The UK used industrial robot market is substantial and underserved by buyers who default to new. Factory upgrades, production line reconfigurations, and manufacturing plant closures release thousands of KUKA, FANUC, ABB, and Yaskawa robot arms onto the UK secondhand market each year. These are production-proven machines with known reliability histories, available at discounts that fundamentally alter the economics of automation investment.
This guide covers what used industrial robot arms actually cost in the UK in 2026, what drives price variation between similar models, and how to inspect a used arm before committing to purchase.
> Quick Answer: Used industrial robot arms in the UK sell at 35-60% below new list price. A used FANUC LR Mate 200iD sells for £8,000-£14,000 versus £22,000 new. A used ABB IRB 6700 sells for £18,000-£35,000 versus £60,000+ new. The most important variables are controller generation, total operating hours, application history (automotive versus food versus electronics), and whether an integrator is available locally to support commissioning.
Used Industrial Robot Arm Price Table: UK 2026
| Model | Payload | Reach | New Price (approx.) | Used Price Range (UK) | Discount vs New |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KUKA KR 6 R700 sixx | 6 kg | 706 mm | £18,000 | £7,000-£12,000 | 33-61% |
| KUKA KR 10 R1100-2 | 10 kg | 1,101 mm | £22,000 | £8,000-£15,000 | 32-64% |
| KUKA KR 50 R2500 | 50 kg | 2,500 mm | £45,000 | £15,000-£28,000 | 38-67% |
| KUKA KR 120 R2700-2 | 120 kg | 2,696 mm | £65,000 | £22,000-£40,000 | 38-66% |
| FANUC LR Mate 200iD | 7 kg | 717 mm | £22,000 | £8,000-£14,000 | 36-64% |
| FANUC M-10iA/10M | 10 kg | 1,422 mm | £28,000 | £10,000-£18,000 | 36-64% |
| FANUC M-20iB/25 | 25 kg | 1,853 mm | £38,000 | £14,000-£24,000 | 37-63% |
| FANUC R-2000iB/165F | 165 kg | 2,655 mm | £70,000 | £22,000-£40,000 | 43-69% |
| ABB IRB 1200-7/0.7 | 7 kg | 703 mm | £20,000 | £8,000-£14,000 | 30-60% |
| ABB IRB 2600-12/1.65 | 12 kg | 1,650 mm | £35,000 | £12,000-£22,000 | 37-66% |
| ABB IRB 4600-45/2.05 | 45 kg | 2,050 mm | £55,000 | £18,000-£32,000 | 42-67% |
| ABB IRB 6700-235/2.65 | 235 kg | 2,650 mm | £80,000 | £25,000-£45,000 | 44-69% |
| Yaskawa HC10DT (cobot) | 10 kg | 1,200 mm | £32,000 | £14,000-£22,000 | 31-56% |
| Yaskawa HC20DT (cobot) | 20 kg | 1,700 mm | £42,000 | £18,000-£28,000 | 33-57% |
| Yaskawa GP8 | 8 kg | 727 mm | £22,000 | £8,000-£14,000 | 36-64% |
| Yaskawa GP25 | 25 kg | 1,730 mm | £38,000 | £13,000-£22,000 | 42-66% |
Prices are indicative ranges for UK transactions. VAT excluded. Controller included in price unless noted.
What Drives Used Industrial Robot Price
Payload and Reach
Larger robots cost more new and more used. The relationship is not perfectly linear -- a 50 kg robot is not five times the price of a 10 kg robot -- but payload class is the primary structural driver. High payload robots (120 kg+) used in automotive welding and press-to-press transfer retain strong absolute values even at deep percentage discounts because the replacement cost is very high.
For most UK SME buyers, the 6-25 kg payload class represents the best combination of affordability, used market supply, and application versatility. FANUC LR Mate, KUKA KR 6-10, and ABB IRB 1200-2600 series units are abundant and competitively priced.
Controller Generation
The controller is the brain of an industrial robot, and an outdated controller can limit software compatibility, spare parts availability, and integration options with modern PLCs and vision systems.
- FANUC: R-30iB Plus is current generation. R-30iB is fully supported. R-30iA is older -- check parts availability before purchasing.
- KUKA: KRC4 is the established current generation, KRC5 is latest. KRC2 units are very old; avoid unless extremely low price and simple application.
- ABB: IRC5 is the standard generation with strong support. OmniCore is the newest. IRC5 units from 2010+ are fully serviceable.
- Yaskawa: YRC1000 is current. DX200 is previous generation but well supported.
Budget an additional £3,000-£8,000 if a controller upgrade is needed to bring an older arm to current software compatibility.
Application History
An automotive spot welding robot has experienced very different stresses to a packaging line pick-and-place robot. Welding robots endure thermal cycling, spatter contamination, and repeated high-load moves. Packaging robots typically run lighter loads at moderate speeds. Ask specifically about the previous application and inspect accordingly.
Robots from food and beverage applications may have been subject to washdown cleaning, which can introduce moisture into joints and electrical enclosures if IP ratings were inadequate or gaskets aged. Inspect cable glands and junction boxes carefully.
Operating Hours and Cycle Count
Most industrial robot controllers log total power-on time and motion time. Request this data from the seller. A robot with 30,000 hours is not necessarily near end of life -- FANUC robots have logged 100,000+ hours in continuous production environments -- but it should influence your negotiation.
Major service intervals (gearbox oil changes, joint regreasing, balancer replacement) fall at regular hour-based intervals. Ask the seller for service records and identify which maintenance is overdue.
Inspection Checklist for Used Industrial Robot Arms
Complete this checklist before finalising any purchase. If the seller refuses access to diagnostic data, treat this as a serious red flag.
Controller and Software
- Export the controller fault log and review for recurring faults, servo alarms, and encoder errors
- Confirm the software version and check manufacturer support status
- Verify that all purchased software options (weld packages, vision software, fieldbus options) are registered and transferable
- Test pendant for all buttons, e-stop, and cable integrity
- Check battery backup date (controller memory batteries typically last 3-5 years; replacement is cheap but often overlooked)
Mechanical Inspection
- Run the robot through its full range of motion on all axes while listening for abnormal noise
- Check each joint for smooth operation with no stuttering, hesitation, or vibration
- Test backlash on J1 (base rotation) and J4/J5/J6 (wrist axes) by attempting to manually deviate the TCP while powered
- Inspect all cable tracks (tow chains) for broken links or cracked cable sheaths
- Check all axis limit switches for physical damage
- Inspect the robot base mounting and confirm it is undamaged and properly sealed
End-of-Arm Tooling (if included)
- Test any included tool changers for correct locking/unlocking
- Inspect pneumatic connections for leaks and hose condition
- Verify that force-torque sensors (if present) have not been overloaded (look for connector damage or bent tooling flanges)
UK Integrators and Refurbishers
Several UK businesses specialise in used industrial robot sales and integration. When buying from a specialist:
- RARUK Automation -- UK distributor for Universal Robots and Techman, also handles used industrial equipment
- EU Automation -- pan-European used parts and robot dealer with UK operations
- Automate-IT -- UK-based used robot dealer specialising in automotive-grade FANUC and KUKA units
- Surplex, TBAuctions, Bidspotter -- industrial auction platforms with regular UK robot listings
For commissioning support, the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) maintains a directory of UK-based certified robot integrators by brand and application.
Buying for Specific Applications
Welding
Arc welding applications demand robots with proven long-cycle reliability, accurate repeatability, and resistance to thermal cycling. FANUC Arc Mate series and KUKA KR Quantec robots are the dominant UK choices on the used market. Expect to pay £15,000-£30,000 for a used welding cell setup including robot, positioner, and weld package.
Machine Tending
For machine tending (loading/unloading CNC machines, injection moulding machines, or presses), medium payload robots in the 6-20 kg class are appropriate. A used FANUC M-10iA or KUKA KR 10 R1100 at £8,000-£15,000 represents strong value for this application. Consider whether collaborative operation is required -- if a safety cage is acceptable, an industrial arm offers better speed and cost than a cobot.
Palletising
High payload capacity and extended reach are priorities for palletising. FANUC M-410iB and KUKA KR QUANTEC PA series units appear regularly on the UK used market at £18,000-£35,000 and can handle stack heights and pallet configurations that smaller robots cannot reach.
Pick and Place
For high-speed pick and place, delta robot architectures (FANUC M-1iA, ABB FlexPicker) offer cycle times that articulated arms cannot match. Used delta robots are rarer on the UK market but do appear from food and pharmaceutical line decommissions, typically at £8,000-£18,000.
Understanding Total Cost of Ownership
The purchase price is only one component of total used robot cost. Factor in:
- Safety guarding: £5,000-£20,000 for a basic enclosure; more for interlocked cells with light curtains
- Integration labour: £5,000-£25,000 depending on application complexity
- End-of-arm tooling: £1,000-£10,000 depending on gripper type
- Service overdue maintenance: check service interval status and budget accordingly
- Electrical installation: 3-phase power supply, earth bonding, control cabinet installation
A used robot at £10,000 can become a £35,000 installed system by the time it is running production. This is still substantially cheaper than the equivalent new installation, but buyers should plan for total project cost rather than robot purchase price alone.
See the Robot Resale Index for depreciation data by model, and browse available UK listings at Robot AutoTrader.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a used industrial robot arm cost in the UK? Used industrial robot arms sell at 35-60% below new list price. A used FANUC LR Mate 200iD sells for £8,000-£14,000 versus £22,000 new. A used ABB IRB 6700 sells for £25,000-£45,000 versus £80,000+ new.
Which industrial robot brand holds its value best? FANUC holds value best on the UK market, driven by its reliability reputation and strong UK support network. ABB IRB 6700 series also retains value well. Yaskawa tends to depreciate faster, offering value opportunities for buyers.
What controller generations should I look for? For FANUC, R-30iB and R-30iB Plus. For ABB, IRC5 and OmniCore. For KUKA, KRC4 and KRC5 (avoid KRC2). For Yaskawa, YRC1000 or DX200. Avoid controllers more than two generations old unless price reflects the limitation.
Do I need a safety cage for a used industrial robot? Yes. Industrial robot arms require safety guarding -- hard barriers, light curtains, or safety scanners. Budget £5,000-£20,000 for a basic enclosure. CE marking requires a risk assessment and documented safety installation.
Where can I find used industrial robot arms in the UK? Sources include specialist resellers (RARUK, EU Automation, Automate-IT), industrial auctions (Surplex, TBAuctions), and direct disposals from manufacturing plant closures. Browse current UK listings on Robot AutoTrader.
What is the difference between a cobot and an industrial robot arm? Cobots operate safely near humans using force limiting, without safety caging. Industrial arms operate at full speed and require guarding. Industrial arms are faster, handle heavier payloads, and are more cost-effective for high-throughput applications where human proximity is not required. See the used cobot price guide for cobot-specific pricing.