Head to head
ABB IRB 6640 vs Yaskawa Motoman GP280
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Heavy-payload foundry-proven material handler
High payload robot for the heaviest handling jobs
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 carries more, 280 kg to the ABB IRB 6640's 235 kg. They run different controllers, the ABB IRB 6640 on the IRC5 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 on the YRC1000, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Both are aimed at material handling and palletizing, with the ABB IRB 6640 stretching to machine tending and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 to press tending.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the ABB IRB 6640 when
- Proven in foundry and press-tending duty
- High payload with foundry-sealed options
- Rigid structure holds accuracy under load
- Long service life in continuous operation
Watch for
- Large footprint and foundation needs
- Not economical for lighter-duty tasks
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 when
- High payload for heavy component handling
- Reach suited to large pallet footprints
- Durable construction for continuous duty
- Consistent accuracy under heavy load
Watch for
- Large footprint and mass need foundation planning
- Overkill for light or medium duty tasks
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- ABB
- Controller
- IRC5
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the ABB IRB 6640 run through ABB's IRC5 stack.
- Brand
- Yaskawa
- Controller
- YRC1000
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 run through Yaskawa's YRC1000 stack.
These arms run different controllers (IRC5 vs YRC1000). If your team already programs one of them, retraining programmers and stocking a second set of spares usually costs more than a small payload or reach advantage on paper.
Mounting, footprint, and mass
How the arm can be oriented in the cell, and how much mass you have to mount.
| Field | ABB IRB 6640 | Yaskawa Motoman GP280 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor | Floor |
| Robot mass | 1,310 kg | 1,300 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP67 | IP67 wrist / IP54 body (IP65 body with XP option) |
Heavier arms want stiffer bases and more clearance around the swept volume, and they push freight and rigging costs up on the install. IP ratings only cover the section they name, so a wrist-only rating protects the wrist and nothing else; check the body rating separately before you commit the arm to a washdown or dusty cell.
Application fit
Where each arm is aimed, based on the applications listed on its robot page.
Both pages list material handling and palletizing, with the differences below.
ABB IRB 6640 also covers
Yaskawa Motoman GP280 also covers
Speed and cycle-time planning
Speed is rarely a single datasheet number across brands. Use payload, reach, and class as the planning frame, then confirm cycle time in a path study.
The ABB IRB 6640 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 235 kg at 2550 mm with ±0.05 mm repeatability. The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 280 kg at 2446 mm with ±0.05 mm. Class changes how speed shows up in a cell: collaborative arms slow down near people and can speed up in a guarded mode, while industrial arms run at rated speed inside a fence or scanner field. Which arm cycles faster on your part depends on the path, the payload, and the safeguarding, so confirm the takt with a path study before you quote it.
Common questions
- Which has more payload, the ABB IRB 6640 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP280?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 has more payload at 280 kg versus 235 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The ABB IRB 6640 has more reach at 2550 mm versus 2446 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- Both are rated at ±0.05 mm repeatability.
- Should I choose the ABB IRB 6640 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP280?
- Match the pick to the job. The ABB IRB 6640 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 235 kg and 2550 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 280 kg and 2446 mm.
- Do the ABB IRB 6640 and Yaskawa Motoman GP280 use the same controller?
- No. The ABB IRB 6640 uses IRC5 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 uses YRC1000.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The ABB IRB 6640 is rated IP67. The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 is rated IP67 wrist / IP54 body (IP65 body with XP option). Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.