FAIRINO FR30 vs. Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL: 30 kg Cobot Comparison
Updated: Nov 2
30 kg-class collaborative robot comparison • Payload, reach, precision and U.S. pricing
🤖 Overview: The HC30PL from Yaskawa and the FAIRINO FR30 compete in the 30 kg-class cobot segment. The Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL offers 30 kg of rated payload, 1,700 mm of reach and ±0.05 mm repeatability. The FAIRINO FR30 answers with 30 kg, 1,403 mm and ±0.1 mm at a published U.S. price of $16,499. This comparison separates published specifications from the points that should be confirmed in a demo or quotation.
FAIRINO FR30 30 kg-class cobot 
Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL cobot
⚖️ Quick Verdict: FAIRINO FR30 vs. Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL
Choose the FAIRINO FR30 when it matches or exceeds the payload, at a published $16,499.
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL when it offers longer reach, from $55,000 (indicative list price).
Validate both with your real gripper, part mass and layout; installed-cell cost and measured cycle time decide ROI.
📊 FAIRINO FR30 vs. HC30PL Specifications
Specification | FAIRINO FR30 | Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL |
|---|---|---|
Rated payload | 30 kg | 30 kg |
Maximum payload | 35 kg | See manufacturer datasheet |
Reach | 1,403 mm | 1,700 mm |
Repeatability | ±0.1 mm | ±0.05 mm |
Axes | 6 | 6 |
Arm weight | ≈85 kg | See manufacturer datasheet |
IP rating | IP54 / IP65 optional | See manufacturer datasheet |
TCP speed | 2 m/s typical | See manufacturer datasheet |
Public price | $16,499 (FAIRINO USA) | From $55,000 (indicative list price) |
🏋️ Payload: 30 kg vs. 30 kg
Both arms share the same 30 kg rating, so the decision moves to reach, precision, ecosystem and price. Remember that the gripper, adapter and cabling count toward payload.
📏 Reach: 1,403 mm vs. 1,700 mm
Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL reaches 297 mm (about 21%) 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
Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL publishes the tighter repeatability (±0.05 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.
🛡️ Environment and Safety
The FAIRINO FR30 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
Palletizing: stack height depends on reach and mounting; Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL covers more of the pallet without a lift.
Heavy machine tending: verify wrist moment with real castings and grippers, not only nominal payload.
Case packing and material transfer: cycle time with real boxes, vacuum reliability and safety zoning decide throughput.
💰 Price and Total Cost of Ownership
FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR30 at $16,499. The Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL is listed from $55,000 (indicative list price), so the published arm prices differ by about $38,501 (roughly 70% 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 FR30 cell would total about $41,499, a simple payback of roughly 1.4 years. The Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL cell would total about $80,000, or roughly 2.7 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 FR30 stands out for value, with 30 kg payload, ±0.1 mm repeatability and a transparent $16,499 price. The Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL brings longer reach, and the Yaskawa 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 FR30 or the Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL?
Both are rated at 30 kg.
Which robot has the longer reach?
Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL reaches 297 mm further (1,403 mm vs. 1,700 mm).
Which robot is more repeatable?
Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL publishes the tighter repeatability: ±0.05 mm vs. ±0.1 mm.
How much do the FAIRINO FR30 and Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL cost?
FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR30 at $16,499. The Yaskawa Motoman HC30PL is listed from $55,000 (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.
