Why Cobots Are an Ideal Financed Asset
Collaborative robots are one of the fastest-growing segments in UK manufacturing automation. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots:
- Cost £15k–£80k - a manageable ticket size for most UK SMEs
- Are easy to redeploy across tasks - maintaining high residual value for lenders
- Generate measurable ROI quickly - making finance payments easy to justify from productivity gains
- Require minimal installation infrastructure - reducing total project cost
Popular Cobots and Their Typical Costs
| Model | Payload | Typical Hardware Cost | With Integration (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Robots UR10e | 10 kg | £22,000–£28,000 | £35,000–£50,000 |
| Universal Robots UR16e | 16 kg | £28,000–£35,000 | £40,000–£60,000 |
| Universal Robots UR20 | 20 kg | £38,000–£48,000 | £55,000–£75,000 |
| FANUC CRX-10iA | 10 kg | £24,000–£32,000 | £38,000–£55,000 |
| KUKA LBR iisy 11 | 11 kg | £26,000–£34,000 | £40,000–£58,000 |
Prices indicative and vary by configuration, supplier and market conditions. Integration costs vary significantly by application.
Worked Example: £32,000 Universal Robots UR10e Cobot
| Deal Details | |
|---|---|
| Asset | Universal Robots UR10e with gripper and integration |
| Total financed | £32,000 |
| Structure | Hire purchase |
| Term | 4 years (48 months) |
| Rate | 7.5% APR |
| Deposit | £0 |
| Monthly payment | £774 |
| Total repayable | £37,152 |
| Total interest | £5,152 |
Indicative example only. Finance subject to credit approval. Doulton Bridging Finance acts as a credit broker, not a lender.
Cobot Finance: Key Lenders
| Lender | Rate | Deposit | Decision Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyds Bank / HSBC | 5.0–8.5% | 10% | 5–10 days |
| Close Brothers | 6.5–11.0% | 0–10% | 2–4 days |
| Aldermore | 6.0–10.5% | 0–10% | 2–5 days |
| Shawbrook | 6.5–11.0% | 0–10% | 2–4 days |
| Nucleus Commercial Finance | 7.0–13.0% | 0% | 24–48 hours |