Buyer's Guide

Something has shifted fundamentally in the conversations I have with manufacturers. In 2026, the conversation has shifted. Three years ago I was explaining what a cobot is. Now buyers come to me with spreadsheets asking which model gives the best payback per dollar. That tells me the industry has ma

Selecting the right painting robot in 2026 is a more consequential decision than it was just a few years ago. Regulatory pressure on solvent emissions has tightened dramatically — particularly across the EU and China — and buyers who previously relied on manual spray booths are now finding that comp

Before you read any further, I want to give you the direct answer most buyers are actually looking for: if you are palletizing uniform boxes or bags from a conveyor line, a 4-axis robot will almost always outperform a 6-axis robot on speed, beat it on price, and be simpler to program and maintain. O

In 2026, palletizing and material handling automation is no longer reserved for the largest factories with the deepest budgets. Mid-size manufacturers across food and beverage, logistics, and consumer goods are now deploying industrial palletizing robots as standard equipment — and they are doing it

Every week, I speak with plant managers, operations directors, and CFOs who are seriously evaluating robot automation for the first time. They come to me with a spreadsheet, a gut feeling, or both. And the most common thing I hear is some version of: "We know robots will pay off — we just need to pr