Palletizing Robot Lease Alternative: One Monthly Cost, No Capital Purchase

When a plant manager searches for a palletizing robot lease, the real question is usually simpler: how do we stop stacking cases by hand without a capital project? Dorna Automation Solutions offers the direct answer — a collaborative palletizing cell on a flat monthly rental of $1,999/month with $0 upfront, installation, operator training and maintenance included. This page walks through the money: why renting works as an operating expense, and how it compares with buying or a traditional lease.

Operating expense instead of a capital project

Buying automation equipment means a capital request: quotes, approvals, a budget cycle, and often a wait until next year's plan. A monthly rental skips that entire path. The $1,999 is a predictable operating expense — the same kind of line item as the labor it replaces — so the decision can be made at the plant level, on this quarter's numbers, instead of next year's capital plan. There is no loan, no financing application, and no balance-sheet asset to depreciate and eventually dispose of. The cell arrives, your operators are trained, and the invoice is the same every month.

What the monthly number actually covers

Compare like with like. A purchase price is only the start of ownership: installation, training, service contracts and repair bills arrive separately. The Dorna rental folds the whole working life of the cell into one figure — the cobot palletizing cell itself (cases up to 20 kg / 44 lb, reach up to 1,880 mm), delivery and installation, operator training, and ongoing maintenance. Against that, a well-matched line can see up to +30% line productivity and up to $5,000 per month in labor savings — the rental is priced to sit well inside the cost of the hand-stacking it replaces.

Rent vs. buy vs. traditional lease

	Rent with Dorna	Buy outright	Traditional lease
Upfront cost	$0 upfront	Full purchase price up front	Often a down payment plus fees
Monthly cost	$1,999/month, flat	None — but service and repairs are yours	Fixed payment for the lease term
Installation & training	Included	Usually extra	Usually extra
Maintenance	Included	Your cost and your downtime	Typically your responsibility
Commitment	12-month initial term, then month-to-month; 30 days' notice	You own it — including when needs change	Locked for the full lease term
Flexibility	End or adjust after the initial term	Resale or repurposing is on you	Buyout or penalties at term end

A traditional lease spreads a purchase over time, but it is still a multi-year financing commitment for a specific machine, usually without installation or maintenance attached. Renting keeps the commitment short and the service bundled: after the 12-month initial term you are month-to-month, and if your product mix or volumes change, a 30-day notice ends the arrangement instead of stranding a machine you own.

$1,999 / month — $0 upfront

One operating expense covering the cell, installation, operator training and maintenance. 12-month initial term, then month-to-month with 30 days' notice. Dorna Automation Solutions (DAS) LLC — Built in Arizona, serving Arizona, California and the whole USA.

Get a Free Line Walkthrough Call +1 (480) 744-6106

Frequently asked questions

Is this a lease or a rental?

It is a rental: you pay a flat monthly fee for a working palletizing cell with installation, training and maintenance included. There is no financing contract and no buyout at the end.

What is the minimum commitment?

A 12-month initial term. After that the rental runs month-to-month and can be ended with 30 days' notice.

Are there any upfront or hidden costs?

No — $0 upfront, and the $1,999/month covers the cell, installation, operator training and maintenance. The terms are stated up front, before you sign anything.

What does the cell handle?

Cases up to 20 kg (44 lb), with a collaborative robot arm reaching up to 1,880 mm, in a compact cell designed to work safely alongside operators. Safety guides or a cage are available as options.

How do we start?

Book the free line walkthrough: we confirm your case dimensions, weights and line speed, verify the cell fits, and put the exact terms in writing. Call +1 (480) 744-6106 or email siamak@dorna-automation.com.