Tell us about your company.

Schmalz is one of the worldwide leading providers of automation, handling and clamping systems, providing customers in numerous industries with innovative, efficient solutions based on vacuum technology. Schmalz products are used in a wide variety of production processes – for example, as grippers on robot arms in the production of car bodies, in CNC machining centers as clamping solutions for furniture pieces, or used by an operator to lift items ranging from boxes to solar modules. Schmalz customers can either choose from a diverse line of components or they can benefit from a complete solution that is custom-tailored to their requirements.

The company is headquartered in Glatten Germany and is active in 15 additional countries with their own subsidiaries. Schmalz employs a total of around 800 persons worldwide.

Your company will be exhibiting at ATX & Design & Manufacturing West, what is it that makes this an important event for your company?

Schmalz vacuum gripping systems have, for a very long time, solved complex and challenging application needs. To extend our presence into the modern, collaborative work environments we have newly released EOATs specifically designed for the working safely among human employees. ATX is a platform for acquainting customers with these tools, their benefits and the best fits for their use.

Highlight a 2 or 3 products you will be showcasing at the event?

Cobot Pump, NEW vacuum generator that does not need compressed air; https://www.schmalz.com/en/vacuum-technology-for-automation/vacuum-components/vacuum-generators/electrical-vacuum-generators/vacuum-generator-ecbpi

Cobot Gripper, employee and environment safe collaborative gripper; https://www.schmalz.com/en/company/schmalz-news/press-releases/details/new-gripper-for-collaborative-robots-1/

Vacuum End Effectors, that are configurable to meet the surface and size of the workpiece; https://www.schmalz.com/en/10.01.36.00030

When you get a chance to walk the exhibit hall floor yourself, what is it you will be most interested to see?  Any educational sessions, pavilions etc. you plan on attending?  

I always look forward to the New Product Showcases. An opportunity to see what’s new and the direction future developments will be taking us.

The factory floor is undertaking rapid advancements, be it automation, robotics, machine vision or data.  The Automation Technology is a huge part for many manufacturers, give us an idea on how your company and product is being utilized now in the smart factory.

Schmalz investment in smart factory products have been developing and improving rapidly over the past 5 years. Using NFC, IO-Link and Ethernet is making set up of operations 75% faster. We’re also incorporating means of monitoring and optimizing machine data remotely and in real time and increasing machine uptime with tools for tracking predictive maintenance.

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow

Schmalz

Schmalz is the global market leader in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling solutions. Schmalz products are used all over the world in applications in the logistics, glass, metal, automotive, packaging, and wood industry sects. The wide range of products in the Vacuum Automation unit includes individual components such as suction cups and vacuum generators, as well as complete gripping systems and clamping solutions for holding workpieces.

Other Articles

Labor Shortages Impact on the Automation in the eCommerce Boom

Automation and robotics create such a dynamic industrial ecosystem that it will continue to adapt to increased demand for consumer products. We’ll see more artificial intelligence being deployed and utilized.

Case Study - Safe Scoring

LHMT GmbH develops highly specialized tools that fully automate not only the actual scoring and milling process of printed-circuit boards, but also the loading and unloading of the sensitive circuit boards.

Enough Space for a Cool Head - Case Study from Schmalz, Inc.

What should you do if you want an ergonomic lifting aid, but your ceiling height is too low for conventional crane systems? Schmalz’s solution is a modular flat jib made of aluminum that guarantees smooth movement sequences, even in rooms with low ceilings.

More about Schmalz

Featured Product

Schmalz Technology Development - The Right Gripper for Every Task

In order to interact with their environment and perform the tasks, lightweight robots, like all industrial robots, depend on tools - and in many cases these are vacuum grippers. These form the interface to the workpiece and are therefore a decisive part of the overall system. With their help, the robots can pick up, move, position, process, sort, stack and deposit a wide variety of goods and components. Vacuum gripping systems allow particularly gentle handling of workpieces, a compact and space-saving system design and gripping from above. Precisely because the object does not have to be gripped, the vacuum suction cupenables gapless positioning next to each other.

More Products

Feature Your Product