New & Used Smart Technology & Manufacturing Equipment For Sale

Commercial smart technology covers the industrial robotics, automation, vision systems and connected manufacturing equipment that underpin modern Industry 4.0 production. Industrial robots fall into several distinct kinematic configurations, each suited to different tasks: articulated (6-axis arm), SCARA (selective compliance assembly arm), Cartesian (linear-axis gantry), Delta (parallel kinematic for pick-and-place), polar (spherical-coordinate) and cylindrical (cylindrical-coordinate). UK installations typically integrate robots with vision systems, force-torque sensors, end-of-arm tooling, safety systems (light curtains, safety scanners, emergency stops) and PLC or robot controller integration to deliver complete automation cells.

The industrial robotics market is dominated by major OEMs and a fragmented secondary market of integrators and resellers. The Commercial Trader brings used and refurbished robots from multiple sellers into a single platform with direct contact and clear filters.

• Direct seller contact: every listing includes seller details for direct discussion of robot condition, controller version, hours, end-of-arm tooling and delivery.
• Multiple kinematic types: from large 6-axis arms for spot welding and material handling down to compact SCARA and Delta robots for high-speed assembly.
• Established manufacturers represented: listings frequently feature platforms from ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa Motoman, Kawasaki, Stäubli, Mitsubishi Electric, Epson, Universal Robots, Omron and others.
• Aftermarket and refurbishment support: established robot brands have strong UK service networks, with refurbishment specialists able to recondition older robots to as-new spec.

Why buy used industrial robots?

Industrial robots are well-suited to second-hand purchase because the mechanical designs are mature, controllers can be refurbished, and the duty cycle of most installations leaves significant remaining life.

• Major capital savings: used robots typically cost 50-70% less than new, freeing capital to invest in tooling, vision and integration.
• Immediate availability: new robots can carry lead times of months. Used robots are typically available within weeks.
• Proven mechanical reliability: industrial robots are designed for tens of thousands of hours of operation. A used robot with 20-30,000 hours often has 50-70,000 hours of useful life remaining with appropriate servicing.
• Refurbishment options: specialists can rebuild reducers, replace harnesses, refresh controllers and recalibrate to factory tolerances, restoring used robots to as-new performance.
• Sustainability: reusing existing robots avoids the embodied carbon and rare-earth content of new manufacture, supporting circular automation.

Articulated robots

Articulated robots (typically 6-axis arms, sometimes 7-axis) are the most versatile robot type, used for welding, painting, material handling, machine tending, palletising and assembly. Reach ranges from sub-1m up to 3.5m+, with payload capacities from a few kilograms up to 2,000kg+ for heavy-duty handling.

SCARA robots

SCARA robots (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) excel at high-speed assembly, pick-and-place and packaging work. Their rigid vertical axis and compliant horizontal motion make them ideal for inserting components, screwing and short-cycle pick-and-place. Common in electronics, pharmaceutical and food assembly.

Cartesian robots

Cartesian robots (also called linear or gantry robots) move along three orthogonal linear axes. They suit large work envelopes, palletising, CNC machine tending, 3D printing and dispensing applications. Easy to specify, modular and economical for many handling tasks.

Delta robots

Delta robots use parallel-kinematic links to deliver extremely fast pick-and-place motion, with cycle times under 0.3 seconds for some applications. Standard for high-speed packaging, food handling, pharmaceutical sorting and electronics assembly where speed matters more than payload.

Polar robots

Polar robots (spherical-coordinate robots) operate in a polar coordinate system with two rotary axes and one linear axis. While less common than other configurations today, they remain in service for specific applications such as spot welding and certain machine tending duties.

Cylindrical robots

Cylindrical robots operate in a cylindrical coordinate system, with a vertical column, rotational base and horizontal arm. They suit assembly, machine tending and material handling within a defined cylindrical work envelope, particularly where vertical access is important.

• Payload and reach: match robot capacity to your application. Specify maximum payload at full extension, including gripper or end-effector weight.
• Number of axes: 6-axis covers most flexible applications; 4-axis SCARA and Delta optimise for specific high-speed tasks; 7-axis arms add redundancy for confined work.
• Repeatability and accuracy: for assembly and high-precision work, repeatability of ±0.02-0.05mm matters. For palletising and material handling, ±0.1-0.5mm is typically sufficient.
• Controller version and support: confirm controller hardware (e.g. ABB IRC5, FANUC R-30iB, KUKA KRC4/KRC5) and ensure spare parts and software support are available.
• Operating hours and condition: industrial robots run for tens of thousands of hours. Below 20,000 is low; 20,000-50,000 is mid-life; 50,000+ likely needs reducer service or refurbishment.
• Safety category and certification: modern installations require Cat 3 or Cat 4 safety circuits, ISO 10218 compliance and CE marking. Verify safety system spec on used robots.
• End-of-arm tooling and integration: grippers, vision, force sensing and conveyor integration often add 30-50% to total project cost, so consider whole-system economics, not just robot price.

• Automotive and Tier 1/2 manufacturing: spot welding, MIG welding, painting, assembly and material handling across vehicle and component production.
• Food, beverage and pharmaceutical: high-speed pick-and-place packing, palletising, end-of-line packaging and clean-room assembly.
• Electronics and precision assembly: SCARA and small articulated robots handling component placement, screwing, dispensing and test-handling.
• Logistics and e-commerce: palletising, depalletising, case packing and goods-to-person picking systems supporting fulfilment centres and warehouses.
• Plastics, casting and metalworking: machine tending for injection moulding, die casting, CNC machining and press tending.
• General manufacturing automation: small and mid-sized manufacturers using collaborative robots (cobots), Cartesian gantries and modular automation to add capacity without major capital expenditure.

The Commercial Trader features industrial robotics listings from sellers across the UK and Europe. Use our location and distance filters to find robots close to your facility, supporting site visits and reducing logistics costs on heavier installations.

Industrial robots are designed for very long working lives. Mechanical components routinely operate for 80,000-100,000+ hours, with reducer rebuild and harness replacement extending life further. Controllers may become obsolete sooner than the mechanics, with some controller generations supported for 15-20 years before parts become limited. A well-maintained used robot can typically deliver another 10-20 years of service in lower-duty applications, even after a high-duty first life.

As we operate as a marketplace, any returns policy must be agreed directly with the seller before purchase. We strongly recommend a pre-purchase inspection covering robot condition, axis backlash, brake function, cable health, controller serviceability and accessory completeness. Many sellers will arrange a power-on demonstration as part of the sale process.

We list every major smart technology and industrial robotics sub-category, including:

• New and Used Commercial Articulated Robots
• New and Used Commercial Cartesian Robots
• New and Used Commercial Cylindrical Robots
• New and Used Commercial Delta Robots
• New and Used Commercial Polar Robots
• New and Used Commercial SCARA Robots
• New and Used Other Commercial Smart Technology

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