Yaskawa Motoman HC20 Cobot Financing

Twenty kilograms of payload and a 1700 mm reach make the HC20 one of the more capable cobots Yaskawa Motoman has put into production. The payback math on this machine depends on what you are replacing: a single operator running a machine-tending cell on two shifts, with the HC20 handling load and unload, typically pushes the cycle through in 18 to 24 months on labor alone. That is the number worth putting on paper before you sign a purchase order or a lease.

We finance the HC20 as a standalone unit and as part of a broader workcell that includes end-of-arm tooling, safety fencing, and integration labor. The total project cost is what matters for payback, and our structure can wrap all of it into one monthly payment. Minimum transaction is $50,000; the sweet spot for most HC20 installations runs $100,000 to $175,000 once the cell is fully integrated. Application-only approval is available up to roughly $400,000, so smaller cells move fast without a full financial package.

The Yaskawa Motoman brand financing page covers the full family. This page is specific to the HC20 and the buyer situations that surround it.

What the HC20 Actually Does

The HC20 carries 20 kg at the wrist and covers 1700 mm of reach, which puts it in a different class than the 10 kg HC10 sibling. Yaskawa introduced the HC series as power-and-force-limiting cobots, meaning they are certified to share workspace with operators without additional hard guarding under specific conditions. That safety architecture matters for financing because it affects installation cost: a traditional fenced cell for a conventional robot adds to the project budget; the HC20 in a properly risk-assessed cell can omit some of that guarding, trimming total project cost.

Typical applications for this model include machine tending on lathes and machining centers, assembly tasks requiring moderate force, and material handling between stations. The 1700 mm reach covers most standard workcell geometries without repositioning the base. Repeatability is rated at plus or minus 0.06 mm, which is sufficient for most assembly and machine-tending tasks but not for high-precision insertion work requiring sub-0.01 mm accuracy.

For buyers comparing it to the Yaskawa Motoman HC10, the 20 kg payload opens a different range of parts and fixtures. If you are tending a horizontal machining center that runs heavy castings, the HC10 will not work; the HC20 often will.

How We Structure HC20 Financing

Most HC20 buyers choose one of two paths: an equipment loan with a $1 buyout that puts the asset on the balance sheet immediately, or a fair-market-value lease that keeps the payment lower and provides an upgrade option at term end. The right choice depends on how your accountant treats Section 179 and bonus depreciation in your current tax year. A $1 buyout loan lets you take the full deduction in year one on a qualifying asset; an FMV lease keeps the payment off the capital line but sacrifices that immediate write-down.

We also structure sale-leaseback transactions on HC20 units that are already in service. If you bought the cobot for cash six months ago and want to recover working capital, we can appraise the unit, fund against it, and put cash back in your account. Payoff of any existing lien on the robot is handled at closing. The robot sale-leaseback page covers the mechanics in detail.

For integrators quoting an HC20 cell to a customer, ask about our vendor and integrator financing programs. We can pre-qualify your customer's credit before the proposal goes out, which eliminates the budget conversation from the sales cycle.

Who Buys the HC20 on Financing

The HC20 financing request usually comes from one of three buyer profiles. The first is a job shop or contract manufacturer that has landed a new program requiring consistent cycle times and is adding the cobot to protect margin on the contract. These buyers often have good credit and want speed above all else; our application-only path delivers a decision in 24 to 48 hours on transactions up to $400,000.

The second profile is a mid-size manufacturer with an existing automation program who is adding an HC20 to a cell that already has other robots. The financial picture is clear, the integration is internal, and the question is usually about lease vs. loan structure. We handle both, and the decision often comes down to the current tax year's depreciation position.

The third profile is a first-time automation buyer who is stepping into cobots from a manual process. These buyers sometimes carry B or C credit, have shorter operating histories, or run a business that seasonal revenue makes look inconsistent on paper. We work with that profile. available equipment finance programs includes specialty automation lenders who evaluate the payback case and the collateral rather than applying a rigid credit score cutoff. The B/C-credit financing page explains what that process looks like.

Manufacturers in automotive tier supplier operations are frequent HC20 buyers, particularly for assembly and machine-tending applications on powertrain components.

Timeline from Application to Funding

The application covers the robot, the integration quote, and any tooling included in the total project. We collect three months of business bank statements and a one-page credit application for transactions up to the application-only threshold. Larger projects or complex structures add a P&L and balance sheet to that package, but the core ask is light. Approval typically comes back in 24 to 48 hours. Funding, meaning the check or wire to the vendor or integrator, lands in about one to two weeks from the time we have a complete package.

For cobot financing in general, the asset's resale value is a factor in how aggressively we can structure the deal. The HC20 holds value reasonably well in the secondary market, which gives lenders comfort on longer terms.