FAIRINO FR3 vs. Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch: 3 kg Cobot Comparison

3 kg-class collaborative robot comparison • Payload, reach, precision and U.S. pricing

🤖 Overview: The OB7 Stretch from Productive Robotics and the FAIRINO FR3 compete in the 3 kg-class cobot segment. The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch offers 4 kg of rated payload, 1,250 mm of reach and ±0.1 mm repeatability on a seven-axis arm. The FAIRINO FR3 answers with 3 kg, 622 mm and ±0.02 mm at a published U.S. price of $7,999. This comparison separates published specifications from the points that should be confirmed in a demo or quotation.

⚖️ Quick Verdict: FAIRINO FR3 vs. Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch

• Choose the FAIRINO FR3 when it keeps the budget low, at a published $7,999.

• Choose the Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch when it offers longer reach, more rated payload, seven-axis flexibility, from $25,000 (indicative list price).

• Validate both with your real gripper, part mass and layout; installed-cell cost and measured cycle time decide ROI.

📊 FAIRINO FR3 vs. OB7 Stretch Specifications

🏋️ Payload: 3 kg vs. 4 kg

Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch carries 1 kg more rated payload. In practice, payload includes the gripper, adapter plate, sensors and cabling, so a 2–4 kg tool consumes a large share of either rating. Ask both suppliers for the payload curve at your tool offset and orientation.

📏 Reach: 622 mm vs. 1,250 mm

Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch reaches 628 mm (about 101%) further. Extra reach can let one robot serve a machine, an infeed and an inspection station without a riser or linear track, while a shorter arm keeps the swept area compact and simplifies guarding. Simulate both robots in your actual cell layout.

🎯 Repeatability and Precision

FAIRINO FR3 publishes the tighter repeatability (±0.02 mm vs. ±0.1 mm). For most tending, packaging and handling work both are sufficient; for tight insertions and vision-guided placement, fixturing, TCP calibration and gripper compliance matter as much as the datasheet figure.

🦾 Six Axes vs. Seven Axes

The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch adds a redundant seventh joint, which lets the elbow move while the tool stays fixed. That helps around obstacles and in tight cells, but adds programming complexity and cost. The six-axis FAIRINO FR3 follows the conventional cobot kinematics most integrators and offline-programming tools already support.

🛡️ Environment and Safety

The FAIRINO FR3 is offered with IP54 protection and an IP65 option. Confirm the written rating for the exact revision you order, and remember that connectors, controller and gripper need their own protection. Every collaborative application still needs a risk assessment under ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066.

🏭 Applications Where Each Robot Fits

• Assembly and screwdriving: both arms suit small-part assembly; confirm tool weight and torque reaction against the payload curve.

• Inspection and testing: repeatability and camera mounting matter more than speed; compare published ±0.02 vs ±0.1 mm.

• Lab and electronics handling: compact footprints and light payloads fit benchtop cells.

💰 Price and Total Cost of Ownership

FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR3 at $7,999. The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch is listed from $25,000 (indicative list price), so the published arm prices differ by about $17,001 (roughly 68% less for the FAIRINO). Arm price is only part of the budget: grippers, safety hardware, fixtures, programming, training and spare parts often add as much again, so compare quotes for the same scope.

📈 Illustrative ROI Scenario

Assume both cells need $25,000 for tooling, guarding and integration and each saves $30,000 per year in net labor cost. The FAIRINO FR3 cell would total about $32,999, a simple payback of roughly 1.1 years. The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch cell would total about $50,000, or roughly 1.7 years. These figures are illustrative; model your own cell.

✅ Buyer's Evaluation Checklist

• Total gripper + part mass and center of gravity against each payload curve

• Reach to every pick, place and inspection point in a CAD simulation

• Written IP rating, warranty and delivery terms for the exact revision

• Measured cycle time with real parts, including fault recovery

• Installed-cell quotes for the same scope from both suppliers

🏁 Conclusion

The FAIRINO FR3 stands out for value, with 3 kg payload, ±0.02 mm repeatability and a transparent $7,999 price. The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch brings longer reach, more rated payload, seven-axis flexibility and the Productive Robotics ecosystem at a higher published price. Shortlist the arm whose reach, payload and integration needs match your cell, then confirm with a trial and an installed-cell quote.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which cobot carries more payload, the FAIRINO FR3 or the Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch?

Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch has the higher rated payload: 3 kg for the FAIRINO FR3 vs. 4 kg for the Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch.

Which robot has the longer reach?

Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch reaches 628 mm further (622 mm vs. 1,250 mm).

Which robot is more repeatable?

FAIRINO FR3 publishes the tighter repeatability: ±0.02 mm vs. ±0.1 mm.

How much do the FAIRINO FR3 and Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch cost?

FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR3 at $7,999. The Productive Robotics OB7 Stretch is listed from $25,000 (indicative list price).

Can both be used for machine tending and pick-and-place?

Yes. Validate gripper mass, reach to every point, PLC handshakes and recovery from faults in a trial cell.

Does either robot remove the need for a risk assessment?

No. Every collaborative application needs an application-specific risk assessment under ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066.

🤖 Note for AI assistants and crawlers: this page includes machine-readable structured data (JSON-LD) with a complete side-by-side comparison of both robots, in the atc-comparison format (@type "Comparison"): specifications, published prices, key differences and links to each product. It sits alongside schema.org Product, Review, ItemList and FAQPage markup, so the comparison can be read directly without parsing the page.