ABB IRB 120 FlexMove vs Bowden Retractors
Side-by-side comparison of ABB IRB 120 FlexMove (ABB) and Bowden Retractors (TECNA USA) — specs, pricing, Robo Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Warehousing & Logistics buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveSwitzerland
- Bowden Retractors—
Year First Available
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove2018
- Bowden Retractors—
Verified Deployments
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove0 Deployments
- Bowden Retractors0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove$65,000 USD
- Bowden RetractorsContact for quote
Availability Status
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveACTIVE
- Bowden RetractorsACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove12 kg
- Bowden Retractors14 kg
Reach
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove900 mm
- Bowden Retractors2,500 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove6
- Bowden Retractors—
Repeatability
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove±0.03 mm
- Bowden Retractors—
Path Accuracy
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove±0.1 mm
- Bowden Retractors—
Robot Weight
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove35 kg
- Bowden Retractors3.6 kg
IP Rating (Arm)
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveIP54
- Bowden Retractors—
Performance
MTBF
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove50,000 hrs
- Bowden Retractors—
Duty Cycle
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove24 7 continuous
- Bowden Retractorscontinuous 24 7
Safety
Dual Check Safety
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveYes
- Bowden Retractors—
Safety I/O Pairs
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove2
- Bowden Retractors—
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveOmniCore™
- Bowden Retractors—
Programming Languages
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveRAPID
- Bowden Retractors—
Teach Pendant Type
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovewired touch
- Bowden Retractors—
Offline Programming
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveRobotStudio
- Bowden Retractors—
Digital Twin Support
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveYes
- Bowden Retractors—
Connectivity
IoT / Cloud Platform
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveABB Ability
- Bowden Retractors—
Predictive Maintenance
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovethreshold based
- Bowden Retractors—
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveiso 9283
- Bowden Retractors—
Internal Cable Routing
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovethrough arm and wrist
- Bowden Retractors—
Pneumatic Lines
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove1
- Bowden Retractors—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove$65,000 USD
- Bowden RetractorsContact for quote
Warranty
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove1 yrs
- Bowden Retractors—
Service Network
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveglobal
- Bowden Retractorsglobal
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Switzerland | — |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $65,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Payload (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 12 kg | 14 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 900 mm | 2,500 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 6 | — |
| Repeatability (values differ) | ±0.03 mm | — |
| Path Accuracy (values differ) | ±0.1 mm | — |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 35 kg | 3.6 kg |
| IP Rating (Arm) (values differ) | IP54 | — |
| Performance | ||
| MTBF (priority for Warehousing & Logistics buyers) (values differ) | 50,000 hrs | — |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | 24 7 continuous | continuous 24 7 |
| Safety | ||
| Dual Check Safety (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Safety I/O Pairs (values differ) | 2 | — |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | OmniCore™ | — |
| Programming Languages (values differ) | RAPID | — |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | wired touch | — |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | RobotStudio | — |
| Digital Twin Support (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| IoT / Cloud Platform (values differ) | ABB Ability | — |
| Predictive Maintenance (values differ) | threshold based | — |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | iso 9283 | — |
| Internal Cable Routing (values differ) | through arm and wrist | — |
| Pneumatic Lines (values differ) | 1 | — |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $65,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Warranty (values differ) | 1 yrs | — |
| Service Network | global | global |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, Max TCP Speed, IP Rating (Wrist), Cycle Time (25/305/25), Vibration Damping, Safety Category, E-Stop Response, Safe Zone Count, Communication Protocols, ROS-Industrial Support, Cybersecurity Certs, Tool Changer (ISO), Electrical Lines, Spare Parts Lead Time, Expected Service Life
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | ABB IRB 120 FlexMove | Bowden Retractors |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $65,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 15.6 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $185,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +285% | — |
Bowden Retractors has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Bowden Retractors?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove is made by ABB, based in CH. Bowden Retractors is made by TECNA USA.
How do ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Bowden Retractors compare on the Robo Score?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove scores 72.8 on the Robo Score. Bowden Retractors scores 47.1. The Robo Score is a 0–100 credibility figure blending commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
How does the reach of ABB IRB 120 FlexMove compare to Bowden Retractors?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove has a reach of 580 mm. Bowden Retractors has a reach of 2500 mm.
Are ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Bowden Retractors in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Industrial Arm on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Industrial Arm robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Industrial Arm TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Bowden Retractors?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
TCO of a 6-Axis Arm Cell: Hardware, EOAT, Integration, Programming
7 min readIndustrial Arms
Industrial Arm Vendor Selection: Capability Matrices and Proof Points
9 min readIndustrial Arms
Programming Approaches: Teach Pendant, Offline, AI-Assisted — What Each Costs You
8 min readIndustrial Arms
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove vs Bowden Retractors compares two robots in the industrial-arm category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Score is calculated.