you need before the meeting.

15. Perform a Factory Acceptance Test Before Shipment

A factory acceptance test (FAT) gives the buyer and supplier a structured opportunity to compare the completed system with agreed application conditions before shipment. The FAT should test the agreed product, dimensions, weight, cycle-rate target, vision behavior, placement performance, safety functions and interfaces—not only whether the robot moves.

• Agreed product, dimensions, weight and orientation
• Agreed cycle rate and stable continuous operation
• Vision recognition, missed-pick observation and placement performance
• Alarm handling, product changeover where applicable and reject logic
• Safety functions, HMI functions and upstream or downstream communication
• Stop, restart and recovery behavior
• Documentation, spare parts, software or parameter backup and the final punch-list

Write the FAT acceptance method before testing and record who supplies the product and how observations are judged. FAT does not eliminate transport, installation or production risk, but it tests the agreed application rather than a generic demonstration.

15-Point Pick-and-Place Robot Manufacturer Evaluation Checklist

Key Questions to Ask a Pick and Place Robot Manufacturer

1. What information do you need before selecting a robot for my application?
2. Have you automated products similar to mine, and under what conditions?
3. Under what payload, path, conveyor and vision conditions is the quoted cycle rate achieved?
4. Is the speed based on single-pick or multi-pick operation?
5. What placement performance can the complete system achieve on my product?
6. How is the conveyor tracked and synchronized with the robot and vision system?
7. Who designs the vision system and end-of-arm tooling?
8. Which parts of the system are proprietary, and which can be sourced locally?
9. What remote support, software backups and documentation are included?
10. Can we run an agreed FAT using my product before shipment?

The quality of the answers matters as much as the answers themselves. A supplier may need to consult engineering or propose a test before giving a final answer. That is more useful than an immediate but unsupported promise.

Red Flags When Evaluating a Pick and Place Robot Supplier

• Recommends a robot before understanding the application
• Quotes only a maximum robot speed without test conditions
• Cannot explain whether the rate is single-pick or multi-pick
• Avoids a continuous running test or changes the agreed conditions
• Provides demo videos but no relevant application detail
• Cannot explain vision, encoder or conveyor-tracking architecture
• Treats end-of-arm tooling as an afterthought
• Cannot define full-system integration responsibility
• Has no clear after-sales escalation process for an overseas buyer
• Proprietary spare parts are poorly documented
• FAT criteria are vague or undefined
• Technical questions remain only with sales staff

These signals do not automatically prove that a company is unreliable. They indicate that further clarification, evidence or a more carefully defined test may be appropriate before the buyer increases financial or technical commitment.

Do Not Compare Pick and Place Robot Quotations on Price Alone

Two quotations can differ because they include different robot configurations, vision, EOAT, conveyor equipment, control systems, safety, integration scope, testing, installation, spare parts, software, documentation or after-sales support. Comparing only the robot line item can make a technically incomplete proposal look cheaper.

Ask each supplier to separate scope and assumptions: product, rate, operating conditions, provisional items, upstream and downstream equipment, FAT, backups, manuals and spare parts. The lowest robot price may not be the lowest total automation cost if missing scope is purchased later.

For broader sourcing decisions, compare the technical requirement and quotation evidence using China sourcing support rather than treating an unqualified price as the decision.

How Buyer-Side China Support Can Help

Local support may help when several Chinese automation suppliers must be compared, technical meetings require Chinese-English communication, or factory visits and follow-up are difficult to manage remotely.

YunBridge Global Communication is not the robot manufacturer, system integrator, certification body or testing laboratory. YunBridge supports overseas buyers on the buyer’s side with supplier evaluation, factory visits, sourcing coordination, technical communication, meeting interpretation and China-side follow-up according to the agreed project scope.

If you are comparing Chinese automation suppliers, you can also review quality control when sourcing from China and the guide on visiting a supplier before a large order.

Conclusion: Evaluate the Complete Application

For buyers still deciding whether this category of automation suits their process, start with Are Chinese Pick and Place Robots Any Good? A Practical Buyer’s Guide. It compares Delta, SCARA and cobot options and explains the main application and lifecycle tradeoffs before manufacturer selection.

If the architecture is still undecided, use the Delta vs SCARA vs 6-Axis vs Cobot robot selection guide to turn the production task into a clearer supplier brief.

For a clearer quotation comparison, see why an industrial automation project can cost more than the robot itself. It explains the scope behind tooling, controls, safety, integration, FAT and commissioning.

You can also use How to Compare Automation Quotations from Chinese Suppliers to normalize supplier scope, performance assumptions, acceptance criteria and lifecycle support.

Evaluate a pick-and-place robot as part of the production application, not as an isolated specification. Start with the product and line, then test cycle performance, placement, vision, tooling, tracking, integration, safety, support, factory capability and FAT evidence.