Head to head
Universal Robots UR30 vs Yaskawa Motoman HC20
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
High payload cobot for heavy parts and pallets
Higher payload cobot for heavier collaborative tasks
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the Universal Robots UR30 carries more, 30 kg to the Yaskawa Motoman HC20's 20 kg, and the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 reaches farther, 1700 mm to 1300 mm. If precision drives the job, the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 holds the tighter repeatability at ±0.05 mm. They run different controllers, the Universal Robots UR30 on the Control Box and the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 on the YRC1000 / YRC1000micro, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the Universal Robots UR30 lists Any, and the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 lists Floor, Wall, and Ceiling. Both are aimed at collaborative assembly and machine tending, with the Universal Robots UR30 stretching to palletizing.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the Universal Robots UR30 when
- 30 kg rated payload, with 35 kg allowed under UR's boundary conditions in the manual.
- 1300 mm reach broadens palletizing and machine tending envelopes compared with earlier UR models.
- ±0.1 mm pose repeatability per ISO 9283 for consistent pick and place.
- Mounts in any orientation and rated IP65 for typical shop floor use.
Watch for
- Rated payload is 30 kg; the 35 kg figure requires the boundary conditions in the UR manual, so review before quoting.
- Collaborative speed depends on the risk assessment, so expect fenceless cycle time to be slower than a caged industrial arm.
- 63.5 kg arm mass makes the UR30 heavier than smaller UR models; size any cart or pedestal accordingly.
Choose the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 when
- Higher payload than most collaborative robots
- Full size industrial reach in a cobot form factor
- Washdown rated for light industrial environments
- Power and force limiting
Watch for
- Larger arm mass than lighter cobots in its class
- Collaborative speed limits reduce cycle time versus a caged robot
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- Universal Robots
- Controller
- Control Box
- Class
- collaborative
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Universal Robots UR30 run through Universal Robots's Control Box stack.
- Brand
- Yaskawa
- Controller
- YRC1000 / YRC1000micro
- Class
- collaborative
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 run through Yaskawa's YRC1000 / YRC1000micro stack.
These arms run different controllers (Control Box vs YRC1000 / YRC1000micro). 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 | Universal Robots UR30 | Yaskawa Motoman HC20 |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Any | Floor, Wall, and Ceiling |
| Robot mass | 63.5 kg | 140 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP65 | IP67 |
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 collaborative assembly, machine tending, and material handling, with the differences below.
Universal Robots UR30 also covers
Yaskawa Motoman HC20 covers
- collaborative assembly
- machine tending
- material handling
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 Universal Robots UR30 is a collaborative arm rated 30 kg at 1300 mm with ±0.1 mm repeatability. The Yaskawa Motoman HC20 is a collaborative arm rated 20 kg at 1700 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 Universal Robots UR30 or the Yaskawa Motoman HC20?
- The Universal Robots UR30 has more payload at 30 kg versus 20 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Yaskawa Motoman HC20 has more reach at 1700 mm versus 1300 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The Yaskawa Motoman HC20 holds tighter repeatability at ±0.05 mm.
- Should I choose the Universal Robots UR30 or the Yaskawa Motoman HC20?
- Match the pick to the job. The Universal Robots UR30 is a collaborative arm at 30 kg and 1300 mm. The Yaskawa Motoman HC20 is a collaborative arm at 20 kg and 1700 mm.
- Do the Universal Robots UR30 and Yaskawa Motoman HC20 use the same controller?
- No. The Universal Robots UR30 uses Control Box and the Yaskawa Motoman HC20 uses YRC1000 / YRC1000micro.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The Universal Robots UR30 is rated IP65. The Yaskawa Motoman HC20 is rated IP67. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.