Yaskawa HC10 Review: Specs, Price, Pros & Cons

Yaskawa HC10: Quick Buyer Verdict

The HC10 should be evaluated as an industrial collaborative robot rather than simply as an easy-to-program robot arm. Its strongest argument is the combination of collaborative operation with Yaskawa’s established industrial robot architecture: a manufacturer can use hand-guided teaching for simpler tasks while retaining the YRC1000 controller and more traditional robot-programming capabilities when the application becomes more sophisticated.

Pros

• 10 kg payload covers many mainstream collaborative automation tasks.
• 1,200 mm effective reach provides useful workstation coverage.
• Power and Force Limiting supports human-robot collaborative applications.
• Hand-guided teaching can reduce programming effort for straightforward movements.
• Uses Yaskawa’s established industrial robot control ecosystem.
• Can be mounted on the floor, wall or ceiling according to Yaskawa’s European specification.
• Documented deployments span assembly, machine tending, welding, inspection and material handling.
• Particularly logical for factories already standardized around Yaskawa robotics.

Cons

• The original HC10’s ±0.1 mm repeatability is weaker than several newer 10 kg competitors.
• 10 kg is the complete wrist payload allowance—not 10 kg of product after a heavy gripper is installed.
• The HC10 name is easily confused with newer HC10DT, HC10DTP and HC10DTF versions.
• Environmental protection differs across HC10 variants and should be confirmed from the exact model code.
• A collaborative robot does not automatically make the complete application safe or eliminate guarding.
• Yaskawa does not publish a simple universal current HC10 purchase price.
• New buyers should compare newer Yaskawa platforms before purchasing an original-generation HC10.

Our recommendation: shortlist the HC10 when you need a dependable 10 kg cobot and value Yaskawa’s industrial automation ecosystem. For a new project in 2026, ask the supplier to identify the exact HC10 variant in writing and compare it against current alternatives before ordering. View the Yaskawa HC10 product listing for configuration and supplier information.

How Much Does the Yaskawa HC10 Cost in 2026?

Yaskawa does not publish a single universal current retail price for the HC10. Commercial pricing is normally quote-based and depends on the country, controller, robot version, end-of-arm tooling, safety equipment, software, integration and support.

That makes online comparisons difficult. A price for a bare or used HC10 should not be compared directly with a turnkey collaborative cell that includes everything needed to produce parts.

How to compare HC10 quotes

Request two separate numbers:

1. Robot package price: the HC10, controller, pendant and mandatory base components.
2. Production-ready system price: everything required for the robot to perform the actual application safely and repeatedly.

This prevents one of the most common cobot purchasing mistakes: selecting a robot because its arm price looks attractive and discovering later that tooling, safety, fixtures and integration dominate the project budget.

For broader market context, see our cobot price guide.

What Is the Yaskawa MOTOMAN HC10?

The MOTOMAN HC10 is a six-axis collaborative robot developed by Yaskawa for automation tasks where humans and robots may need to operate in close proximity.

Yaskawa launched the HC10 commercially in 2017 with a 10 kg payload and collaborative Power and Force Limiting technology. The robot detects external forces through its sensing system and can stop when configured limits are exceeded.

Unlike a lightweight cobot designed primarily around simplified tablet programming, the HC10 also inherits significant industrial-robot DNA. It uses Yaskawa’s YRC1000 controller and can therefore fit naturally into factories that already operate MOTOMAN equipment.

What the HC10 is

• A six-axis articulated collaborative robot.
• A 10 kg payload automation platform.
• A robot for human-robot collaborative applications when the complete system risk assessment permits them.
• A hand-guideable robot that can simplify teaching.
• An industrial automation platform capable of more traditional programming and integration.

What the HC10 is not

• It is not automatically safe in every application because it is labelled a cobot.
• It is not a 10 kg product-handling robot once the weight of tooling has been ignored.
• It is not the same product as an HC10DTP or HC10DTF.
• It is not necessarily the newest Yaskawa cobot available to a 2026 buyer.
• It does not remove hazards created by sharp parts, hot components, welding, machine tools or crushing points around the cell.

If you are comparing the category rather than one model, see our guide to collaborative robots or learn more about what a cobot is and how collaborative automation works.

Yaskawa HC10 vs HC10DT, HC10DTP and HC10DTF

This distinction matters more than almost anything else in an HC10 buying decision.

The name “Yaskawa HC10” is frequently used loosely online to describe several related robots. Their specifications are not identical.

Why this causes problems online

A page may call a robot “HC10” while quoting the ±0.05 mm repeatability or IP67 specification of an HC10DTP. Another seller may be advertising an older original HC10 with a YRC1000 controller.

Both are 10 kg Yaskawa collaborative robots, but they are not technically identical products.

Procurement rule: ask for the complete Yaskawa model designation, controller, manufacturing date, specification sheet and included options before comparing price.

Yaskawa HC10 Specifications

The following figures refer specifically to the original MOTOMAN HC10 rather than automatically combining specifications from later HC10-family models.

1,200 mm or 1,379 mm reach?

Both numbers appear in official Yaskawa material because they describe different measurements.

1,379 mm is the absolute mechanical reach measured between robot-axis centres, while approximately 1,200 mm is the effective reach to Point P used for practical workspace planning.

For cell layout, use Yaskawa’s complete working-envelope drawing rather than treating either number as a simple spherical radius around the base.

Environmental protection needs clarification

Older HC10 documentation uses an IP54/IP67 notation, while later HC10DTP and food-oriented variants are much more explicitly documented as IP67.

Do not infer the environmental protection of an HC10 from another member of the HC family. Obtain the specification for the exact serial/model configuration being purchased—especially for dust, liquids, washdown or food-related applications.

Programming, Hand Guiding and the YRC1000 Controller

One of the HC10’s strongest characteristics is that it attempts to combine two approaches to robotics: intuitive collaborative teaching and traditional industrial robot control.

Hand-guided teaching

The HC10 can be physically guided by the operator to teach robot positions. For repetitive pick-and-place, tending or simple assembly operations, this can reduce the amount of coordinate entry required during initial programming.

Hand guiding is especially useful when:

• Positions change frequently.
• Operators understand the physical task better than robot coordinates.
• A robot is moved between several fixtures or products.
• The company is introducing robotic automation for the first time.

It should not be confused with automatic process design. The programmer still needs to define motion logic, tooling behaviour, signals, error recovery and safety.

YRC1000 industrial controller

The original HC10 is paired with Yaskawa’s YRC1000 controller.

This matters because it gives the robot access to an industrial control architecture rather than limiting the system to simplified cobot functionality. For experienced Yaskawa users, common controls, programming concepts and integration methods can reduce the learning curve.

Smart Pendant

Yaskawa also supports Smart Pendant workflows intended to make robot programming more accessible through a graphical interface.

The best interface depends on the user:

• New robot users: Smart Pendant and hand guiding can reduce initial complexity.
• Experienced MOTOMAN programmers: conventional Yaskawa programming may offer greater familiarity and control.
• Complex production cells: offline programming, PLC integration and simulation can become more important than hand guiding.

Easy programming does not equal easy automation

Teaching six positions may take minutes. Building a production system that reliably handles different parts, detects failures, communicates with equipment and recovers safely can take much longer.

Evaluate programming effort for the complete process, not just how easily the arm can be moved during a demonstration.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 Safe to Work Beside People?

Potentially yes—but only when the complete application has been designed and validated for collaborative operation.

Yaskawa designed the HC10 around Power and Force Limiting. Integrated sensing detects external forces and the robot can stop when configured thresholds are exceeded. The arm geometry is also designed to reduce pinch hazards.

Yaskawa documentation references ISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066 and safety functions meeting ISO 13849-1 PLd requirements.

That does not mean every HC10 installation can run without guarding.

The robot is only one part of the risk assessment

Consider the difference between these applications:

• An HC10 slowly moving a lightweight cardboard component.
• An HC10 carrying a sharp metal casting.
• An HC10 operating a welding torch.
• An HC10 loading a CNC machine with a closing door.
• An HC10 moving a 10 kg combined payload close to a person’s head.

The robot may be the same. The hazards are completely different.

When fencing may still be required

Additional protection can be necessary because of:

• Sharp or pointed workpieces.
• Hot components.
• Welding arc, fumes and spatter.
• High robot or tool speed.
• Crushing against fixtures or surrounding machinery.
• Rotating machine tools.
• Heavy or unstable loads.
• Process-generated debris.

A good example comes from Yaskawa’s published Nooteboom welding deployment. The HC10 could support collaborative working arrangements, but the welding process still required additional physical and software safety measures, including welding screens and application-specific risk assessment.

Hybrid operation can improve productivity

Collaborative automation does not always mean running the robot slowly all day.

A well-designed cell can use external safety sensing to allow higher-speed operation while people are outside the defined workspace, then transition to reduced or collaborative behaviour as someone approaches.

For many industrial applications, this hybrid model is more productive than forcing every movement to run at collaborative speed.

HC10 Payload, Reach and Real-World Performance

10 kg payload

Ten kilograms is enough for many factory operations, but payload budgeting needs to include everything attached to the wrist.

For example:

Usable part payload = 10 kg robot limit − gripper − adapter − sensors − cables or other wrist-mounted hardware.

If the end-of-arm tooling weighs 3 kg, the application does not have a genuine 10 kg workpiece capacity.

The workpiece centre of gravity and allowable wrist moment also matter. A long component can exceed wrist limits even when its mass is below 10 kg.

1,200 mm effective reach

The reach is well suited to individual production machines and compact workstations.

Typical layouts include:

• Machine door → chuck/fixture → finished-part tray.
• Conveyor → assembly fixture.
• Component bins → operator assembly area.
• Inspection position → pass/fail containers.
• Mobile welding table → workpiece.

For long palletizing stacks or applications spanning several machines, greater reach may simplify the system.

±0.1 mm repeatability

The HC10’s published repeatability is sufficient for many handling and machine-tending tasks, but it is no longer class-leading among 10 kg collaborative robots.

This distinction matters most in applications involving:

• Small insertion tolerances.
• Precision assembly.
• Metrology.
• Fine dispensing.
• Toolpaths where process accuracy depends heavily on robot positioning.

It matters less when external fixtures, vision or compliance compensate for part variation.

Do not confuse repeatability with absolute accuracy. Repeatability describes the robot’s ability to return to a taught pose, not necessarily its absolute positional error anywhere in the workspace.

Grippers, Tooling and HC10 Integration

A cobot arm alone normally produces no economic value. The end effector, fixtures, sensors and surrounding process determine what the HC10 actually does.

Common HC10 tooling

• Parallel electric grippers.
• Pneumatic grippers.
• Vacuum end effectors.
• Screwdriving tools.
• Inspection cameras and sensors.
• Machine-tending grippers.
• Welding torches.
• Custom assembly tooling.

Choose tooling from the process backwards

Do not ask: “Which gripper is best for the HC10?”

Ask:

• What is the heaviest part?
• What are the smallest and largest dimensions?
• How does the part arrive?
• Can its position vary?
• What happens if grip is lost?
• Does the tool need force feedback?
• What cycle time is required?
• How often will products change?

Then choose the lightest and simplest tooling capable of meeting those conditions.

Vision

Vision becomes valuable when part location or orientation varies. It can also support inspection, barcode reading and process verification.

But vision should not be added automatically. A mechanical fixture that presents every part consistently can be cheaper and more reliable than solving unnecessary randomness with a camera.

PLC and machine integration

For machine tending, the important engineering often lies outside the robot:

machine ready → door open → robot enter → unload → load → robot clear → door close → cycle start → machine complete.

Every transition needs defined signals, timeouts and recovery behaviour.

This is where the HC10’s relationship with Yaskawa’s wider industrial automation platform can be valuable.

Best Yaskawa HC10 Applications

1. Machine tending

One of the strongest HC10 use cases. The robot can load and unload CNC machines, presses or other production equipment while operators handle higher-value work.

The 10 kg payload and 1,200 mm effective reach fit many machine-side applications, although the gripper and workpiece must stay within payload and wrist limits.

2. Assembly

The HC10 can perform repetitive placement, fastening and subassembly operations while people remain responsible for tasks requiring dexterity or judgement.

This can be particularly effective in high-mix environments where full hard automation is difficult to justify.

3. Pick and place

Moving components between conveyors, fixtures, trays or containers is a straightforward use case when part presentation is controlled.

If items arrive randomly, the project may also require machine vision or structured bin-picking technology.

4. Quality inspection

The robot can position components or move cameras and sensors through repeatable inspection sequences.

Inspection automation often works best when the HC10’s job is simple—present the part consistently—while dedicated sensing equipment performs the measurement.

5. Collaborative welding

Yaskawa has documented HC10 deployments for welding, particularly where manufacturers want the programming flexibility of a cobot without giving up industrial welding functionality.

However, the welding process itself introduces hazards. Collaborative robot motion does not eliminate the need to protect people from arc radiation, fumes, hot material or spatter.

Explore more options in our guide to welding robots.

6. Palletizing

The HC10 can handle lightweight palletizing, especially in compact or flexible cells.

The major limits are 10 kg total wrist payload and the robot’s reach. Tool mass must be deducted from payload, and tall pallet patterns may require a pedestal, lift column or different robot.

See our guide to palletizing robots for alternatives.

7. Packaging and end-of-line handling

Cartons, trays, containers and finished products are natural cobot tasks when cycle times are moderate and frequent format changes reward flexibility.

8. Flexible manufacturing cells

An HC10 mounted on a movable workstation can potentially serve multiple processes, but mobility only creates value when utilities, calibration, safety validation and program changeover are engineered for repeatable relocation.

Real-World Yaskawa HC10 Results

Yaskawa has published a useful collection of HC-series deployments. These are manufacturer-published customer examples rather than independent controlled trials, so the results should be treated as evidence of feasibility—not guaranteed outcomes for another factory.

What these deployments have in common

None of them simply bought “a cobot”.

They defined a process, integrated the robot with tooling and surrounding equipment, then designed the system around a real production objective.

That is the pattern buyers should copy.

When the Yaskawa HC10 Is Not the Right Cobot

The HC10 should not automatically make the shortlist just because the application is collaborative.

• You need more than 10 kg total wrist payload: move to a higher-payload cobot rather than operating continuously at the edge of the HC10 envelope.
• You need significantly more reach: a longer-arm model may eliminate expensive pedestals, tracks or product repositioning.
• Precision is the dominant requirement: several newer cobots publish tighter repeatability than the original HC10’s ±0.1 mm.
• You require clearly specified IP67 protection: evaluate an HC10DTP, HC10DTF or another IP67 platform rather than assuming an HC10 specification.
• You are building a new Yaskawa cell in 2026: compare the newer Yaskawa portfolio rather than selecting the HC10 solely because you know the model name.
• The application requires very high throughput: a conventional industrial robot behind appropriate safeguarding may deliver substantially better cycle time.
• The task is already perfectly structured and isolated from people: paying specifically for collaborative capability may create little value.
• The business case has not been defined: a cobot demo is not a production strategy.

For applications where collaboration is not actually necessary, compare conventional industrial robots and 6-axis robot arms as well.

Yaskawa HC10 vs UR10e, FANUC CRX-10iA, Doosan M1013 and ABB GoFa 10

The original HC10 now competes against a mature 10 kg-class cobot market. Published specifications are useful for screening, but final selection should be based on the complete application, tooling, software, support and site acceptance testing.

Which one should you choose?

• Choose or retain the HC10 when Yaskawa compatibility, industrial controls and proven workflows are more important than winning the specification table.
• Shortlist UR10e when ecosystem breadth, programming accessibility and arm weight matter.
• Shortlist FANUC CRX-10iA when IP67, industrial heritage and simple cobot programming are priorities.
• Shortlist Doosan M1013 when force-sensitive operations and 1.3 m reach fit the task.
• Shortlist ABB GoFa 10 when reach, repeatability and environmental protection are particularly important.

Read our Universal Robots UR10e review and FANUC CRX-10iA/L review for deeper comparisons, or use the Anton Robots comparison tool.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 Worth It?

The HC10 is worth considering when it can repeatedly remove labour, improve machine utilisation, reduce ergonomic strain or create production capacity worth more than the complete automation cost.

The robot itself is not the ROI.

Build the business case around the existing process

A simple framework is:

Annual benefit = labour redeployed + additional production contribution + reduced scrap/rework + avoided ergonomic cost + avoided downtime − annual operating cost.

Then:

Payback period = total implementation cost ÷ monthly net benefit.

Include the complete implementation cost

• Robot and controller.
• Gripper and tooling.
• Pedestal or workstation.
• Vision or sensors.
• Safety equipment.
• Fixtures and part presentation.
• Integration and programming.
• Training.
• Production downtime during commissioning.
• Maintenance and support.
• Future product-change programming.

Then measure the real benefit

• Operator minutes saved per cycle.
• Additional machine uptime.
• Extra units produced per shift.
• Overtime avoided.
• Scrap or rework reduction.
• Reduced repetitive lifting or awkward work.
• Extra shifts enabled without equivalent labour growth.

A useful go/no-go test

Before buying, run or simulate the actual application and prove:

1. The HC10 can reach every required pose.
2. The complete tool and part remain inside payload limits.
3. The required cycle time is achievable under the planned safety mode.
4. The cell recovers sensibly from realistic failures.
5. The resulting financial model meets your organisation’s required payback threshold.

Do not calculate ROI from the robot’s maximum theoretical speed if the real application will run at a lower safety-limited speed.

Yaskawa HC10 Buying Checklist

1. Confirm the exact model. HC10, HC10DT, HC10DTP and HC10DTF are not interchangeable names.
2. Define the task. Document every pick, place, machine interaction and operator interaction.
3. Calculate complete payload. Include gripper, adapter, sensors, cables and workpiece.
4. Check wrist moment and centre of gravity. Mass alone is not enough.
5. Validate the workspace. Use the complete Yaskawa working-envelope drawing.
6. Set cycle-time requirements. Include collaborative speed restrictions and machine waiting time.
7. Choose tooling. Prioritise reliability and simplicity over unnecessary complexity.
8. Decide whether vision is genuinely required. Fix part presentation mechanically when practical.
9. Design machine communication. Define every handshake, timeout and recovery state.
10. Complete the risk assessment. Evaluate the tool, part and surrounding equipment—not only the robot.
11. Confirm environmental rating. Obtain the exact IP and temperature specification for the quoted model.
12. Confirm controller and software. Identify YRC1000 configuration, programming interface and optional packages.
13. Run a representative trial. Use real parts and realistic operator interactions.
14. Request full commercial terms. Include warranty, training, service, lead time and spare-parts support.
15. Compare current alternatives. Especially if this is a completely new 2026 deployment.

Pro tip: send suppliers a video of the existing manual process plus part drawings, payload, cycle time and workstation dimensions. A technically detailed enquiry will produce a much more useful proposal than simply asking, “How much is a Yaskawa HC10?”

How to Buy a Yaskawa HC10

The HC10 is generally purchased through Yaskawa, authorised automation partners or system integrators rather than as a simple consumer-style online product.

A serious enquiry should include:

• Application description.
• Workpiece dimensions and weight.
• Required cycle time.
• Required reach.
• Existing machine and PLC information.
• Tooling requirements.
• Environmental conditions.
• Human interaction with the workstation.
• Production volumes and shift pattern.
• Target commissioning date.

Review the Yaskawa HC10 product page and the wider Yaskawa robot range, then contact Anton Robots to discuss current supplier options and application fit.

If you are not yet sure which cobot is right for the application, use Find My Robot before requesting a specific model.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 Still a Good Choice in 2026?

This question needs a more nuanced answer than a normal specification comparison.

The original HC10 entered commercial sales in 2017. Yaskawa Europe still maintains official product information for the HC10, but its current collaborative-robot portfolio prominently features later HC models including HC10DTP and HC10DTFP alongside newer platforms such as the NHC12.

That does not mean every original HC10 is obsolete or that the model has identical commercial status in every country.

It does mean that a buyer purchasing new equipment in 2026 should ask an additional question:

“Why this exact HC10 rather than the latest equivalent in Yaskawa’s current portfolio?”

Reasons the HC10 can still make sense

• Your facility already operates HC10 robots.
• Your programs, tooling or training are standardised around the platform.
• The application does not need newer specifications.
• A supported HC10 configuration offers compelling total project economics.
• Your Yaskawa integrator has substantial experience with the exact process.

Reasons to compare newer Yaskawa models

• You are building a completely new automation platform.
• You need tighter repeatability.
• You need clearly documented IP67 protection.
• You want integrated newer sensing or adaptive-automation capabilities.
• You want the longest possible product-support horizon.

One important 2026 comparison is Yaskawa’s newer NHC12. Yaskawa publishes a 12 kg payload, 1,250 mm effective reach, ±0.05 mm repeatability, IP67 protection and integration with its MOTOMAN NEXT adaptive automation platform.

That does not automatically make the NHC12 better for every HC10 application. It does make it a model a new Yaskawa buyer should know exists.

Yaskawa HC10 FAQ

How much does a Yaskawa HC10 cost?

Yaskawa does not publish one universal current HC10 retail price. Pricing normally depends on the robot configuration, controller, tooling, safety equipment, integration, region and support. Request both the robot-package price and the complete production-ready cell price.

What is the Yaskawa HC10 payload?

The maximum published payload is 10 kg. This includes the complete mass mounted at the wrist, so gripper and tooling weight reduce the amount available for the workpiece.

What is the Yaskawa HC10 reach?

Yaskawa publishes approximately 1,200 mm effective reach to Point P and 1,379 mm absolute reach between specified axis centres. Use the official workspace drawing when laying out a cell.

What is the HC10 repeatability?

The original HC10 is published at ±0.1 mm repeatability. Later HC10DTP variants publish tighter ±0.05 mm figures, so do not mix the specifications.

How many axes does the HC10 have?

Six controlled axes.

How much does the HC10 weigh?

The original robot is listed at approximately 47 kg.

Can the Yaskawa HC10 work without a safety fence?

Potentially. Yaskawa designed the HC10 for Power and Force Limiting collaborative operation, but fence-free operation depends on the risk assessment for the complete application.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 a cobot?

Yes. It is a collaborative industrial robot designed for applications where people and robots may work in close proximity under appropriately designed safety conditions.

Can the HC10 be programmed by hand?

Yes. The robot supports hand-guided teaching, allowing an operator to physically move the arm when creating positions and paths.

What controller does the Yaskawa HC10 use?

The original HC10 is associated with Yaskawa’s YRC1000 industrial robot controller.

Can the HC10 be mounted upside down?

Yaskawa’s current European HC10 product information lists floor, wall and ceiling mounting options. The installation must still follow the exact mounting requirements for the model and configuration.

Can the HC10 do machine tending?

Yes. Machine loading and unloading are strong potential applications, provided reach, payload, cycle time and machine-safety integration are suitable.

Can the HC10 weld?

Yes. Yaskawa has documented HC10 welding applications. However, welding introduces process hazards such as arc radiation, heat, fumes and spatter that require their own safety measures.

Can the HC10 palletize?

Yes, for suitable loads and pallet geometries. The total tool-plus-product payload must remain within 10 kg, and the 1,200 mm effective reach may require a pedestal or other cell engineering for some pallet patterns.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 IP67?

Do not assume so from the HC10 name alone. HC10-family environmental specifications vary, and later HC10DTP/HC10DTF variants have clearer IP67 specifications. Confirm the protection rating of the exact model being quoted.

What is the difference between HC10 and HC10DTP?

Both are 10 kg Yaskawa collaborative robots, but the HC10DTP is a later variant with updated specifications. Current Yaskawa documentation publishes ±0.05 mm repeatability and IP67 protection for HC10DTP, compared with ±0.1 mm repeatability on the original HC10.

Is the Yaskawa HC10 good for small manufacturers?

It can be, especially when one repetitive process has sufficient volume to justify automation. The complete integration cost and internal ability to support the system matter more than company size.

What are the best alternatives to the Yaskawa HC10?

Common 10 kg-class alternatives include Universal Robots UR10e, FANUC CRX-10iA, Doosan M1013 and ABB GoFa 10. Within Yaskawa itself, later HC10 variants and the newer NHC12 should also be considered.

Is the HC10 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes in the right circumstances, particularly for existing Yaskawa users or applications where its specifications are sufficient. For a completely new installation, compare it with current Yaskawa and competing cobots before making a decision.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Yaskawa HC10?

Buy or retain an HC10 when you need a proven 10 kg collaborative robot, its 1,200 mm effective reach and ±0.1 mm repeatability meet the process, and Yaskawa’s industrial control ecosystem creates real value for your operation.

The HC10’s strengths are practical rather than spectacular. It combines hand-guided collaborative operation with an industrial YRC1000 control platform and has real deployment evidence across assembly, machine tending, welding, inspection and material handling.

But this is no longer a market with few alternatives.

The original HC10 dates from an earlier generation of collaborative robotics, and newer machines can offer tighter repeatability, better environmental protection, more reach, lighter arms or newer software architectures.

The biggest purchasing mistake is therefore not choosing the “wrong brand”. It is buying an HC10 without knowing exactly which HC10 you are buying.

Confirm the full model designation, payload calculation, reach, repeatability, environmental rating, controller and safety architecture. Then compare the complete cell—not just the arm—against current alternatives.

For existing Yaskawa factories, that comparison may still favour HC10.

For a new 2026 automation strategy, make the robot earn its place on the shortlist.

Ready to compare configurations? View the Yaskawa HC10 at Anton Robots, explore the full Yaskawa robot range, or contact Anton Robots for help matching a cobot to your application.