Cobots and IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show are made for each other. Exploring cobots at IMTS 2026 is a smart strategy manufacturers can make. Hundreds of exhibitors will demonstrate a full spectrum of cobot, robot, and automated solutions designed for almost every action you can imagine, and some you can’t. Cobots can load/unload, pick, place, palletize, paint, inspect, weld, cut, sand, screw, bolt, press fit, glue, and more. Instead of replacing people, the best cobot deployments make your team more capable. They free skilled workers from babysitting machines so they can focus on higher-value tasks. Geoff Dawson, sales director at FANUC America (IMTS booth #338900), says, “Seeing cobot and automation technologies up close helps you understand where the industry is headed and how you can work with the automation providers, their integrators, machine tool OEMs, and tooling and accessory companies to solve your operational challenges.” Will Healy, director of product & industry marketing at Universal Robots (IMTS booth #236744), says, “IMTS provides an unparalleled opportunity to get hands-on experience and move beyond glossy brochures. I strongly encourage manufacturers to visit the show, get hands-on with the technology, try programming a simple application themselves, and benchmark that supplier’s ease of use and versatility claims directly.” "The biggest mistake fabricators make is evaluating cobots like static equipment,” says Zach Boyd, chief technology officer at Hirebotics (IMTS booth #236341). “You’re not just buying a robot arm. You’re buying into a software platform, a support ecosystem, and a vendor relationship.” Hirebotics booth #236341 at IMTS 2026. Because automation also opens new career opportunities at nearly every level of an organization, IMTS is an opportunity for individuals to learn, network, and gain insights that can shape their professional growth. For example, people have grown from being machine attendants to automation team leaders because they took the opportunity to learn new skills and transform their operations. To help IMTS visitors make the best use of their time, here are 14 tips for choosing a cobot and evaluating suppliers at IMTS, drawn from input from Universal Robots, FANUC, Hirebotics, Productive Robots (IMTS booth #339186) and Vectis Automation. Start with the business problem, not the robot brand. Before you walk into IMTS 2026, write down your pain points, such as: Relieve staffing pressure when you can’t hire enough welders, machinists, or operators. Take on larger orders or respond faster to customers if only you could produce parts faster. Run more high-mix, low-volume work without complex, hard-to-program automation. Improve ergonomics and safety by offloading repetitive, dirty, or awkward jobs. 1. Know the Basics Cobot fundamentals include: Payload. Is the quoted maximum measured at the tool flange only, or does it assume an offset to include the end-of-arm tooling (EOAT)? Does performance degrade significantly at certain positions? Path repeatability. For continuous processes like welding or dispensing, is the repeatability spec valid along the entire path or only at end points? Work envelope/reach. Is the stated reach a maximum in a perfect pose, or a realistic, usable radius that accounts for joint limits and payload? Can parts be consistently picked from the same location? Is there enough room for the robot to move without collisions? 2. Prove Out Application Compatibility Ensure the supplier has experience in applications specific to your business. While you may intend to focus on machine tending or palletizing, look beyond your initial needs to determine if a cobot can handle other processes, such as inspection or dispensing. A good approach is to ask what the cobots cannot do, as well as request customer success stories relevant to your industry. “If the cobot has already been deployed successfully in your type of application, that’s a strong sign it’s reliable, mature, and supported,” says Jerry Perez, FANUC manager of business development and collaborative robots. “As a result of successful applications, the cobot provider may have ready-to-deploy, affordable packages that can be installed quickly.” 3. Focus Use IMTS to see real applications up close. If they could apply to you, ask to see the edge cases: long reaches, heavier tools, and awkward tool orientations – not just a curated demo. As you ask questions, conversations will diverge. Keep steering the conversation back to the specific application you care about. Show pictures and videos of your parts. Explain your cycle times, batch sizes, and floor constraints. Ask every vendor to show you exactly how their system would run a particular job in your job environment. Automation Sector at IMTS.4. Is Your Workspace Cobot-Friendly? Automation performs best in structured, predictable environments. Can parts be consistently picked up from the same location? Is the area free of clutter and obstacles? These factors are essential for successful deployment, even if you have a cobot on a mobile platform that can be moved between work locations.5. Clarify Repeatability Claims for Path Tracking If your manufacturing processes involve continuous movement (e.g., welding, sanding, or dispensing), consistent quality relies on repeatability along a complete path. Ask if repeatability is specified only at a path’s endpoints or if it is consistent along a complete path. For critical processes, ask for a thorough proof-of-concept from the cobot supplier. 6. Test the User ExperienceIs the cobot designed for day-to-day use? Is it intuitive? Can operators quickly teach new parts or make adjustments with little or no downtime? A system’s usability is often the biggest driver of ROI. According to Rob Goldiez, co-founder of Hirebotics, “If you’re evaluating cobots, get hands-on and try the programming yourself. The systems that win in real production are the ones that make your welders and fabricators more capable, not more dependent on engineers.” If it takes three menus, a manual, and a rescue from the engineer, that could be a red flag. A cobot that is theoretically capable but practically frustrating will end up underutilized. 7. Test the Software Modern cobot systems are as much software platforms as they are mechanical arms. The software determines how quickly you can scale from one cobot to many, how easily you can duplicate a successful application to another machine, and how well you can monitor performance, downtime, and alarms across shifts. 8. Do You Need Connectivity? A connected, cloud-based software platform could make the difference between a single-robot solution and a scalable automation strategy. Can you program, monitor, and troubleshoot cobot welding and cutting from phones, tablets, or laptops? Also, ask where software updates are delivered as well as the consequences if the internet connection is disrupted. 9. Examine Software Functionality and Maturity Dig deep into software. Consider an ability to grow into advanced applications, in-house versus outsourced development, and stability in real-world use. Look at controller generation, installed base, and update cadence as part of evaluating product maturity. Cobots with a long track record, a large installed base, and a controlled update process are usually easier to live with than brand-new platforms still finding their footing. 10. Consider Ecosystem and Compatibility Remember that every robot arm requires tools and accessories to accomplish its tasks. If a cobot company offers a peripherals and accessories ecosystem or a partner program, find out if they test and validate all products before release. Crucially, ask whether required accessories can be controlled directly from the cobot’s programming environment or if additional control equipment is required; this will clarify how much work you will have to undertake for initial programming and deployment. 11. What Types of Parts Need to be Gripped? There are many options for grippers (EOAT). The choice depends almost entirely on the parts to handle. Generally, the gripper choices are pneumatic, electric, or vacuum. While different grippers can be used for various applications, switching them out can be time-consuming. Consider a gripper that can adapt to different sizes, shapes, and materials. Pincer-style grippers work well for prismatic parts with parallel sides, while vacuum suction cups are ideal for thin or flat items. Note that vacuum grippers are less common in machining applications, primarily because they tend to suck in coolant when picking up the completed part. In milling or turning, Productive Robotics reminds users that parts that come out of a CNC are different than the blank that went in. Electric finger or pincer-style grippers offer flexibility and a wide grip range. For lathe operation, consider dual grippers: one grip removes the part, then pivots so the other gripper can insert a fresh blank. 12. Scrutinize Safety Probe for evidence of their expertise in your specific application. Ask if they’ve qualified as an A3 Certified Robot Integrator. Delve into safety, such as whether they have built-in safety measures on standard cells and if they’ve completed a formal safety risk assessment. Make sure you understand how they handle safety standards compliance and guarding recommendations. 13. Choose Long-Term Partners, Not One-Time Vendors Ask how updates, training, and remote support are handled. The most valuable cobot partners don’t just sell you a system: they support you for the lifetime of the product, helping you get more out of it as your operation evolves. Consider who will provide after-sale services. Ideally, any third-party providers should be certified by the cobot supplier, stock their own spare parts, and perform repair services located near your facility. Also inquire about features like online service portals and which services, such as joint replacement, you are permitted to perform yourself. “Cobots are tools,” says Josh Pawley, vice president of business development at Vectis Automation. “Having the right people, mindset, and processes in place – both internally and with your external partners – is the most foundational success factor for automation.” Automation Sector at IMTS.14. Calculating ROI Productive Robotics notes that components of an ROI calculation can include: Simple hourly cost of an employee tending the machine (remember the cobot will work three shifts, seven days a week, with no extra cost). Extended employee payroll costs (Social Security, worker compensation insurance, health insurance, vacation pay, etc.). Increased spindle time/machine uptime. How much time is your machine idle when an operator is not there to tend it (lunch, bathroom, breaks, sick time, nights, etc.). Decreased scrap. Ability to scale up production when business picks up, without hiring and training additional operators. Consider the business lost if you have to turn down work because you’re too busy. Safety (decreases in employee injuries, including repetitive motion injuries). Increased cash flow. When financed, how much income can a cobot generate compared to the monthly cost? Front Row to Innovation — All of It IMTS provides visitors with an unmatched opportunity to see how components and automation systems function together in a manufacturing ecosystem. You can find cobot arms and everything else. Need specialized EOAT? If you can’t find it in the Automation Sector, Metal Removal, or Tooling & Workholding Sector, visit the Additive Manufacturing Sector and ask the experts there how to 3D print a custom EOAT. Need to inspect parts? You’ll find that in the Quality Assurance Sector. “IMTS gives me a front-row seat to the future of manufacturing, whether it’s advanced robotics, AI-driven systems, or new ways to integrate automation,” says FANUC’s Dawson, who has more than 30 years of automation experience. “Whatever your role in manufacturing, coming to IMTS will help you develop solutions that make you and your customers successful.” IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology takes place Sept. 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place, Chicago. Register at IMTS.com/Register.
Choosing the right cobot is about strategy. These 14 expert tips will help manufacturers evaluate suppliers, avoid costly mistakes, and get the most from IMTS 2026.
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