Custom vs standard automation: which should you buy?
Not every problem needs a custom machine, and not every problem can be solved by a catalogue one. Knowing when to choose each saves both money and disappointment.
Standard automation
Off-the-shelf equipment is proven, quick to deliver and well supported. When your process matches what the machine was designed for, it is usually the best value. The risk appears when you force a standard machine to do something it was not built for.
Custom automation
A custom machine is engineered around your specific part, cycle time and constraints. It fits where nothing off-the-shelf does — unusual geometry, a special sequence, tight space, or a process no catalogue covers. It costs more to develop but removes the compromises. Either way, the same safety and acceptance rules apply: risk assessment under ISO 12100 and acceptance testing per IEC 62381.
How to decide
- Common process, standard parts? Start with off-the-shelf.
- Unique product or sequence? Custom will fit better and last longer.
- Hybrid — many strong solutions combine standard modules inside a custom-engineered cell, getting proven components with a tailored fit.
Define the process first, then pick the approach that fits it — not the other way around.