KR 120 R3900-2 K vs Meca500
Side-by-side comparison of KR 120 R3900-2 K (KUKA Robotics) and Meca500 (Mecademic) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Optimized for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- KR 120 R3900-2 KGermany
- Meca500Canada
Year First Available
- KR 120 R3900-2 K2015
- Meca5002015
Verified Deployments
- KR 120 R3900-2 K0 Deployments
- Meca5000 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price
- KR 120 R3900-2 K$19,000–$84,900 USD
- Meca500$15,000 USD
Availability Status
- KR 120 R3900-2 KACTIVE
- Meca500ACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Repeatability
- KR 120 R3900-2 K±0.04 mm
- Meca500±0.005 mm
IP Rating (Arm)
- KR 120 R3900-2 KIP65
- Meca500IP 40
Reach
- KR 120 R3900-2 K3,904 mm
- Meca500330 mm
Payload
- KR 120 R3900-2 K146 kg
- Meca5001 kg
Degrees of Freedom
- KR 120 R3900-2 K6
- Meca5006
Robot Weight
- KR 120 R3900-2 K42 kg
- Meca5004.6 kg
IP Rating (Wrist)
- KR 120 R3900-2 KIP67
- Meca500—
Controller & Programming
Controller Model
- KR 120 R3900-2 KKR C5, KR C5 micro
- Meca500embedded
Teach Pendant Type
- KR 120 R3900-2 K—
- Meca500none
Commercial
Price (USD)
- KR 120 R3900-2 K$19,000–$84,900 USD
- Meca500$15,000 USD
Warranty
- KR 120 R3900-2 K2 yrs
- Meca500—
Service Network
- KR 120 R3900-2 Kglobal
- Meca500—
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Germany | Canada |
| Year First Available | 2015 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $19,000–$84,900 USD | $15,000 USD |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Repeatability (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | ±0.04 mm | ±0.005 mm |
| IP Rating (Arm) (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | IP65 | IP 40 |
| Reach (priority for Healthcare & Hospitals buyers) (values differ) | 3,904 mm | 330 mm |
| Payload (values differ) | 146 kg | 1 kg |
| Degrees of Freedom | 6 | 6 |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 42 kg | 4.6 kg |
| IP Rating (Wrist) (values differ) | IP67 | — |
| Controller & Programming | ||
| Controller Model (values differ) | KR C5, KR C5 micro | embedded |
| Teach Pendant Type (values differ) | — | none |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $19,000–$84,900 USD | $15,000 USD |
| Warranty (values differ) | 2 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, Path Accuracy, Max TCP Speed, Cycle Time (25/305/25), MTBF, Duty Cycle, Vibration Damping, Safety Category, Dual Check Safety, Safety I/O Pairs, E-Stop Response, Safe Zone Count, Programming Languages, Offline Programming, Digital Twin Support, Communication Protocols, ROS-Industrial Support, IoT / Cloud Platform, Cybersecurity Certs, Predictive Maintenance, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer (ISO), Internal Cable Routing, Pneumatic Lines, Electrical Lines, Spare Parts Lead Time, Expected Service Life
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
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 | KR 120 R3900-2 K | Meca500 |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $51,950 | $15,000 |
| Payback period | 12.5 mo | 3.6 mo |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $198,050 | $235,000 |
| ROI (5 yr) | +381% | +1567% |
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 KR 120 R3900-2 K and Meca500?
KR 120 R3900-2 K is made by KUKA Robotics, based in DE. Meca500 is made by Mecademic, based in CA.
When were KR 120 R3900-2 K and Meca500 launched?
KR 120 R3900-2 K launched in 2015. Meca500 launched in 2015.
How do KR 120 R3900-2 K and Meca500 compare on the Robo Index?
KR 120 R3900-2 K grades AAA on the Robo Index. Meca500 grades A. 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.
How does the reach of KR 120 R3900-2 K compare to Meca500?
KR 120 R3900-2 K has a reach of 3904 mm. Meca500 has a reach of 225 mm.
Are KR 120 R3900-2 K and Meca500 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 KR 120 R3900-2 K and Meca500?
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
KR 120 R3900-2 K vs Meca500 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.