About Schmalz
Schmalz Vacuum Automation & Gripping Solutions
Schmalz is a global leader in vacuum-powered automation and handling technology, delivering gripping systems, lifting equipment, and clamping solutions for manufacturing, logistics, and process industries worldwide. The company specializes in transforming vacuum technology into precision gripping for robots, industrial manipulators, and manual handling systems that must securely hold, orient, and transfer parts—from fragile cardboard and film packaging to heavy metal stampings and composite panels.
Schmalz's product ecosystem spans four core gripping categories: Area gripping systems (large suction cups for flat surfaces and sheet materials), layer gripping systems (for stacked or nested parts), suction spiders and multi-point grippers (for handling complex shapes and pre-sorted packing patterns), and specialized end effectors (for robotic arms, palletizing automation, and bin-picking systems). Each gripper type is engineered around specific load profiles, surface finishes, and material compatibility—wood, cardboard, plastics, sheet metal, composites—ensuring reliable grip without marring or deforming workpieces.
The Schmalz Bin-Picker SBPG exemplifies the company's innovation in automated logistics: a ready-to-connect vacuum gripper designed specifically for chaotic or pre-sorted bin picking with integrated sensors and adaptive suction control. This system reduces cycle time in warehouse and manufacturing intralogistics operations by autonomously identifying part position and orientation, applying just-sufficient suction force, and releasing precisely—critical for high-speed order fulfillment and just-in-time supply chains.
Schmalz is advancing vacuum automation into humanoid robotics: the company recently introduced the first electric vacuum end effector for humanoid robots, featuring integrated vacuum generation and intelligent energy control—eliminating the need for external air supply and power lines, enabling truly mobile robotic manipulators in factories and logistics centers. This represents a technological shift from pneumatic (compressed-air) gripping toward electric, modular, battery-powered end effectors.
ChatMRO's AI helps automation engineers, warehouse managers, and process technicians quickly find the right Schmalz gripper by describing the part geometry, weight, surface finish, and application—whether picking cardboard from a pallet, stacking sheet metal blanks, or integrating with a robot arm. Specify part material, weight, surface texture, and desired gripper size, and ChatMRO connects you to compatible Schmalz suction cups, vacuum generators, system controls, and replacement components in seconds.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an area gripper and a suction spider, and which should I use for my application?
Area grippers (large flat suction cups or pad arrays) are ideal for flat or slightly curved surfaces (sheet metal, plywood, cardboard sheets) where large contact area enables high grip force on smooth surfaces. Suction spiders (multiple small cups on articulated arms) are designed for complex geometries, nested stacks, or parts with indentations, where multiple contact points allow grip despite surface irregularities. Choose area for simple flat stock; suction spiders for 3D parts, stacked items, or pre-sorted bin picking where part orientation varies.
How do I calculate the suction force needed to safely grip a part without dropping or slipping during transfer?
Suction force (in kPa or mbar vacuum) must exceed the part's weight-induced stress plus a safety factor of 2–4x depending on part material and surface roughness. For a smooth steel plate weighing 10 kg at 1g acceleration, you need roughly 5 kPa × 2–4 = 10–20 kPa vacuum minimum; rough cardboard or wood requires higher vacuum (30–50 kPa) due to surface air leakage. Schmalz technical datasheets specify grip force vs. cup diameter and vacuum level; always add 50% safety margin for vibration and acceleration shock during transfer.
Can Schmalz vacuum grippers handle porous materials like cardboard and wood, or will air leakage prevent secure grip?
Schmalz specializes in porous-material gripping: specialized suction cups with integral sealing rings and optimized cup geometry are designed to grip cardboard, corrugated board, and wood despite inherent porosity. A tight vacuum seal is established at the first few millimeters of the cup perimeter; internal air channels then distribute vacuum force across the cup face, creating a sealed envelope around the part. This is particularly important in food, beverage, and packaging automation where cardboard cases must be gripped without puncture or deformation.
What is the difference between pneumatic (compressed air) and electric vacuum generation for Schmalz end effectors?
Pneumatic vacuum generators use plant compressed-air supply (typically 6–8 bar), require air hose connections to each robot or gripper, and consume significant energy as waste heat and exhaust. Electric vacuum generators are self-contained (pump, motor, power supply integrated into the gripper or arm), require only electrical power, eliminate hose clutter, and offer higher energy efficiency and true mobility—especially critical for humanoid robots and cobots requiring untethered operation. Electric is the emerging standard for modern automation.
How do I know if a part surface is suitable for suction gripping, and what surface finishes are problematic?
Suction requires a seal between the cup lip and the part surface: smooth, flat surfaces (sheet metal, smooth plastic, sealed cardboard) grip reliably. Problematic surfaces include highly textured/corrugated finishes (where air channels prevent seal formation), oily or wet surfaces (which break seal), and soft materials (foam, sponge) that compress and lose seal. For challenging surfaces, Schmalz offers specialized flexible cups and lower-vacuum area grippers, but engineers should conduct grip tests before full automation deployment.