Preparing the published article.
Payment Terms and Currency in International Robot RFQs
Currency and payment structure change the real price.
Structure to agree up front
| Milestone | Trigger | Typical share |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Design freeze, long-lead items ordered | 20–30% |
| Build complete | Ready for factory acceptance | 20–30% |
| FAT passed | Signed protocol, defects closed | 20–30% |
| SAT passed | Accepted at your plant | 10–20% |
| Retention | Released after stable running | 5–10% |
Currency and logistics
- Agree the invoicing currency and who carries the exchange-rate risk.
- Confirm Incoterms — delivered duty paid is not the same as ex-works.
- Check whether import duties, VAT and customs clearance are inside the price.
- Note the retention release date in the contract, not in an email.