BHS Robotics is an American company. Its headquarters are in Hanover Park, Illinois.
But here’s where it gets interesting. BHS integrates automation systems in the U.S.; however, that doesn’t mean all the hardware is American-made. And most solutions still mean a multiplicity of vendors, long project timelines, and external engineering.
If you’re in the market for a faster, simpler, all-in-one automation solution, one that’s actually assembled in the U.S. and doesn’t need a small army to deploy, there’s a new player in town.
We’ll show you exactly how RO1 from Standard Bots compares, and why shops are rethinking what “American automation” really means in 2025.
What types of equipment does BHS offer?
BHS Robotics isn’t in the business of selling off-the-shelf cobots. It specializes in custom industrial automation, mostly for large-scale packaging and material handling. Think conveyor lines, robotic palletizers, and big-box automation, so we’re not talking modular, ready-to-run systems.
The kind of gear BHS brings to the floor
- Converting systems: Tailored setups that prep, fold, glue, and trim corrugated materials for downstream packaging.
- Palletizers and robotic stackers: These babies are meant for high-volume throughput on box lines, often integrated with custom conveyors.
- Custom automation arms: BHS builds out robotic systems using third-party robot arms (often from major industrial brands like FANUC, etc.), integrated with proprietary software and packaging tools.
- Turnkey-ish solutions: BHS offers full-system delivery, but each install is project-based, meaning it comes with consultations, engineering hours, and custom everything. That means you’ll have to pay more money.
- Corrugated and packaging focus: While the company can do general material handling, the company’s sweet spot is automation for box plants and paper-based packaging systems.
American-made vs. US-based integration: What’s the difference?
“Built in the USA” sounds great until you realize it means “we screwed it together here, but the parts came from four continents.” That’s the vibe with BHS Robotics. Yes, it's U.S.-based. But that doesn’t mean the hardware is red, white, and blue.
Where do the wires start to cross?
- BHS assembles here, sorta: BHS puts systems together in the U.S., but the components? Robot arms, drives, motors ... those often come from global suppliers.
- Frankenstein builds, activate: Its systems are full mashups, like third-party arms, external software, custom tooling, and a lot of project management.
- Built-to-order, not ready-to-go: You’ll need consultations, engineering sprints, and a folder named “phase 1.” Don’t expect to hit ‘on’ and get your groove on.
- Integration ≠ manufacturing: BHS integrates tech built by others. It's more conductor than full-on auteur.
- Delays are part of the charm: If one supplier’s behind, the whole timeline shifts. This isn’t Amazon Prime; it’s more like “we’ll let you know.”
Need a robot that’s actually made and assembled in one place by one team? Check out our guide and skip the integrator relay race.
RO1 offers more than BHS equipment
BHS gives you a long email chain, a PowerPoint timeline, and a robot that needs a team of engineers to function. RO1 shows up, pulls itself up by the bootstraps, and gets to work, with no integrators, no mystery math, no five-week kickoff call.
Why are modern shops ditching the old-school integrator model?
- Designed and put together in the U.S., RO1 doesn’t just launch from the U.S. It’s fully assembled here by the same team that made it a reality.
- All-in-one cobot: You get the brain, the eyes, the muscles, it’s a full multitasking system, that takes care of a wide array of manufacturing jobs, not a parts wishlist from three vendors.
- No third-party last-minute vision buys: RO1 ships with built-in 3D vision. No extra cameras, no calibration drama, no “we’ll need another PO for that.”
- Ridiculously precise: You’re working with ±0.025 mm repeatability and an 18 kg payload. That’s accuracy most integrators only promise after three drinks in.
- Transparent pricing, finally: It starts at half of competing models, with a list price of $37K. No hidden quote forms. No, “we’ll get back to you.”
- Zero wait deployment: You can be live within days, not fiscal quarters.
Want to see how RO1 fits into your operation? Take a look at what it’s already doing for real manufacturers.
BHS vs. RO1: A side-by-side look
On one side, you’ve got BHS, a legacy integrator with deep roots in packaging systems, and a PowerPoint for every answer. On the other side, RO1, the best cobot of 2025. You choose.
Let’s see how they really compare:
Final takeaway
Is BHS Robotics an American company? Yes, again, the company is based in Hanover Park, Illinois.
BUT!
What you’re really getting: Custom, consultant-heavy integrations put together with parts and robots from all over the world. Great if you're running a mega box plant. Not so great if you want speed, simplicity, or transparent pricing.
What you could be getting instead: A fully assembled cobot like RO1 for packaging automation, made in the U.S., shipped ready to work, and designed to cut out the third-party chaos.
If “Made in the USA” is your starting point, maybe it’s time to finish with something smarter.
Modern robotics, built in the US. Ready in days.
Still wondering whether BHS Robotics is an American company, while juggling vendors, timelines, and pricing that lives in a black box? There’s a better way.
Standard Bots’ RO1 is the perfect six-axis cobot addition to any shop floor, big or small.
- Affordable and adaptable: Available at half the cost of comparable robots, with a list price of $37K.
- Precision and power: With a repeatability of ±0.025 mm and an 18 kg payload, RO1 handles even the most demanding shop floor jobs. We’re talking anything from welding, pick-and-place, palletizing, QC, painting, CNC machine tending, the works.
- AI-driven simplicity: Equipped with AI and machine vision on par with GPT-4, RO1 integrates perfectly with most systems for high-end automation.
- Safety-first design: Machine vision and collision detection mean RO1 works safely alongside human operators.
Schedule your risk-free, 30-day on-site trial today and see how RO1 can bring AI-powered greatness to your shop floor.
FAQs
1. What’s the best U.S.-assembled robot for manufacturers in 2025?
If you want fast deployment, built-in AI, and zero integrator nonsense, RO1 from Standard Bots is your jam. It’s fully assembled in the U.S., learns on the fly, and costs less than a forklift.
2. Can RO1 replace BHS Robotics systems for material handling?
For most general-use packaging, palletizing, and handling applications, yes. Unless you’re automating a corrugated megafactory, RO1 will likely get the job done faster and with fewer moving parts.
3. Is Barry-Wehmiller the same as BHS Robotics?
Barry-Wehmiller is a large U.S.-based industrial group that’s been acquiring robotics companies at a rapid clip, but apparently, it hasn’t acquired BHS Robotics yet.
4. Does RO1 support use cases beyond packaging?
Absolutely. RO1 works with welding, CNC, inspection, pick-and-place, and more. If your operation needs multi-step automation, it’s built for that kind of grind.
5. What kind of support does Standard Bots offer post-purchase?
No integrator handoffs here. You get direct support from the same team that designed the robot, fast replies, real help, and no getting bounced between vendors.
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