Head to head
Comau NJ-165 vs Yaskawa Motoman GP280
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Heavy duty robot for handling and press tending
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 Comau NJ-165's 165 kg. If precision drives the job, the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 holds the tighter repeatability at ±0.05 mm. They run different controllers, the Comau NJ-165 on the C5G and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 on the YRC1000, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the Comau NJ-165 lists Floor and Ceiling, and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 lists Floor. Both are aimed at material handling and press tending, with the Comau NJ-165 stretching to machine tending.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the Comau NJ-165 when
- High payload for large part transfer
- Stiff arm holds accuracy under heavy load
- Proven in press tending and foundry lines
- Broad tooling compatibility
Watch for
- Large footprint and mass need dedicated foundation work
- Not suited to light or high speed 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
- Comau
- Controller
- C5G
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Comau NJ-165 run through Comau's C5G 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 (C5G 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 | Comau NJ-165 | Yaskawa Motoman GP280 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor and Ceiling | Floor |
| Robot mass | 1,240 kg | 1,300 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP65 / 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, press tending, and palletizing, with the differences below.
Comau NJ-165 also covers
Yaskawa Motoman GP280 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 Comau NJ-165 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 165 kg at 3000 mm with ±0.09 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 Comau NJ-165 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP280?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 has more payload at 280 kg versus 165 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Comau NJ-165 has more reach at 3000 mm versus 2446 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 holds tighter repeatability at ±0.05 mm.
- Should I choose the Comau NJ-165 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP280?
- Match the pick to the job. The Comau NJ-165 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 165 kg and 3000 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman GP280 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 280 kg and 2446 mm.
- Do the Comau NJ-165 and Yaskawa Motoman GP280 use the same controller?
- No. The Comau NJ-165 uses C5G and the Yaskawa Motoman GP280 uses YRC1000.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The Comau NJ-165 is rated IP65 / 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.