Tips For Selling A Used Robot

As part of many companies ongoing operations, industrial robots are often phased out, replaced, or simply no longer needed. In that case, a company can recapture a significant portion of their investment by selling an industrial robot on the used robot market. In order to maximize the value of the used robot, the following are important tips to follow when preparing the robot for sale:

• Record the hours of the robot prior to disconnecting - Knowing the hours of the robot prior to purchasing is important for a used robot buyer. The amount of hours can help the used robot buyer gauge the wear and tear on the robot. While a high hour reading will give the buyer an accurate description of the robot, a low hour reading could add value to the sale. Low hour used robots like the FANUC M16ib with a FANUC R-j3ib controller can obtain significantly more value that a high hour unit, as finding older used robots with low hours can be quite challenging
• Carefully disconnect all cables - Mishandled or damaged cables can significantly reduce the value of a used robot. Do not cut the cables. When preparing to sell a used robot, make sure to carefully disconnect the cables from the controller and robot. It is best to shrink wrap the cable separately whenever possible. A Motoman MH6 with Yaskawa DX100 controller has manipulator cables, teach pendant cables, and power cables that can be quite costly to replace if damaged, lowering the value of the robot.





• Fully retract the robot - Whenever shipping a used FANUC robot, it is best to ship a robot that has been fully retracted. This will reduce the height of the shipment, lowered the shipping costs. Shipping a used robot that is not fully retracted can raise costs as the robot may exceed shipping height requirements and require special trucking arrangements, increasing the cost of shipping while decreasing the amount of money that can be paid for the robot. A large robot such as an FANUC R2000iA 165F RJ3IB can be quite difficult and costly to ship if it isn't fully retracted.
• Quarantine the robot - When a robot malfunctions in a large company, in house robot techs will locate the first available part in order to rectify the situation. While the tech is just doing their job, there might be other options to remedy the issue without taking away value from the used robot that is going to be sold. Robots with missing parts can lose significant value as those parts could exceed the value of the robot or be unavailable altogether. The servo amplifier on a FANUC Arcmate 120ic R30ia can run over $4,000 on the used market, greatly reducing resale value.
• Locate a pallet that fits the entire system - Locating a pallet that can fit the robot and controller will not only make it easier to move in a factory, but will also lower the shipping cost on the robot, thus increasing the value of the robot. Even a larger robot, such as a FANUC M710ic 50 and its FANUC R30ia controller can be secured to a single pallet.
• Correct secure the robot to a pallet - The robot and controller should be strapped or bolted to a pallet in an upright position. Laying the robot or controller on it side can damage the robot during shipping, greatly reducing the value. Even a smaller robot, such as a FANUC M10ia can be damaged if it falls over.
• Find a buyer prior to decommissioning - Companies who purchase used robots prefer to have a robot taken right off the line. This indicates that the robot has all of its parts and is in working condition at the time of the sale. A company will likely know ahead of time that a robot is going to be decommissioned and sold. It is a benefit to both the buyer and seller that the robot be sold prior to being decommissioned. That coupled with the hours will give the buyer the best picture of the robot condition without inspection.
• Keep all of the parts together - Used FANUC robots contain many parts. Some robot systems also include integrated welders. When selling a used robot system with a welder, be sure to keep all of the parts together. For instance, many FANUC ArcMate 120iB robots come with a Lincoln Powerwave 455M welder. The welding package includes the Lincoln 455 welding source, wire feeders, a robotic torch attached to the robot, and possibly brackets or a Lincoln cooler. All of these items are necessary for the used robot to operate correctly.