SZGH-BCi20 | 20 kg Collaborative Robot — 1,650 mm Reach, Flagship Heavy Cobot, No Safety Fence

SZGH-BCi20: Flagship 20 kg Collaborative Robot — Maximum Reach, Maximum Payload, No Safety Fence

The SZGH-BCi20 is designed for system integrators and factory automation managers who need to automate large-scale, heavy material handling tasks in mixed human-robot environments — without resorting to traditional caged industrial robots. At 20 kg payload with a 1,650 mm working radius, the BCi20 covers full-pallet-depth reach patterns, cross-conveyor transfer tasks, large-frame welding fixture loading, and high-stack palletizing operations that are out of range for any other BC i Series model. Powered by a 1,000 W average / 3,000 W peak drive system and a reinforced 63 kg all-metal chassis, the BCi20 is built for sustained heavy-duty cycling. The full SZGH integration ecosystem — SDK (C/C++/Lua/Python), Modbus/Profinet, ROS2, 32-channel I/O — provides the connectivity backbone for SI integrators building large-format logistics and assembly automation systems where the BCi20 must coordinate with conveyors, AGVs, vision systems, and safety PLCs simultaneously.

Full Specifications

Robot Arm — SZGH-BCi20

Note on J1/J2 speed: At 93°/s, J1 and J2 are tuned for controlled large-radius motion with a 20 kg payload. This reflects the mechanical realities of moving a 63 kg arm structure with 20 kg at 1,650 mm extension — stability and repeatability at full reach are the engineering priority. Cycle time optimization is achieved through trajectory planning (minimizing unnecessary J1/J2 rotation) rather than maximum angular speed.

Control Box

Control Box I/O Specifications

BCi20 Control Box Note: The BCi20 uses a larger control box (410×285×390 mm) compared to other BC i Series models to accommodate the 3,000 W peak power drive hardware required for 20 kg heavy-payload operation.

Communication & Software

5 Core Advantages of the BCi20

No Safety Fence — 20 kg Heavy Payload Collaborative Robot for Mixed Logistics Environments

A 20 kg collaborative robot without a safety fence represents the current frontier of collaborative robot engineering. Traditional robots at this payload class are invariably behind hard guarding, requiring fixed cell layouts that eliminate the flexibility advantages of collaborative deployment. The BCi20 achieves PL=d, CAT 3 collaborative safety certification at 20 kg through a multi-layer safety architecture: 10-level configurable collision detection tuned to the robot's higher inertia profile, momentum-monitored joint control that detects unexpected contact even at the lower angular speeds characteristic of the large-radius arm, and the full 32-channel I/O safety infrastructure for safety fence/light curtain/safety mat integration when site-specific risk assessments require additional safeguards. For logistics integrators and large-format assembly line designers, this collaborative capability changes the fundamental economics of automation: instead of permanently caging a 20 kg robot behind 2-meter fencing, the BCi20 can be deployed in reconfigurable cells, shared workspaces, and AGV-coordinated zones where operators move freely.

1,650 mm Reach — The Largest Working Radius in the BC i Series

The BCi20's 1,650 mm reach is 300 mm beyond the next-longest model in the BC i Series (BCi10 at 1,350 mm) and outreaches the majority of collaborative robots in the 20 kg payload class from competing manufacturers. What does 1,650 mm mean in practice? It means the BCi20 can reach across a full EUR pallet (1,200×800 mm) from one side to the opposite corner while also reaching upward to a 5- or 6-layer pallet stack — all from a single base position. It means a single BCi20 can service both sides of a wide conveyor (1,200 mm belt width) for pick-and-transfer operations without a second robot or base relocation. For large subframe handling in automotive or heavy industrial assembly, the 1,650 mm reach covers the widest fixture footprints in the BCi series. This reach advantage, combined with the 20 kg payload, makes the BCi20 the only BC i Series model that can handle full-payload palletizing tasks at scale without base repositioning compromises.

Open System — SI-Ready for Complex Logistics and Assembly Architectures

Logistics and large-assembly integrators operate the most complex automation architectures in manufacturing: WMS/WCS coordination for pallet tracking, AGV fleet management for material delivery, vision-guided picking from mixed-SKU bins, conveyor PLC synchronization, and safety PLC integration across multi-zone warehouse environments. The SZGH open architecture supports every layer of this complexity. Modbus-TCP and optional Profinet provide direct PLC handshake with conveyor controllers, palletizer safety PLCs, and AGV fleet management systems. The Python SDK's async event model enables event-driven coordination between the BCi20 and WCS pallet tracking systems — receiving pallet ID and box placement pattern from the WCS and executing the optimized stacking sequence without manual program intervention. ROS2 support enables native integration with vision-guided picking pipelines (3D bin picking, barcode/RFID verification) that are increasingly standard in modern logistics automation. For SI teams building next-generation collaborative logistics cells, the BCi20's open architecture is designed to fit into architectures that already exist, not require replacing them.

16-Channel Safe I/O — Industrial-Grade Signal Management for Multi-Zone Logistics Safety

Large logistics cells and heavy assembly environments involve extensive safety signal architectures: area scanner zone monitoring (multiple SICK/Keyence safety scanners), collaborative workspace boundary signals, conveyor jam/stop interlocks, AGV approach signals, pallet presence sensors, load cell monitoring on palletizers, and upstream supply chain safety signals. The BCi20 control box's 16-channel safety-rated DI and 16-channel safety-rated DO handle this signal volume within a single certified controller, eliminating the external safety relay expansion modules that add cost and BOM complexity to logistics cell builds. The 16 general-purpose DI/DO channels handle process signals: pallet barcode reader trigger outputs, conveyor start/stop, stretch wrap machine interlocks, label printer triggers, and part-in-position sensors. The 4 analog input channels support direct reading of area safety scanner distance outputs or load cell signals for weight verification. For SI engineers building logistics cells with IEC 62061/ISO 13849 compliance requirements, the BCi20 provides a pre-certified, fully documented safety I/O architecture that simplifies the machinery safety assessment.

6–12 Month ROI — Replacing Heavy Manual Labor with Domestic-Component Collaborative Automation

Heavy palletizing, large-part handling, and loading/unloading of heavy workpieces represent some of the highest-cost manual labor positions in manufacturing and logistics — both in terms of wages (skilled material handlers for heavy loads command premium rates in many markets) and in terms of injury costs (musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive heavy lifting are the single largest category of workplace injury claims in many countries). The BCi20 directly addresses both cost drivers. At a system price typically 30–40% below comparable European heavy-payload collaborative platforms, the BCi20 makes 20 kg collaborative automation economically viable for mid-size logistics operators and manufacturers in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Brazil, and other high-growth emerging market manufacturing hubs. In three-shift heavy palletizing operations (1,000–2,000 boxes/shift), a single BCi20 typically replaces 2–3 FTE operators, with payback periods of 6–10 months depending on labor cost and throughput.

Application Scenarios

Recommended priority industries for BCi20: Palletizing & Logistics, Large Assembly, Heavy Machine Tending.

Series Comparison & Selection Guide

BC i Series — Mid-to-Large Arm Group

BCi20 vs. BCi10 — Decision Guide

BCi20 vs. BCi16 — Decision Guide

See BCi16 product page for detailed comparison. Summary: BCi20 for maximum reach and payload; BCi16 for maximum precision (±0.03 mm) at shorter reach.

Selection Decision Tree

Need maximum reach in BC i Series (≥1,600 mm)?
→ BCi20 ✓ (you are here)

Need maximum payload (20 kg)?
→ BCi20 ✓

Need ±0.1 mm is sufficient AND large-envelope heavy operation?
→ BCi20 ✓

Need ±0.03 mm precision + heavy payload?
├─ Large reach (1,250 mm)? → BCi12
└─ Compact reach (967.5 mm) + max payload (16 kg)? → BCi16

Customer Perspective — Fannie Chen, CEO, SZGH

"A logistics and warehouse automation integrator in Surabaya, Indonesia — building an automated palletizing cell for a fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer — came to us with a specific challenge: they needed a robot that could build mixed-weight pallet stacks on 1,200×1,000 mm pallets with boxes up to 18 kg each, reach across the full pallet depth from one side, and operate in a warehouse aisle shared with human workers on adjacent packing stations. Every 20 kg robot they had evaluated before was a traditional industrial arm that required a 3-meter cage — destroying the aisle layout and requiring a full warehouse re-plan. We deployed two BCi20 units. The 1,650 mm reach covered the full pallet depth without base repositioning, and the collaborative certification meant the customer used SICK safety scanners for zone monitoring instead of physical fencing, preserving the aisle throughput. After 60 days of operation, palletizing throughput increased from 420 to 680 pallets per shift, and the two operators previously dedicated to manual palletizing were redeployed to QC inspection stations. The integrator's customer reported a 9-month payback. The BCi20 is built for exactly these large-envelope, heavy-payload logistics challenges."

By Fannie Chen, CEO, Shenzhen Guanhong Automation Co., Ltd. (SZGH) | May 2026

Control System

The BCi20 runs the SZGH GRC (Guanhong Robot Controller) platform with heavy-payload motion firmware, operating a 3,000 W peak power drive system — the highest-power drive in the BC i Series. The GRC implements adaptive trajectory planning that accounts for the BCi20's higher inertial characteristics at 1,650 mm reach: J1 and J2 angular speeds are limited to 93°/s (versus 178°/s in lighter models) to maintain mechanical integrity and repeatability when moving 20 kg at full extension. The motion planner compensates for this through path optimization — minimizing large J1/J2 rotation in task trajectories and maximizing use of the faster J3–J6 axes (178°/s) for fine positioning — achieving competitive cycle times in palletizing and transfer tasks despite the conservative J1/J2 speed profile.

The teach pendant (7-inch touchscreen, IP54-rated) includes a purpose-built palletizing programming wizard: operators define pallet dimensions, box size, layer pattern, and stack height, and the GRC automatically generates the full multi-layer stacking trajectory with collision-avoidance path planning. For logistics SI integrators, this eliminates manual waypoint programming for standard palletizing patterns and dramatically reduces commissioning time. Advanced trajectory features include conveyor tracking (synchronize with moving conveyor belt for in-motion pick), dynamic payload compensation (adjust trajectory dynamics when payload weight varies between boxes), and multi-pallet pattern management (store and recall multiple pallet configurations for quick product changeover).

SDK & Developer Integration

Supported Languages

• C / C++ (native library, sub-millisecond Ethernet latency)

• Lua (embedded scripting for on-controller palletizing logic and pattern management)

• Python 3.x (async API for WCS/WMS integration, pallet tracking, barcode verification)

Communication Protocols

• Ethernet (TCP/IP): Primary high-speed control channel — primary interface for WCS/WMS integration

• Modbus-RTU / Modbus-TCP: Standard PLC register mapping; 250+ pre-mapped registers for conveyor PLCs, palletizer safety PLCs, and stretch wrap machine integration

• Profinet (optional): Siemens TIA Portal-compatible; 1 ms cyclic data — for automotive or large-factory line PLCs

• RS485: Legacy barcode scanners, conveyor drives, weighing scales, label printers

ROS Integration

• ROS1 (Noetic) and ROS2 (Humble / Iron) packages

• MoveIt2 URDF with full BCi20 collision geometry (large chassis, extended reach)

• Tested with Mech-Mind 3D bin-picking system (vision-guided heavy item picking)

• AMR/AGV coordination via ROS2 topic bridge (MiR, Geek+, OTTO Motors platforms)

• Nav2-compatible for BCi20 mounted on mobile base (AMR-mounted palletizing)

Third-Party Integration (Pre-Validated)

• PLCs: Siemens S7-1200/1500, Omron NX/NJ, Mitsubishi iQ-R, Allen-Bradley (via Modbus-TCP)

• WCS/WMS: Standard REST API for SAP EWM, Oracle WMS, and custom WCS platforms

• Vision: Mech-Mind, Keyence IV3, Cognex In-Sight; barcode/RFID readers via RS485/Ethernet

• Safety Scanners: SICK S300/S3000, Keyence SZ series (area monitoring, zone-based speed control)

• AGV/AMR: MiR, Geek+, Milvus Robotics (coordination for mobile palletizing cells)

• Stretch Wrap / Conveyor: Modbus-TCP trigger interface for downstream palletizer accessories

Quick-Start Python Example

import szgh_sdk as robot
arm = robot.connect("192.168.1.103")
arm.set_payload(mass=18.0, cog=[0, 0, 150])   # Configure 18 kg box payload
arm.move_to(x=1200, y=0, z=800, rx=0, ry=90, rz=0, speed=800)
arm.set_do(port=1, value=1)   # Release vacuum gripper

Full API documentation, palletizing wizard programming guide, and logistics integration packages available at szghtech.com. For WCS integration SDK package (REST endpoint guide, ROS2 pallet tracking topics, conveyor sync API), contact export02@szghtech.com.

Safety Certifications — Plain Language

CE (European Conformity): BCi20 meets EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and harmonized collaborative robot safety standards. At 20 kg payload, the CE certification with PL=d, CAT 3 is a significant engineering achievement and provides the documentation foundation required for CE machinery declarations in EU-destined logistics and industrial automation systems.

UL (Underwriters Laboratories): North American electrical safety certification. Required for US/Canada deployment; increasingly expected by US-based 3PL operators and manufacturing companies in supplier qualification processes.

KCs (Korea Certification): Korean electrical and safety certification for direct deployment in Korean-affiliated manufacturing and logistics operations, including South Korean export-oriented factories in Southeast Asia.

PL=d, CAT 3 (ISO 13849): At 20 kg collaborative payload, PL=d, CAT 3 is the defining safety certification. It confirms that the BCi20's safety functions (collision detection, emergency stop, safety I/O processing) achieve a probability of dangerous failure per hour between 10⁻⁷ and 10⁻⁶, with a single-fault-tolerant architecture. For logistics operators and SI integrators building collaborative palletizing and large-assembly cells where operators work in adjacent zones, this certification is the legal and technical foundation for collaborative deployment. SZGH provides a CE Technical File excerpt for the BCi20 safety subsystem on request, supporting customers' own Machinery Directive declarations.

Warranty: 12 months from delivery on robot arm and control system. Authorized service partners in 40+ countries. For logistics operations requiring defined uptime SLAs, SZGH offers extended service contracts with 24-hour remote support and 72-hour on-site response targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can a 20 kg collaborative robot genuinely operate without a safety fence near human workers?

Yes, with appropriate risk assessment and safety system configuration per ISO/TS 15066 and ISO 12100. The BCi20 is certified PL=d, CAT 3, with 10-level collision detection calibrated to its 20 kg payload and 63 kg structure inertia profile. In practice, most BCi20 deployments use area safety scanners (SICK S300 or equivalent) to define collaborative zones — reducing robot speed when a human enters a proximity zone, and stopping when within a minimum safety distance — rather than a physical fence. This approach maintains collaborative flexibility while meeting the safety distance requirements of ISO/TS 15066. SZGH provides a safety zone configuration toolkit and application-specific guidance for palletizing, logistics, and assembly collaborative cell designs.

Q2: Can the BCi20 integrate directly with our WMS (Warehouse Management System)?

Yes. The BCi20's Python SDK provides an async REST-compatible API layer that enables direct integration with WMS platforms such as SAP EWM, Oracle WMS, Manhattan Associates WMS, and custom WCS platforms. The integration pattern is: WMS sends pallet build order (box count, weight, dimensions, SKU) to the BCi20 control system via REST API or Modbus-TCP; the GRC palletizing planner generates the stacking trajectory; the BCi20 executes the pallet build; completion and quality status are reported back to WMS. SZGH provides a WMS integration API reference document and a commissioning guide for this workflow. For direct Siemens WCS (TIA Portal-based) integration, the optional Profinet interface is the recommended path.

Q3: Can the 16 safety I/O channels handle the safety architecture of a large palletizing cell with multiple safety scanners?

Yes. The 16 safety-rated DI and 16 safety-rated DO channels accommodate: SICK/Keyence area scanner dual-channel output signals (multiple scanner zones), e-stop loops from multiple safety buttons around the cell perimeter, conveyor safety interlocks (upstream and downstream), pallet conveyor zone control outputs, AGV approach signals, and robot enable/disable handshakes from the safety PLC — simultaneously. The 16 general-purpose DI/DO handle process signals: pallet barcode confirmation, box weight verification, label printer trigger, and stretch wrap machine interlock. For SI engineers sizing the safety I/O for a large palletizing cell, SZGH provides an I/O mapping worksheet covering typical logistics cell signal architectures.

Q4: Is the BCi20 the right choice for heavy palletizing, or should we consider a traditional palletizing robot?

The BCi20 is the right choice when: (1) collaborative operation — no fence, shared workspace with human workers — is a requirement; (2) cell flexibility and reconfigurability are priorities (product changeover, seasonal layout adjustments); (3) the 1,650 mm reach and 20 kg payload cover your pallet pattern and box weight requirements. Traditional industrial palletizing robots offer higher axis speed (larger J1/J2 angular velocity) and higher cycle rates for very high throughput, single-SKU palletizing at 1,500+ cycles/hour. If your application involves mixed SKUs, moderate throughput, collaborative workspace sharing, and frequent product changeover, the BCi20's advantages — flexibility, collaborative safety, open integration architecture — outweigh the speed disadvantage. SZGH's application engineering team can model cycle time for your specific pallet pattern and box dimensions to confirm BCi20 suitability before commitment.

Q5: How does the BCi20 compare to the BCi10 for palletizing tasks?

The BCi20 (20 kg, 1,650 mm reach) is the correct choice for standard industrial carton palletizing where box weight exceeds 10 kg, pallet depth requires >1,350 mm reach, or maximum stack height with simultaneous full-pallet-depth reach is required. The BCi10 (10 kg, 1,350 mm reach) covers smaller-format, lighter carton palletizing where its faster J1/J2 speed (178°/s vs. 93°/s) can deliver competitive cycle times. For boxes 8–10 kg on EUR pallets, both models can be evaluated for cycle time against the specific pallet pattern — contact SZGH for a comparative simulation.

Q6: What base and structural requirements are needed for the BCi20?

The BCi20 body weight is 63 kg — significantly heavier than other BC i Series models. The base must carry this static weight plus dynamic reaction forces from 20 kg payload motion at 1,650 mm extension. SZGH's BCi20 base design guide specifies minimum base rigidity of ≥15 Hz natural frequency for standard applications, with concrete pad, steel column, and elevated mounting platform designs documented for common logistics and assembly cell configurations. The bolt pattern is M10 (8×, 63 mm bolt circle). Any-angle mounting is supported; overhead mounting requires confirmation of structural beam load capacity (account for 83 kg combined robot + control box + gripper mass). SZGH provides structural load calculations on request.

Q7: What is the after-sales service structure for logistics and production-critical BCi20 deployments?

For production-critical logistics operations, SZGH offers extended service contracts with defined response SLAs: 24-hour remote diagnostics response, 72-hour on-site engineer dispatch (major regions), and dedicated spare-part kitting for BCi20 at regional hubs. Standard warranty is 12 months; extended contracts are available for 24 or 36 months. Remote diagnostics via Ethernet API allows SZGH engineers to perform fault diagnosis, motion parameter adjustment, and firmware updates without site visit for software-related issues — minimizing unplanned downtime in high-throughput logistics cells. On-site preventive maintenance packages (quarterly or semi-annual) are available through the regional service partner network.

Q8: What ROI can logistics operators expect from a BCi20 palletizing deployment?

In three-shift industrial palletizing operations (1,000–2,000 cartons/shift, 18–20 kg boxes), a single BCi20 typically replaces 2–3 FTE manual palletizing operators. At labor costs typical of Indonesia ($400–600/month/operator), Malaysia ($700–900/month), Brazil ($800–1,200/month), and similar emerging market manufacturing hubs, the payback period ranges from 6–10 months. At European or North American labor costs, payback can be as short as 4–7 months. The collaborative operation model (no fence) eliminates safety cage construction cost (typically $8,000–25,000 for a caged 20 kg robot cell), further improving the economics. SZGH provides an ROI calculation model for logistics palletizing applications — contact export02@szghtech.com with your throughput, box weight, and labor cost parameters.

Contact & Get a Quote

Request a BCi20 datasheet, palletizing cycle time simulation, or logistics integration package. Technical team responds within one business day.

Related Products

• SZGH-BCi10 — 10 kg Collaborative Robot, 1,350 mm Reach, Large-Reach General Cobot

• SZGH-BCi16 — 16 kg Collaborative Robot, ±0.03 mm Precision, Automotive & White Goods Assembly

• SZGH-BCi12 — 12 kg Collaborative Robot, 1,250 mm Reach, ±0.03 mm Precision

• SZGH-BCi5 — 5 kg Collaborative Robot, 900 mm Reach, Light Arm Series