When customers invest in an industrial robotic palletiser, they are not simply buying a robot — they are investing in reliability, uptime, and long-term performance.
One question we are often asked is:
Why did we choose KUKA robots over other robot manufacturers for our industrial palletising systems?
The answer is not marketing-driven or based on a supplier relationship. It comes from extensive research, real-world feedback, and years of industry experience.
(For clarity: we also use Yaskawa robots for our cobot palletising solutions — but that’s a different application and a different story.)
We Evaluated Over 20 Robot Suppliers
Before standardising on a robot supplier, we carried out a detailed evaluation process.
We reviewed more than twenty robot manufacturers, assessing:
- Reliability in industrial environments
- Long-term ownership costs
- Engineering quality
- Support availability in the UK
- Performance specifically in palletising applications
During this process, KUKA consistently stood out: As one of the leading robot suppliers in the UK market, backed by German engineering, KUKA already carried a strong reputation for precision and build quality. However, reputation alone was not enough — we wanted independent proof from real users.
What Real Robot Users Told Us
We visited operational sites running a variety of robot brands and spoke directly with the people who rely on them every day.
The feedback was remarkably consistent.
Across multiple industries and facilities, operators repeatedly told us: KUKA robots outperformed other brands in reliability.
This wasn’t a one-off comment or a sales claim — it was a pattern. Facilities running mixed fleets often highlighted that KUKA robots required less intervention and delivered more consistent uptime. For palletising systems, where reliability directly affects production output, this was a decisive factor.
What Spare Parts Suppliers Revealed
We also spoke to companies that supply spare parts across multiple robot brands — organisations with no incentive to favour one manufacturer over another.
Their insight was particularly revealing: They told us that KUKA spare parts were among the least frequently sold, simply because the robots failed less often.
In other words:
- Fewer breakdowns
- Less unplanned maintenance
- Lower lifetime disruption for customers
For us, this reinforced what we were already hearing from end users.
Price Matters — But Reliability Matters More
KUKA robots are competitively priced within the industrial palletising market, but price was never our primary decision factor.
A palletiser is expected to operate for many years, often in demanding environments and running multiple shifts.
The real cost of ownership is determined by:
- Downtime
- Maintenance frequency
- Reliability
- Long-term performance
When viewed through that lens, quality and reliability outweigh initial purchase price every time. KUKA consistently delivered the strongest balance of performance and long-term value.
A Conversation at BMW That Confirmed Everything
One of the most memorable moments during our evaluation came from BMW’s production facility. The site operated robots from multiple manufacturers, including KUKA. We asked their engineering team which robots they preferred. Surprisingly, they initially said they didn’t like KUKA; naturally, we asked why. Their answer was telling:
- Other robot brands fail more often, so engineers become very familiar with repairing and troubleshooting them.
- KUKA robots rarely fail, so engineers have fewer opportunities to work on them and are less familiar with their software.
In other words, the “problem” was that KUKA robots were too reliable.
For us, that was one of the strongest endorsements possible — coming not from marketing material, but from engineers responsible for keeping production running.
Why This Matters for Palletising
Industrial palletising places unique demands on robots:
- Continuous repetitive motion
- Heavy payload handling
- High cycle counts
- Minimal tolerance for downtime
Reliability is not a luxury — it is essential. By standardising on KUKA robots for our industrial palletisers, we aim to deliver systems that:
- Run consistently year after year
- Require minimal intervention
- Provide dependable production performance
- Reduce operational risk for our customers
Our Philosophy: Proven Performance Over Brand Loyalty
At Granta Automation, our approach has always been simple:
We choose technology based on evidence, not preference.
After extensive evaluation, customer feedback, industry consultation, and real-world observation, KUKA proved to be the robot supplier that best aligned with our priorities — quality, reliability, and long-term customer success.
That is why KUKA robots form the foundation of our industrial robotic palletising systems today.
If you would like to discuss your specific palletiser application in more detail, please contact us on 01223 499488 or helpline@granta-automation.co.uk.
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