What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
An industrial robot does not automatically become scrap when it leaves a production line. Depending on its condition and the support available for its model, it may be repaired or upgraded, resold for another job, remanufactured, stripped for usable parts, or professionally recycled. The sensible route depends on the individual robot, its controller and software, the cost of returning it to service, and local waste requirements.
What happens to industrial robots at end of life?
“End of life” can mean the end of a particular job, the end of a robot’s usefulness in one factory, or the point when repair is no longer practical. Those are not necessarily the same thing. A robot that no longer fits one production line may still be suitable for a different application; a robot that cannot be reused whole may still contain recoverable components and materials.
The usual decision is to prioritize continued use where safe and practical, then recover components, and recycle the remaining material through appropriate channels. ABB and KUKA describe manufacturer-supported services across several of these routes, but eligibility depends on the robot, its condition, the service provider, and region. ABB’s circularity services and KUKA’s circular services illustrate options offered by those manufacturers; they do not establish universal availability across the industry.
Options for keeping a robot or its parts in use
Repair, maintain, or upgrade it
If the robot still suits the production need, maintenance, repair, spare-part replacement, or a retrofit may extend the life of the installation. KUKA lists repair and exchange of defective components, maintenance, refurbishment, retrofits, and used spare parts. ABB likewise describes repair, upgrades, and spare parts as part of its circular services. A technically repairable robot is not automatically a good candidate: support for its model, controller, software, safety equipment, and process integration also matters. ABB circularity services; KUKA circular services.
#1 Best Overall
- 【End-to-End Imitation Learning】Hiwonder SO-ARM101 robot arm is an embodied intelligent hardware platform compatible with the Lerobot open-source framework. It provides developers with streamlined access to shared code, templates, and pre-trained models to explore the latest advancements in AI research.
- 【Dual-Camera Vision System】Equipped with both a gripper-mounted camera and an external camera, the system supports both precise manipulation and environmental awareness for accurate imitation learning.
- 【Hiwonder High-Performance Bus Servos】Featuring 12 high-torque bus servo motors with magnetic feedback, the Hiwonder SO-Arm101 robotic arm delivers smooth, stable motion, eliminating issues like power deficiency and jitter.
- 【Professional Control & Debugging】Integrated with the Hiwonder BusLinker V3.0 debugging board, the system supports servo scanning, real-time status monitoring, and trajectory control. The professional PC software simplifies device calibration and debugging, making it accessible for both researchers and hobbyists.
- 【Open-Source Compatibility】The SO-ARM101 robotic arm is designed to be fully compatible with the LeRobot open-source project. We acknowledge the contributions of the open-source community; all trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Reuse or resell the whole robot
A usable robot may move to another production line, be sold to another business, or qualify for a manufacturer buy-back or resale program. ABB describes buying back inactive or legacy robots. KUKA describes buy-back and third-party resale, including inspection and start-up. These are not guaranteed offers for every machine: ask the manufacturer or its regional service provider whether the specific model and condition qualify, and confirm what inspection, commissioning, and support are included. ABB circularity services; KUKA circular services.
Remanufacture or refurbish it
Remanufacturing or refurbishment involves inspecting and reconditioning a robot for another period of use. ABB says its remanufacturing process follows original specifications, uses OEM-quality components, replaces worn or failed parts, and functionally tests certified remanufactured robots for at least 16 hours under nominal load. ABB also describes a 152-point inspection for robots and controllers. These details apply to ABB’s stated process, not to every refurbished robot or service provider. ABB circularity services; ABB remanufactured robots.
Rank #2
- 【3 Master Control】Three master controls to choose from, one for educational robotic arms that seamlessly integrates with the Jetson Nano/Orin Nano Super/Orin NX Super ecosystem.Build and run Ubuntu 22.04 based on 3 main controls, making it an ideal development tool for developing robots and programming.Equipped with Orin Nano Super and Orin NX Super, it supports multiple fields such as robot algorithm development and ROS simulation learning.
- 【UR-type mechanical structure】The 7axis collaborative robot developed for user-defined programming has greater flexibility than traditional robotic arms.The smooth body and adaptive gripper have a larger range of motion and can reach more and more precise positioning.Using AI to control its movement and speed, it can achieve millimeter-level positioning and operation.It can work safely with people,is compact, and has many interfaces,making it a collaborative partner on your desktop.
- 【Programmable&ROS system】Explore the possibilities of RoboFlow,the industrial robot software of elephan-t robot.Relying on the original Jetson Nano open source ecosystem,Jetcobot provides rich development interfaces, Python driver libraries and built-in ROS environment to make your development easier and faster. It supports multiple programming languages, various software interaction methods and is for a wide range of app. Explore the unlimited potential of this collaborative robot arm.
- 【AI Vision&Remote Control】Equipped with wooden blocks and stickers,it can realize recognition, tracking, and grasping actions, fully reflecting the AI-Type characteristics of the robot arm. Most functions can be operated through a multi-function app (Android);equipped with a USB game controller remote control to achieve the best control experience;create Jupyter Lab pages online.The APP cannot control the gripper,it is recommended to use a USB controller.
- 【Tutorials】All information and instructions are in English.We provide high-quality technical support services. If you need help, please contact Yahboom.Jetcobot is recommended for individuals with a basic understanding of programming, not for beginners.Considering the threshold of product use,we strongly recommend that you read the instructions carefully before operation.Please pay attention to the power adapters in the list.If you use them interchangeably, they will burn out.
ABB’s two cited pages give different warranty terms: its general circularity page says a minimum 12-month warranty, while its remanufactured-robots page advertises a 24-month warranty. Verify the warranty for the particular unit and offer rather than assuming either term applies to all remanufactured robots. ABB circularity services; ABB remanufactured robots.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Recover tested spare parts
When a whole robot is not suitable for reuse, a service provider may recover components, clean and test them, and sell them as used spare parts. KUKA describes this approach for robots and controllers, including equipment no longer available on the market. Check model compatibility, component condition, technical support, and any applicable warranty before relying on a used part. KUKA circular services.
Rank #3
- Optimized AI Arm Kit for LeRobot & Hugging Face Projects – The SO-ARM101 is an upgraded low-cost robotic arm servo motor kit designed for AI robotics enthusiasts and developers. Fully compatible with LeRobot and Hugging Face frameworks, it supports imitation learning and reinforcement learning, making it ideal for real-world robotics applications. (3D-printed parts not included.)
- Enhanced Wiring & Performance – Compared to the SO-ARM100, the SO-ARM101 features improved wiring to prevent disconnection at joint 3 and eliminates range-of-motion limitations. The leader arm uses optimized gear ratio motors for smoother performance—no external gearboxes required.
- Real-Time Leader-Follower Functionality – New real-time tracking allows the leader arm to follow the follower arm, enabling human intervention and correction during reinforcement learning (RL) training. Perfect for hands-on AI robotics development and research.
- Open-Source, DIY-Friendly & Nvidia-Compatible – Developed by TheRobotStudio, this open-source AI Arm kit integrates seamlessly with the LeRobot platform, offering PyTorch-based datasets, simulation, training, and deployment tools. Fully compatible with Nvidia Jetson edge devices, including reComputer Mini J4012 Orin NX 16 GB.
- Comprehensive Learning Resources – Includes detailed open-source assembly and calibration guides, testing tutorials, and deployment instructions. From wiring to AI training, get everything you need to start building, teaching, and optimizing your robotic arm for grasping and placing tasks.
Recycle the remaining materials
If repair, whole-robot reuse, and component recovery are not viable, the remaining equipment can be dismantled and its material fractions sent for recycling or final disposal through appropriate professional channels. ABB says the portion of a robot not reused goes to certified recycling partners. ITU-T Recommendation L.1037, published in September 2025, addresses environmentally sound collection, transportation, storage, dismantling, valorization, and final disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The recommendation is not a substitute for checking the rules that apply where the equipment is located. ABB circularity services; ITU-T Recommendation L.1037.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide which route fits a particular robot
There is no universal break-even threshold or cost formula established by the cited sources. Compare the robot’s condition and practical value across the full path from removal to its next use or disposal:
Rank #4
- Optimized AI Arm Kit for LeRobot & Hugging Face Projects – The SO-ARM101 is an upgraded low-cost robotic arm servo motor kit designed for AI robotics enthusiasts and developers. Fully compatible with LeRobot and Hugging Face frameworks, it supports imitation learning and reinforcement learning, making it ideal for real-world robotics applications. (3D-printed parts not included.)
- Enhanced Wiring & Performance – Compared to the SO-ARM100, the SO-ARM101 features improved wiring to prevent disconnection at joint 3 and eliminates range-of-motion limitations. The leader arm uses optimized gear ratio motors for smoother performance—no external gearboxes required
- Real-Time Leader-Follower Functionality – New real-time tracking allows the leader arm to follow the follower arm, enabling human intervention and correction during reinforcement learning (RL) training. Perfect for hands-on AI robotics development and research
- Open-Source, DIY-Friendly & Nvidia-Compatible – Developed by TheRobotStudio, this open-source AI Arm kit integrates seamlessly with the LeRobot platform, offering PyTorch-based datasets, simulation, training, and deployment tools. Fully compatible with Nvidia Jetson edge devices, including reComputer Mini J4012 Orin NX 16 GB
- Comprehensive Learning Resources – Includes detailed open-source assembly and calibration guides, testing tutorials, and deployment instructions. From wiring to AI training, get everything you need to start building, teaching, and optimizing your robotic arm for grasping and placing tasks
- Condition: assess mechanical and electrical state, including defects that could affect safe operation.
- Supportability: check availability of parts, service, and technical support for the exact robot and controller.
- Compatibility: determine whether the controller, software, tooling, safety system, and process can be supported or adapted for the intended application.
- Cost to return to service: include inspection, repairs, upgrades, transport, removal, handling, and commissioning.
- Recovery value: compare realistic resale value and recoverable-parts value with the cost and effort required to obtain them.
- Local obligations: confirm applicable waste-handling and producer-responsibility requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified local provider.
For a specific asset, ask its manufacturer or a qualified automation service provider to assess the model and condition. Separately verify the credentials of any recycler or other end-of-life provider and confirm that its service meets local requirements. The cited manufacturer pages describe service categories; they do not determine the legal obligations for a particular location. ABB circularity services; KUKA circular services; ITU-T Recommendation L.1037.
What ABB’s published reuse figures do—and do not—show
ABB reports more than 12,000 robots remanufactured globally, says 60–80% of a robot can be reused, and reports taking back around 250 robots per year. It also claims refurbishment produces 75% less CO2 than producing a new robot. These are ABB’s own published claims; the cited page gives no publication year, and its 75% claim does not state an assessment boundary or methodology. They should not be treated as industry-wide rates or independently verified comparisons. ABB circularity services.
ABB describes its approach this way: “60-80% of a robot can be reused. The rest is sent to certified recycling partners.” That statement is ABB’s description of its process, not a guarantee that the same proportion can be recovered from every robot. ABB circularity services.
Can you sell an old industrial robot back to the manufacturer?
Possibly. ABB describes buying back inactive or legacy robots, and KUKA describes buy-back and resale routes. Neither description means every old robot will be accepted. Contact the manufacturer or its regional service provider with the exact model, controller, condition, location, and available service history, then request the eligibility criteria, valuation, and details of removal and transport. ABB circularity services; KUKA circular services.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
