01 WEEK 8 · LIVE
Start without the cheque.
One hourly rate puts a fully programmed, fully supported cell on your floor in weeks — no $250K sign-off, no capital tied up, no depreciating asset on the books.
SOLUTIONS — THE COMMERCIAL SHAPE
Rent vs buy.
Run the numbers.
We rent robots, so read this knowing where we stand. But the comparison below is the one we walk through with every plant manager — including the rows where buying wins.
- TYPICAL PURCHASE$250K+ CAPEX
- ARR RENTALFROM $25/HR
- PROOF PATH90-DAY PILOT
(01) THE LEDGER — LINE BY LINE
The question isn't whether automation pays.
It's who carries the risk while you find out.
| Dimension | BUYING | ARR RENTAL |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Large CapEx approval before the line moves. | Low upfront spend. Hourly OpEx or a 90-day pilot. |
| Speed to deploy | Months of scoping, procurement and internal approval. | 8–12 weeks for a standard deployment path. |
| Flexibility | Once bought, you're committed to the asset and the learning curve. | Scale up for peak, return it if the fit is wrong, keep it if the numbers work. |
| Support model | Depends on the integrator contract and your internal team. | ARR programs, supports and checks in weekly. |
| Risk | Most of it sits with the buyer after purchase-order sign-off. | Pilot first. Prove it on your line before long-term commitment. |
(02) RENT-TO-OWN — YOU END UP OWNING IT ANYWAY
Renting isn't the alternative to owning.
It's the cheaper way to get there.
02 ACROSS THE TERM
Pay less, after tax.
Rental is OpEx — every hour is 100% tax-deductible in the year you spend it. Run the deduction through and the true cost lands below buying the same cell outright.
03 YEAR 5 · YOURS
Then you own it.
At the end of the term the cell transfers to you. The exact asset a buyer fronted $250K for on day one — except you paid less after tax and carried none of the risk getting here.
Lower after-tax cost. Full support the whole way. And the cell is yours at the end — so why pay $250K to own it on day one?
(03) THE NUMBER THAT DECIDES IT
BUY — BEFORE FIRST CARTON
$250K+
Capital, delivery, commissioning, integration and training — all before the line moves. Then 7–15% of total system cost every year after, the industry-standard spend on maintenance and support.
RENT — SAME LINE, WEEK 8
$25/HR
Cell, programming, training, parts and 24/7 response in one rate. Tax-deductible OpEx on the P&L.
STILL UNDECIDED? THAT'S WHAT THE PILOT IS FOR