Head to head
Kawasaki CP180L vs Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Four-axis palletizer for case and bag stacking
High speed palletizer for cases, bags, and drums
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
On paper these two are close, 180 kg against 160 kg and 3255 mm against 3159 mm of reach, near enough that the spec sheet alone will not decide it. They run different controllers, the Kawasaki CP180L on the E03 and the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II on the DX200, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the Kawasaki CP180L when
- Long reach covers multiple pallet stations
- High payload for bagged and bulk loads
- Simple four-axis kinematics for maintenance
- Consistent stacking accuracy at speed
Watch for
- Large swing radius requires guarding clearance
- Dedicated to palletizing motion, not general handling
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II when
- High throughput palletizing cycle
- Long reach covers full pallet patterns
- Purpose tuned motion for stacking speed
- Works with common layer forming software
Watch for
- Dedicated to palletizing rather than general handling
- Large reach needs a clear cell footprint
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- Kawasaki
- Controller
- E03
- Class
- palletizing
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Kawasaki CP180L run through Kawasaki's E03 stack.
- Brand
- Yaskawa
- Controller
- DX200
- Class
- palletizing
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II run through Yaskawa's DX200 stack.
These arms run different controllers (E03 vs DX200). 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 | Kawasaki CP180L | Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor | Floor |
| Robot mass | 1,600 kg | 1,700 kg |
| Protection (IP) | Not confirmed | IP54 body / IP67 wrist |
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 palletizing, packaging, and material handling.
Kawasaki CP180L covers
Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II 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 Kawasaki CP180L is a palletizing arm rated 180 kg at 3255 mm with ±0.5 mm repeatability. The Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II is a palletizing arm rated 160 kg at 3159 mm with ±0.5 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 Kawasaki CP180L or the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II?
- The Kawasaki CP180L has more payload at 180 kg versus 160 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Kawasaki CP180L has more reach at 3255 mm versus 3159 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- Both are rated at ±0.5 mm repeatability.
- Should I choose the Kawasaki CP180L or the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II?
- Match the pick to the job. The Kawasaki CP180L is a palletizing arm at 180 kg and 3255 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II is a palletizing arm at 160 kg and 3159 mm.
- Do the Kawasaki CP180L and Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II use the same controller?
- No. The Kawasaki CP180L uses E03 and the Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II uses DX200.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The Kawasaki CP180L is rated not confirmed. The Yaskawa Motoman MPL160 II is rated IP54 body / IP67 wrist. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.