FAIRINO FR30 vs. DOBOT CR30H: Price, Specifications and Application Fit
IN A NUTSHELL
Both arms target 30 kg heavy-part handling and palletizing, but their workspaces differ: FAIRINO FR30 reaches 1403 mm and standard DOBOT CR30H reaches 1800 mm. The comparison is relevant to shared loads and stations inside the common envelope, while the longer DOBOT reach can justify a different cell layout. The FAIRINO FR30 is listed at $16,499; the documented DOBOT CR30H seller reference is approximately $38,134 USD. Compare the complete delivered cell before deciding.
This is a specification-based buying comparison. The models share a close nominal payload class, but equal payload does not guarantee equal reach, cycle performance or integration cost. Published specifications are separated from engineering judgments and the illustrative ROI scenario below.
FAIRINO FR30 collaborative robot arm DOBOT CR30H collaborative robot
The engineering choice
Both arms target 30 kg heavy-part handling and palletizing, but their workspaces differ: FAIRINO FR30 reaches 1403 mm and standard DOBOT CR30H reaches 1800 mm. The comparison is relevant to shared loads and stations inside the common envelope, while the longer DOBOT reach can justify a different cell layout.
For a 20 kg component with a 6 kg tool and adapter allowance, the moving mass is26 kg. Both headline payloads cover that shared task. An 1800 mm pallet corner does not fit inside FR30 nominal1403 mm reach, so a comparison for that layout must acknowledge that CR30H reaches a station FR30 cannot reach from the same base position.
The standard DOBOT arm weighs100 kg in the current manufacturer table, versus85 kg for FR30. Older material gives98.5 kg and generic reseller text sometimes applies IP67 or torque-sensor claims across the series. This article follows the current standard-model table:IP65,100 kg and no claimed integrated joint torque sensors. Require the ordered revision in the quote.
Both are rated in the same 30 kg class. The comparison is directly relevant to the same tool-plus-workpiece mass, subject to each maker's center-of-gravity and inertia limits.
The DOBOT CR30H reaches 397 mm farther on the published figures. That is a substantial layout difference: map every tray, machine opening and pallet corner before treating these as substitutes.
Side-by-side specifications
Specification | FAIRINO FR30 | DOBOT CR30H |
|---|---|---|
Rated payload used for this comparison | 30 kg nominal | 30 kg |
Separately published FAIRINO maximum | 35 kg; validate operating conditions | Use model-specific load limits |
Reach | 1403 mm | 1800 mm |
Pose repeatability | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
Published tool speed | 2 m/s typical | 6 m/s maximum |
Arm weight | Approximately 85 kg | 100 kg |
Protection | IP54; IP65 option | IP65 standard CR30H; Touch/Food configurations differ |
Degrees of freedom | 6 | 6 |
USD price reference | $16,499 | $38,134 approximate conversion |
Original seller currency | USD | EUR 34,000 |
Source type | FAIRINO USA product pages | European reseller net list reference for standard CR30H |
Speed figures use different definitions: a typical TCP value, an average motion figure and a maximum speed are not controlled cycle-time measurements. The table does not establish a throughput ranking. The quoted IP rating applies to the specified component and configuration, not automatically to the tool or complete cell.
Price comparison and what the numbers mean
FAIRINO FR30 is listed at $16,499 by FAIRINO USA. The numeric DOBOT CR30H reference is $38,134 USD, a hardware-reference gap of $21,635. On these references FAIRINO is approximately 56.7% lower in acquisition price. This is not a comparison of identically commissioned cells.
Price differences should be tested against the complete bill of materials: robot and controller, pendant, gripper, tool changer, camera and lighting, pedestal, guarding, machine interface, software licenses, freight, installation, training and support. A cheaper arm can require additional engineering; an expensive bundle can include functions the application does not need. Ask each supplier to identify included and optional items explicitly.
Payload, tooling and process margin
For an illustrative 20 kg component and 6 kg of gripper, adapter and cable allowance, the moving payload is 26 kg. This is inside both headline ratings, but it is only the first gate. A wide part held far from the flange can have more demanding inertia than a denser part of the same mass. Validate the actual tool, acceleration and orientation in both manufacturers' load models.
FAIRINO separately publishes a maximum of 35 kg for the FR30. This article uses its 30 kg nominal class to avoid equating a conditional maximum with another robot's standard rating. For the rival, use the exact ordered controller, arm revision and load chart. Neither purchase should be approved solely because the part's weight is below the number in the model name.
Reach, accuracy and cell layout
The DOBOT CR30H reaches 397 mm farther on the published figures. That is a substantial layout difference: map every tray, machine opening and pallet corner before treating these as substitutes.
DOBOT CR30H publishes the tighter repeatability figure. This may help taught-point handling, but it does not establish better absolute accuracy, loaded path tracking or finished-part quality.
Simulate the complete operation rather than only a straight reach from the base. Include an approach above the part, clearance around a door or chuck, tool reorientation, retreat paths and the position used for inspection. Longer reach can avoid an external axis, but can also increase the swept area and guarding requirement. Repeatability is only one part of the error budget: fixtures, calibration, deflection, temperature and camera setup influence the finished process.
Controller, programming and connectivity
FAIRINO publishes graphical programming and drag teaching through a teach pendant or web application, alongside developer interfaces for C#, C++, Python, ROS and ROS 2. Its controller documentation lists TCP/IP and Modbus TCP/RTU with optional industrial networks. Confirm the purchased controller, firmware and fieldbus licenses against the plant PLC and the selected tool.
The current DOBOT table distinguishes CR30H, CR30HT and CR30H-Food. Integrated joint torque sensors belong to CR30HT, not automatically to standard CR30H. The standard-arm table gives100 kg mass,6m/s maximum TCP speed and500 W typical consumption. The cabinet lists TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET and Modbus RTU; confirm exact licenses and hardware. Do not import Touch drag-teaching or Food hygiene claims into the standard model.
A useful acceptance exercise is to have the future operator recover from a dropped part, a protective stop, a machine-not-ready signal and a power interruption. Count the steps required to restart safely and preserve traceability. This reveals operating cost that a specification sheet cannot show. Require program backups, documented I/O, spare-part identification and a named support route in the handover.
Power, environment and collaborative safety
DOBOT CR30H publishes approximately 500 W typical power for the referenced configuration. A controller's rated output or power-supply capacity is not its average energy consumption. Meter the intended duty cycle, including idle time and auxiliaries, before assigning an energy saving or annual operating-cost advantage.
The FAIRINO arm is specified at IP54 with an IP65 option. The rival specification used here is IP65 standard CR30H; Touch/Food configurations differ. Match coolant, dust, cleaning agents, connectors and controller placement to the exact ordered configuration. A higher arm IP rating does not establish food-contact suitability or permit unrestricted washdown of the entire installation.
Collaborative capability is a property of the complete task as well as the robot. Evaluate tool sharpness, hot work, dropped loads, crushing points, contact forces and stopping distance. Machine access can require interlocks or guarding even when the robot supports collaborative functions. Validate the final settings under the applicable standards and the installed firmware; do not translate a product certification into an unconditional fence-free claim.
Illustrative ROI: use complete cell cost
Assume, solely for a transparent illustration, identical additional integration cost of $15,000 and net recurring savings of $1,000 per month. The FAIRINO cell would total $31,499, giving simple payback of 31.5 months. The rival-reference cell would total $53,134, giving 53.1 months. These are arithmetic examples, not forecasts, measured results or supplier quotations.
Use net savings after maintenance, consumables, financing, supervision and expected downtime. Labor reassignment is not automatically a payroll reduction. If a higher-priced platform saves additional commissioning time, removes a vision integration project or produces more good units per shift, include those benefits explicitly. Calculate payback as total installed cost divided by monthly net benefit, then test sensitivity to uptime and changeover frequency.
Advantages and limitations
Decision point | FAIRINO FR30 | DOBOT CR30H |
|---|---|---|
Acquisition and integration | Current US listed price of $16,499 | 1800mm reach for larger heavy-handling workspaces |
Workspace and tooling | An economical route when its 1403 mm workspace is sufficient | Same30kg nominal load class with a6m/s maximum TCP figure |
Operating platform | Published developer access and a modular external-vision approach | DobotStudio platform and distinct Standard/Touch/Food choices |
FAIRINO's main limitation is that low arm price does not remove application engineering, validation or support requirements. The rival's main commercial limitation in this comparison is its higher documented hardware reference; the extra capability must solve a real process need. Both require a supplier-backed assessment of the loaded motion path and the specific factory environment.
Which robot should you choose?
Choose FAIRINO FR30 when the real cell fits its rated load and 1403 mm reach, and acquisition cost is a major constraint. Shortlist DOBOT CR30H when the process needs its additional397mm reach or demonstrated heavy-handling performance, with the correct Standard/Touch/Food configuration. Request a loaded cycle demonstration and a fixed-scope cell quote from both suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
Are these robots in the same payload category?
Both are rated in the same 30 kg class. The comparison is directly relevant to the same tool-plus-workpiece mass, subject to each maker's center-of-gravity and inertia limits.
What is the current FAIRINO FR30 price?
The FAIRINO USA product pages list $16,499 USD as checked November 3, 2026. Confirm the written package, taxes, delivery, tooling and commissioning before purchase.
What price is used for the DOBOT CR30H?
SIGAMO GmbH lists standard DOBOT CR30H at EUR34,000 net, before VAT and shipping; CR30HT and NSF variants are priced separately. Approximately $38,134 USD uses the ECB reference rate dated November2,2026 of EUR1 = USD1.1216. This is a European reseller reference, not US MSRP or a complete palletizing cell. A separate US RBTX listing advertises $51,000 for CR30H but contains series-level protection and sensing statements that differ from the current standard-model table. Regional prices and configurations are not interchangeable. Confirm the exact arm, cabinet, pendant, duties, delivery and support before comparing final offers.
Which robot reaches farther?
The DOBOT CR30H reaches 397 mm farther on the published figures. That is a substantial layout difference: map every tray, machine opening and pallet corner before treating these as substitutes.
Which has better published repeatability?
DOBOT CR30H publishes the tighter repeatability figure. This may help taught-point handling, but it does not establish better absolute accuracy, loaded path tracking or finished-part quality.
Does the listed payload include the gripper?
Yes. The tool, fingers, adapters, sensors, cable allowance and workpiece all contribute to moving payload. Check inertia and center of gravity as well as mass; do not assume a separately advertised maximum FAIRINO load applies at every speed and pose.
Can either robot work beside people without a fence?
That depends on the complete application. The tool, workpiece, trapping points, stopping distance and operating mode determine the required safeguards. Robot certification alone does not approve a machine-tending or palletizing cell.
Which is the better purchase?
Choose FAIRINO FR30 when the real cell fits its rated load and 1403 mm reach, and acquisition cost is a major constraint. Shortlist DOBOT CR30H when the process needs its additional397mm reach or demonstrated heavy-handling performance, with the correct Standard/Touch/Food configuration. Request a loaded cycle demonstration and a fixed-scope cell quote from both suppliers.
🤖 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.
