Head to head
ABB IRB 6700 vs Yaskawa Motoman GP180
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
ABB's flagship heavy six-axis family.
Heavy payload workhorse for palletizing and handling
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 carries more, 180 kg to the ABB IRB 6700's 150 kg. They run different controllers, the ABB IRB 6700 on the OmniCore / IRC5 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 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 machine tending, with the ABB IRB 6700 stretching to spot welding and the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 to palletizing and 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 6700 when
- Long reach variants
- Strong service tooling
Watch for
- Large footprint
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 when
- Reliable heavy duty platform
- Good reach for large pallet patterns
- Proven in multi shift industrial use
- Broad tooling compatibility
Watch for
- Requires solid foundation for full rated load
- Not suited to light, high speed work
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- ABB
- Controller
- OmniCore / IRC5
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the ABB IRB 6700 run through ABB's OmniCore / IRC5 stack.
- Brand
- Yaskawa
- Controller
- YRC1000
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 run through Yaskawa's YRC1000 stack.
These arms run different controllers (OmniCore / 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 6700 | Yaskawa Motoman GP180 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor | Floor |
| Robot mass | 1,280 kg | 1,020 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP67 | IP67 wrist / IP54 body (main axes S,L,U) |
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 machine tending, with the differences below.
ABB IRB 6700 also covers
Yaskawa Motoman GP180 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 6700 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 150 kg at 3200 mm with ±0.05 mm repeatability. The Yaskawa Motoman GP180 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 180 kg at 2702 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 6700 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP180?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP180 has more payload at 180 kg versus 150 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The ABB IRB 6700 has more reach at 3200 mm versus 2702 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- Both are rated at ±0.05 mm repeatability.
- Should I choose the ABB IRB 6700 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP180?
- Match the pick to the job. The ABB IRB 6700 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 150 kg and 3200 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman GP180 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 180 kg and 2702 mm.
- Do the ABB IRB 6700 and Yaskawa Motoman GP180 use the same controller?
- No. The ABB IRB 6700 uses OmniCore / IRC5 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP180 uses YRC1000.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The ABB IRB 6700 is rated IP67. The Yaskawa Motoman GP180 is rated IP67 wrist / IP54 body (main axes S,L,U). Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.