ABB IRB 120 FlexMove vs Helixar Forge IA-3
Side-by-side comparison of ABB IRB 120 FlexMove (ABB) and Helixar Forge IA-3 (Helixar Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveSwitzerland
- Helixar Forge IA-3United States
Year First Available
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove2018
- Helixar Forge IA-32023
Verified Deployments
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove0 Deployments
- Helixar Forge IA-30 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove$65,000 USD
- Helixar Forge IA-3Contact for quote
Availability Status
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveACTIVE
- Helixar Forge IA-3ACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove12 kg
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Reach
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove900 mm
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Degrees of Freedom
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove6
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Repeatability
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove±0.03 mm
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Path Accuracy
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove±0.1 mm
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Robot Weight
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove35 kg
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
IP Rating (Arm)
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveIP54
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Performance
MTBF
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove50,000 hrs
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Duty Cycle
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove24 7 continuous
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Safety
Dual Check Safety
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveYes
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Safety I/O Pairs
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove2
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveOmniCore™
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Programming Languages
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveRAPID
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Teach Pendant Type
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovewired touch
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Offline Programming
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveRobotStudio
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Digital Twin Support
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveYes
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Connectivity
IoT / Cloud Platform
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveABB Ability
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Predictive Maintenance
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovethreshold based
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveiso 9283
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Internal Cable Routing
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMovethrough arm and wrist
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Pneumatic Lines
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove1
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Commercial
Price (USD)
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove$65,000 USD
- Helixar Forge IA-3Contact for quote
Warranty
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMove1 yrs
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
Service Network
- ABB IRB 120 FlexMoveglobal
- Helixar Forge IA-3—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Switzerland | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2018 | 2023 |
| 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 (values differ) | 12 kg | — |
| Reach (values differ) | 900 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 | — |
| IP Rating (Arm) (values differ) | IP54 | — |
| Performance | ||
| MTBF (values differ) | 50,000 hrs | — |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | 24 7 continuous | — |
| 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 (values differ) | 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 | Helixar Forge IA-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $65,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 15.6 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $185,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +285% | — |
Helixar Forge IA-3 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 Helixar Forge IA-3?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove is made by ABB, based in CH. Helixar Forge IA-3 is made by Helixar Robotics, based in US.
When were ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Helixar Forge IA-3 launched?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove launched in 2018. Helixar Forge IA-3 launched in 2023.
How do ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Helixar Forge IA-3 compare on the Robo Index?
ABB IRB 120 FlexMove grades AA on the Robo Index. Helixar Forge IA-3 grades B. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are ABB IRB 120 FlexMove and Helixar Forge IA-3 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 Helixar Forge IA-3?
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 Helixar Forge IA-3 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 Index is calculated.