What is a Pick-and-Place Robot?
Last updated on February 12th, 2026 at 06:39 pm
Robots have revolutionized manufacturing, providing an efficient and cost-effective means to keep humans from performing unsafe and repetitive tasks that can cause strain injuries. Pick-and-place applications are among the most common places within the assembly process where automation and robots are utilized. While this means factories can easily source suitable pick-and-place robot models, choosing the right one for specific applications takes some investigation.
What Are Pick-and-Place Robots Used For?
One thing that sets most modern pick-and-place robots aside from other robots is their enhanced visual acuity, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) that can learn. This capability for machine learning (ML) allows robots to pick and place more easily to adjust to changes in the environment and calculate the best angle at which to grip an object. The pick-and-place robot shifts and moves to better recognize an object, classifying the best way to grip new ones and steadily storing that knowledge to improve its performance through trial and error.
Before looking at the exact type of robot to buy, it is best to first look at the functions for which it will be used. Perhaps a robot is needed to perform a specific task, or a manufacturer requires a more versatile robot that can be easily customized for several purposes. Applications for which these robots can be used are many and varied, including bin picking, inspection and even packaging products.
Here are just a few common uses for pick-and-place robots:
- Assembly: When used for assembly applications, pick-and-place robots can pick up incoming components, joining them onto other parts of the workpiece before conveying them to the next assembly point.
- Bin picking: Often assembly lines involve picking components from bins and placing them in other locations for assembly or packaging. Specially designed pick and pack robots with cutting-edge visual sensors combined with AI software can identify colors, sizes and shapes.
- Inspections: In order to inspect for defects, pick-and-place robots require advanced AI with vision systems to recognize flaws and remove substandard components or products, picking them up and setting them aside in specified bins or areas.
- Packaging: Automation in packing applications involves a robot either placing the finished product into its packaging or, with specifically designed pick and pack robots, placing boxed items on pallets for shipping.
Kinds of Pick-and-Place Robots
Typically mounted on stable stands and positioned to reach specific work areas, pick-and-place robots use advanced vision and tooling systems configured for different applications. These are often supported by AI software that uses ML algorithms to enable pick and pack robots to “learn” so that it can perform a variety of tasks.
Robotic Arm
The most common type of pick-and-place robot is the 5-axis robotic arm, used for standard applications such as moving objects along a single plane. A more advanced 6-axis arm is typically used for complex tasks, such as turning or otherwise reorienting an object before proceeding to the next assembly point.
Cartesian Robot
Like the 6-axis robotic arm, Cartesian robots can operate in multiple planes. Named after René Descartes, a French mathematician born at the end of the 16th century, these robots move along the X-Y plane, with Z denoting the 19th-century Cartesian coordinate used to describe three-dimensional space. These use linear actuators and various drive mechanisms. Typically, they offer better positioning accuracy than 6-axis robotic arms.
Delta (or Parallel) Robot
Often used in high-speed food processing, delta robots use advanced optical technology to distinguish colors, shapes, and sizes. Powered by heavy motors mounted on frames, these pick-and-pack robots come in numerous configurations, though most operate on four axes. They use three lightweight arms connected to rods, with joints at the opposite ends of each arm, to facilitate movement.
Fast Pick-and-Place Robot
Ideal for environments that require medium to high throughput, these fast-picking-and-placing robots enable a fully automated picking process, allowing human workers to focus on other activities within the manufacturing process. With the fastest able to cycle at up to 150 times per minute, these pick-and-pack robots are often used in sections of packing lines where promotional or add-on orders are placed into packaging, such as when including batteries or promotional items.
Cobot (or Collaborative Robot)
Called collaborative robots because they work alongside human workers on separate but compatible tasks, cobots augment human labor by guiding workers to picking positions and through specific tasks. They optimize the time required to complete each action, creating a more productive fabrication process.
Palletizing Robots
One process in which robots can work is palletizing packaged items to prepare them for shipment. Sometimes production throughput slows due to the time required to place finished, packed products onto pallets. Although other types of automation are already available for palletizing, they tend to occupy significant space and cannot readily adapt to varied palletizing tasks. Although not strictly a pick-and-place process, palletizing is an extension of it, and customized pick-and-pack robots can readily perform such operations.
Choosing the Best Automated Robot
With the ability of each type of pick and pack robot to effectively and efficiently execute numerous types of tasks within the manufacturing process, the real challenge is to select the one with configurations that best suit the factory’s operational needs.
Here are a few other considerations:
The number of axes determines how freely a pick-and-place robot can move; more axes generally indicate greater flexibility.
Recommendations:
- 4-5 axes for order fulfillment applications that involve placing items upon a conveyor, bin or container.
- 6+ axes for applications that require greater range of motion for the robot to rotate or move linearly.
Payload refers to the maximum load a pick-and-pack robot can transfer from one point to another, including the weight of its tooling.
Recommendations:
Reach involves assessing a robot’s range of motion to determine the maximum vertical and horizontal distances within its grasp. As this requires precision, it is imperative to determine these measurements prior to purchasing.
Recommendations:
Repeatability refers to the robot’s ability to pick up and drop workpieces precisely within each sequence it completes.
Recommendation:
Speed at which a robot can work will affect the efficiency and productivity of the entire manufacturing process, so it is important to evaluate a robot’s specifications to ensure it can keep up with workflow.
Recommendations:
- Ensure the pick-and-place robot can operate at least as fast as the production line.
- Review peak-demand periods to ensure it can meet higher demand.
Additionally, the configurations around which a pick and pack robot can be customized will restrict flexibility due to the robot’s dimensions, shape of tooling and how they are designed to move.
For example, basic pick and place robot configurations include:
- Articulated or SCARA (Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm) robots with fixed rotary arms that allow greater degrees of freedom on axes.
- Cylindrical robots that allow movement along horizontal, rotational, and vertical axes.
- Spherical robots that allow a single linear and two rotational movements.
These characteristics affect where they can be deployed and the items they can handle. In addition to these considerations, the visual guidance system must be sophisticated enough to identify various items along the production line.
Why Choose EAM for Pick and Place Robot Solutions
Pick and place robots are powerful tools for improving accuracy, speed, and consistency in manufacturing. But the results you see depend on the engineering behind them. Engineering Automation of Maine (EAM) combines practical automation expertise with custom design capability to deliver pick and place solutions that are reliable, flexible, and optimized for your process.
What Sets EAM Apart
Custom Engineered to Your Application: We design pick and place systems around your products, cycle times, and floor space requirements — not off-the-shelf packages that force you to adapt your process.
Seamless Integration with Production Systems: Our robots are integrated with conveyors, safety systems, sensors, and machine controls so that they work as part of a coordinated production line.
Experienced Automation Engineering Team: From robot selection and end-of-arm tooling to vision systems and PLC integration, our engineers ensure every element works together for performance and repeatability.
Full Lifecycle Support: We provide installation, operator training, preventative maintenance, and service support so that your investment continues to deliver value long after startup.
Focus on Practical Performance and Maintainability: Our designs emphasize reliable long-term performance, easy access for maintenance, and real-world usability for operators.
Ready to Automate Your Material Handling?
If your production line could benefit from faster throughput, better consistency, and reduced manual handling, a custom pick and place robotic solution may be the right next step. Contact EAM to discuss how we can design and integrate pick and place automation that fits your product, process, and performance goals.
