Warranties and Service Contracts

What a business robot warranty covers

Most business warranties promise to repair or replace parts that fail through defects in materials or workmanship, and the detail sits in the conditions. Check when the period starts, since a clock that begins at shipment can run down while the robot waits for installation. Find out whether labor, technician travel and freight for failed parts are included, or only the parts themselves. Look for limits on operating hours or shifts, and for exclusions covering wear items such as grippers, wheels, pads and batteries. Some warranties lapse after unapproved modifications or third-party integration, which matters if an integrator will build a cell around the robot. Ask for the full terms before you compare prices.

Spec sheets can count as promises

Under the US Uniform Commercial Code, a seller's statement of fact or promise about the goods creates an express warranty if it becomes part of the basis of the bargain, according to section 2-313 as published by Cornell's Legal Information Institute. A description of the goods, or a sample or model, can do the same, and the seller does not need to use words such as warrant or guarantee. The same section says that statements about value, or the seller's opinion of the goods, do not create a warranty. In practice, attach the datasheet, the demonstration results and the agreed acceptance criteria to your purchase order, so payload, runtime and accuracy figures form part of the deal rather than marketing copy.

Which sales law governs a cross-border order

When you buy from a maker in another country, your contract may fall under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. UNCITRAL describes it as governing sales of goods between businesses with places of business in different contracting states, excluding sales to consumers. It obliges the seller to deliver goods in conformity with the quantity and quality stipulated in the contract, together with related documents, and it lets the buyer require performance, claim damages or, for a fundamental breach, avoid the contract. Because the convention can apply unless the contract points elsewhere, ask your lawyer which law your purchase terms select, and make sure the warranty wording works under it.

Service plans and spare-parts commitments

A warranty covers defects, while a service contract covers keeping the robot running. Compare plans on what they actually deliver: remote support hours, how quickly an engineer is sent, scheduled maintenance visits, software updates and the cost of renewing the plan each year. Then ask for spare-parts commitments in writing. Useful terms include how many years parts will stay available after the model leaves production, how much notice you get before a part is discontinued, which critical spares are stocked in your region and a price list for common replacements. If the maker relies on a distributor for service, ask to see the distributor's terms as well, since that is the company you will call.

Sources and further reading

• United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) — United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
  Summary of the CISG: which business sales it covers, the seller's duty of conformity and the buyer's remedies.
• UCC § 2-313: Express Warranties by Affirmation, Promise, Description, Sample — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
  Text of the US rule on when a seller's statements, descriptions or samples create an express warranty.

Common questions

How long is a typical warranty on an industrial robot?

Terms vary by maker and by component, so compare the actual documents rather than assuming a standard period. Check whether the controller, arm, batteries and software carry different terms, and whether an extended warranty is priced separately or bundled into a service plan.

Does a robot warranty cover software bugs?

Only if it says so. Some warranties cover hardware alone and leave software to a separate support or subscription agreement. Ask whether bug fixes and security updates are included during the warranty period, and what happens to them once it ends.