Robot Decommissioning

Robot decommissioning is an integral part of the manufacturing process and is key to selling robots to free up plant floor space. Robotic assembly lines or robotic cells can be disassembled in an expedited manner while preserving value associated with them. Robots Done Right can coordinate the decommissioning of a single robot or hundreds of robots. Some important things to consider when making a decision to decommission a unit include:

• Age of the units - Older robot units are generally less desirable to reintegrate into a new robotic applications than newer units. While older units may still be functional, integrators and end users are hesitant to retool older robots due to their probability of failure. Newer robots such as a FANUC Arcmate 120ic with a FANUC R-30ia controller are going to command more in the resale market than a FANUC Arcmate 120i with RJ3 controller. Therefore, the newer units should be removed with care in preparation for them to be resold as working units. This will maximize the recapture value of the asset.


• Cutting cables - Unless the used robot is too old to hold any value, the company performing the decommissioning should never cut any of the cable. Robot cables are generally specific the robot model and can be very costly to replace. Cables that connect the robot to the controller are costly to replace and difficult to locate in the used market. In example, replacing the cable to a large robot such as a ABB IRB 6640/2.05 could cost thousands in just materials to replace. This simply subtracts from the resale value of the unit and in most cases is never outweighed by the labor associated with disconnecting the cables in the correct fashion.


• Urgency of the decommissioning - In some cases a decommissioning is scheduled to take place during a plant shutdown or otherwise down time. The window to clear the floor space is limited to a week or two with delays being very costly to the production process if deadlines are not met. Robots Done Right can assist in getting a decommissioning contractor that can both meet the needed schedule and remove the equipment in the correct manager.


• Ease of decommissioning - All projects are not created the same. Some involve simple straight forward takedowns while others include removal of costly structures such as mezzanines. The additional cost of removing these structures can be absorbed into the removal cost in order to lower or negate out of pocket expenses to the seller. Robots Done Right can assist in tackling any type of robotic assembly line takedown.


• Location - Manufacturing plants that are not located close to prime industrial areas could pose problems when heavy machinery removal is needed. In some cases local contractors are insufficient in order to perform the precise removal function needed for robotic line removal. Robots Done Right works with contractors that perform complex teardowns around the world.