Head to head
KUKA KR 10 R1420 vs Yaskawa Motoman GP12
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Mid reach arm for general assembly and handling
General purpose mid size robot for handling and assembly
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 carries more, 12 kg to the KUKA KR 10 R1420's 10 kg. If precision drives the job, the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 holds the tighter repeatability at ±0.02 mm. They run different controllers, the KUKA KR 10 R1420 on the KR C4 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 on the YRC1000, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the KUKA KR 10 R1420 lists Floor, Ceiling, Wall, and Angle, and the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 lists Floor, Wall, Ceiling, and Tilt.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the KUKA KR 10 R1420 when
- Long reach for its weight class
- Consistent repeatability across the work envelope
- Compatible with KUKA's broad software ecosystem
- Easy to retrofit into existing cells
Watch for
- Needs a stable base for full reach accuracy
- Not designed for heavy tooling
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 when
- Good reach for a mid size robot
- High repeatability for precision assembly
- Washdown rated construction
- Flexible mounting orientations
Watch for
- Payload ceiling limits heavier tooling
- Mid range reach may need auxiliary axes for larger cells
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- KUKA
- Controller
- KR C4
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the KUKA KR 10 R1420 run through KUKA's KR C4 stack.
- Brand
- Yaskawa
- Controller
- YRC1000
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 run through Yaskawa's YRC1000 stack.
These arms run different controllers (KR C4 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 | KUKA KR 10 R1420 | Yaskawa Motoman GP12 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor, Ceiling, Wall, and Angle | Floor, Wall, Ceiling, and Tilt |
| Robot mass | 160 kg | 150 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP54 | IP67 wrist / IP54 body (IP65 optional) |
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 machine tending, material handling, assembly, and packaging.
KUKA KR 10 R1420 covers
Yaskawa Motoman GP12 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 KUKA KR 10 R1420 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 10 kg at 1420 mm with ±0.04 mm repeatability. The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 12 kg at 1440 mm with ±0.02 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 KUKA KR 10 R1420 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP12?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 has more payload at 12 kg versus 10 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 has more reach at 1440 mm versus 1420 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 holds tighter repeatability at ±0.02 mm.
- Should I choose the KUKA KR 10 R1420 or the Yaskawa Motoman GP12?
- Match the pick to the job. The KUKA KR 10 R1420 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 10 kg and 1420 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 12 kg and 1440 mm.
- Do the KUKA KR 10 R1420 and Yaskawa Motoman GP12 use the same controller?
- No. The KUKA KR 10 R1420 uses KR C4 and the Yaskawa Motoman GP12 uses YRC1000.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The KUKA KR 10 R1420 is rated IP54. The Yaskawa Motoman GP12 is rated IP67 wrist / IP54 body (IP65 optional). Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.