ABB GoFa gives you three models with slightly different arms. RO1 gives you one AI-native cobot that handles picking, welding, tending, stacking, and doesn’t need a team of integration consultants to get moving.

The ABB GoFa CRB 15000 lineup wants you to pick a robot. Standard Bots’ RO1 wants to get to work and help your team. 

Overview: GoFa models vs. Standard Bots RO1

ABB’s GoFa CRB 15000 lineup gives you three options — the 5/0.95, 10/1.52, and 12/1.37 — all variations on a theme. Moderate payloads, decent reach, and very ABB energy (polished ecosystem, premium pricing, and a strong preference for staying in its lane).

Standard Bots’ RO1, on the other hand, skips the menu entirely: One model, full power, 18 kg payload, 1300 mm reach, ±0.025 mm repeatability, and AI that actually earns the buzzword. No splitting hairs over minor spec differences, just one robot that does it all, faster.

GoFa models at a glance

• GoFa 5/0.95: 5 kg payload, 950 mm reach; compact, lightweight, meant for simpler handling
  
• GoFa 10/1.52: 10 kg payload, 1520 mm reach; best reach in the lineup, solid for light assembly
  
• GoFa 12/1.37: 12 kg payload, 1370 mm reach; heavier-duty option, slightly tighter footprint
  

RO1 at a glance

• Standard Bots RO1: 18 kg payload, 1300 mm reach; built for real throughput, not segmented SKUs
  
• Comes with full machine vision, native AI, and plug-and-play integration with WMS, CNC, MES, etc.
  
• Costs half of what you’d pay for a GoFa, and actually shows up to work the next morning

Quick Comparison: GoFa CRB 15000 Models vs. Standard Bots RO1

When you’re staring at a spec sheet trying to decide which cobot won’t implode your floor plan or budget, this is the table you want. 

Let’s break it all down, robot by robot:

GoFa CRB 15000 series breakdown

The GoFa CRB 15000 lineup includes three collaborative robots. The 5/0.95, 10/1.52, and 12/1.37 (aka 15000/12) — each named for its payload (kg) and reach (meters). 

Together, they represent ABB’s attempt to cover everything from light handling to mid-range assembly, with specs that scale but a price tag that stays very ... ABB.

Each GoFa robot comes with SafeMotion, force-limiting, and ABB’s Smart Pendant. So, if you’ve worked with ABB GoFa models before, you’ll feel right at home. But that also means you’re buying into a heavier software stack and a more locked-in ecosystem.

Want the full ABB context before diving into specs? Check out our GoFa deep dive.

GoFa 5/0.95

The smallest in the Gofa CRB 15000 series, the 5/0.95 is ABB’s answer to “we just need something light, friendly, and not about to tear someone’s arm off.” It’s designed for small-payload handling, with a 950 mm reach. This isn’t bad, unless your pick station layout forgot to account for depth.

Payload: 5 kg

Reach: 950 mm

Use cases: Simple handling, lab automation, repetitive light part movement

Pros: Compact footprint, ABB Wizard programming, fast cycle times on small items

Cons: Not so much strength and reach, vision system is optional (read as $$$), and it's not exactly futureproof if your ops scale next quarter.

GoFa 10/1.52

ABB’s mid-range GoFa robot goes long, literally. With a reach of 1520 mm, this version was clearly made to bridge gaps (physical ones, not strategic). You’ll get a doubled payload from the 5/0.95, which opens up more use cases … but only if you don’t mind some trade-offs.

Payload: 10 kg

Reach: 1520 mm

Use cases: Assembly lines, extended pick-and-place stations, or anything spread across too many zones; probably the best fit for mid-volume lines that want ABB GoFa reliability with some stretch, but don’t need to lift car doors

Pros: Great reach, more versatile payload handling, and still relatively compact

Cons: Same “vision not included” problem, and interface still leans hard into ABB-isms — bring your tech team

GoFa 12/1.37

The GoFa CRB 15000 12 is ABB’s muscle play in the GoFa family. It brings a 12 kg payload and a 1370 mm reach, positioning itself as the heavy-duty option for lines that move awkward or semi-bulky parts. Think kits, trays, or machine loading with mid-weight components.

Payload: 12 kg

Reach: 1370 mm

Use case: Machine loading, case packing, heavier assembly work

Pros: Strongest of the three, good reach-to-weight ratio, ABB pedigree

Cons: You’re at the top of the GoFa price range now, and still no onboard vision unless you add it, along with the integration bill.

Standard Bots RO1

If the GoFa lineup is a choose-your-own-adventure story, RO1 is the main character who already solved the mystery, defused the bomb, and automated the entire plant while your PLC guy was still rebooting.

RO1 is Standard Bots’ six-axis, AI-native cobot with a payload of 18 kg and a reach of 1300 mm. That puts it ahead of all three GoFa robot variants on strength, with reach that beats the 5/0.95 and 12/1.37 — and nearly ties the 10/1.52 — without sacrificing precision. It can easily handle picking, packing, palletizing, QC, welding, machine tending, and more, all in one setup.

Key features:

• ±0.025 mm repeatability for tight-tolerance tasks
  
• AI-driven pathing and grip adjustment; no hand-holding required
  
• Built-in machine vision system (yes, actually built in)
  
• No-code interface that your operator can use before finishing their coffee
  
• Plug-and-play with WMS, ERP, MES, and more
  
• Costs $37K (list price) with a 30-day trial and zero onboarding tax
  

Ideal for:

• Shops that want to run real automation now, not next fiscal quarter
• Teams with or without in-house roboticists
• Facilities juggling multiple automation use cases across the same floor
• Ops that don’t want to waste budget choosing between three almost-the-same models

Use case breakdown

Where does each model shine (or fall apart) when dropped into real scenarios? Here are their use cases:

User reviews

ABB GoFa CRB 15000: What users think

Reviews for the ABB GoFa series are mostly positive, especially from engineers already familiar with ABB’s software. 

Let’s check out some highlights: 

• The robot is highly agile and fast. It improves output and makes the job more efficient. Easy to operate and works seamlessly without trouble.
  — Shrinkhala Singh, Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI)
  ‍
• Reliable and easy to use (if you’re an experienced engineer). Compared to our other brand (UR), I prefer GoFa. ABB’s support is great — they help us when needed, even on software stuff.
  — Qviro verified user
  ‍
• Really easy to implement, and the safety setup is well guided. Would definitely use it again.
  — Mario Sansoni, Nomotec
  ‍
• The mechanics are precise. The Wizard pendant is easy to use, even without formal ABB training. The Match system works perfectly between EOAT and robot.
  — Timo Mauderer, Zimmer Group
  ‍
• I like that I can prep programs offline using RobotStudio.
  — Randy Kerstjens, Concept Robotics

The cons?

• The GoFa robot still expects users to navigate ABB’s robot environment, which can be hell for beginners.
  
• Vision is still an optional add-on — expect to pay extra.
  
• Wizard interface is helpful, but not truly no-code. You’ll still need some robotics know-how to avoid tripping over menus.

Standard Bots RO1: What users think

Users of the RO1 robot don’t talk about it like an experiment. They talk about it like a team member who doesn’t complain, doesn’t mess up, and somehow runs better than the cobots they paid double for.

Let’s check out their kind words: 

• I had never touched a robot before, and I got the RO1 set up and running faster than the engineers who were using a Universal Robot.
  — Leo, CNC operator
  ‍
• The ease of use was amazing. RO1 was a no-brainer. A lot more affordable than anything else out there, and it actually works.
  — Henry, shop owner
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• We run it lights-out with a laser cutter. It used to be 1,500 parts a day. Now we’re doing 6,000.
  — Alan Radcliffe, Product Manager, Ultrafab
  ‍
• We’re expanding with three more projects, all using RO1. We’ve already seen the ROI.
  — Ultrafab team

The pros:

• RO1 is fast to deploy — even by first-timers
  
• It’s priced aggressively without stripping features
  
• Handles CNC, laser cutting, bin loading, part indexing, and more
  
• Built-in vision and AI features rival more expensive systems

The cons:

• Brand-new teams might still want onboarding support
  
• Optional 3D vision upgrades can add cost
  
• Standard Bots’ RO1 is still rolling out into new verticals. Not all niche use cases have prebuilt templates (yet), but they’re easy to get going.

Which should you choose?

If you’re already deep in the ABB universe, have a team trained on Wizard, and love fine-tuning force settings while sipping cold espresso, the GoFa CRB 15000 series might feel like home. 

But if you need a cobot that shows up, sets up, and ramps production without a six-week email chain, you’ll want RO1.

Choose ABB GoFa if:

• You’re already running other ABB systems and want clean integration.
  
• You’ve got experienced engineers who speak fluent Smart Pendant.
  
• You need ultra-tight repeatability (±0.02 mm) and know exactly which arm you want.
  

Choose RO1 if:

• You want to deploy in days, not months.
  
• Your team isn’t made of PLC wizards, and you like drag-and-drop over deciphering config scripts.
  
• You’re tired of picking between three similar variants when one cobot can handle all of it — machine tending, bin picking, QC, palletizing, and more.
  
• You’d rather pay for an affordable, capable cobot than explain why a six-figure system is still sitting in setup mode.

Next steps with Standard Bots’ robotic solutions

Looking to upgrade your automation game? Standard Bots’ RO1 is the perfect six-axis cobot addition to any operation, from order picking and machine tending to palletizing, painting, and quality control.

• Affordable and adaptable: Available at half the cost of comparable robots, at 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 production environments.
  
• AI-driven simplicity: Equipped with AI capabilities on par with GPT-4, RO1 integrates seamlessly into your existing systems for fast, intelligent automation.
  
• Safety-first design: Machine vision and collision detection mean RO1 works safely alongside human operators in real-world conditions.

Schedule your risk-free, 30-day on-site trial today and see how RO1 can bring AI-powered greatness to your floor. 

FAQs

1. What’s the best cobot in the GoFa CRB 15000 series?

The 15000/12 is the strongest on paper — 12 kg payload, 1370 mm reach — but it still lacks built-in vision. If you're already in ABB’s world and don’t mind bolting on extras, it’s the one to beat. Otherwise, RO1 covers everything it does (and more) in one unit.

2. How does RO1 compare to the GoFa robot on precision?

RO1 comes in at ±0.025 mm, while all three GoFa CRB 15000 models clock in at ±0.02 mm. That said, unless you're placing microchips with tweezers, you’ll never notice the 0.005 mm difference, and RO1 gives you built-in vision to make up for it.

3. Which robot is better for machine tending?

RO1, hands down. It’s already running lights-out on CNC and laser-cutting setups, with built-in AI pathing, real-time grip adjustment, and zero Smart Pendant headaches. See for yourself.

4. Do ABB GoFa robots include vision systems?

Not by default. Vision is an add-on, meaning more integration work, more cost, and more of those fun “call ABB support” moments. RO1 ships with vision, because robots should see what they’re doing without an upgrade fee.

5. What’s the better fit for small U.S. manufacturers in 2025?

RO1 wins if you want fast deployment, real support, and a price that doesn’t require a board meeting. The ABB GoFa lineup is polished, but you’ll need more time, budget, and technical depth to make it sing.