TECHNOLOGY REPORT | VACUUM & MANUAL MANIPULATORS
the possibility to mount several units in the same manifold and have common pneumatic and electrical connections. Just five years later it became the first Industry 4.0 capable vacuum ejector equipped with an IO Link and other Smart features that enable predictive maintenance, increase handling safety, and allow overall process monitoring and optimization. Almost 50 years after launching its first
R Handling of a metal part in an automotive pressshop with Piab’s suction cups
e-commerce growth and the inherent need to automize logistic and warehousing processes to keep up with the exploding demand. At the same time with the advent of cobots small and light is the new beautiful in robotics to leave as much space and weight for the products to be lifted rather than taking capacities by the gripper. This also implies further integration of vacuum generation, valves, and safety components directly into grippers as well as miniaturization and Industry 4.0 capabilities to allow predictive
maintenance and further reduce machine downtimes,” says Josef Karbassi, president, Vacuum Automation Division, Piab. “The surge in e-commerce demand
also moved robotic automation away from gripping specified products from a well-defined spot to another equally well-defined spot to random bin picking of a large variety of objects with different surfaces, geometries and materials. In 2014 the piCOMPACT stackable
ejector platform was launched providing PALAMATIC VACUUM LIFTING
Palamatic recently supplied two door blank lifting systems to Wulf Protective, in Bradford, UK, which has 30 years’ experience within the Fire Door and Construction industries. Its Vacuum Lifters are user friendly and contribute towards the work process, avoiding health and safety risks to operators when handling wood products. The Palamatic Vacuum Tube Lifter uses a single power medium vacuum, to grip and lift heavy or awkward loads. An electrical vacuum pump (or vacuum ejector pump)
creates a vacuum level when a suction pad or gripping device is placed on an object load. The resulting low pressure makes the tube contract vertically and the object load is lifted. The operator controls the vacuum valve, making the work physically easier and safer. Increasing the vacuum draws air out of the tube and the load is lifted. Mark Dunn, Fire Door Process and
Fabrication manager, Wulf Protective, works
vacuum product, Piab acquired Swedish company Vaculex; a manufacturer of lifting equipment based on vacuum technology. In 2020, Piab also acquired TAWI. Together with Vaculex, TAWI today forms a strong Piab Ergonomic Handling division focused on smart lifting solutions, put to market under the TAWI brand. “Contrary to specified grippers in
automotive production, there is now a need for generic grippers and suction cups – a challenge Piab took on recently, launching the MX suction cup. The MX suction cup is not a top-level performer for any specific application as this would disqualify it for other items. It perfectly balances trade-offs to fit all applications,” adds Karbassi. “A general trend across all applications is the quest for energy efficiency – a
to load 50+ door blanks weighing up to a maximum of 80kg daily on to a Beam Saw and CNC system. The decision to purchase the lifting systems
was based on several factors; “The safety of our employees is our priority. The lifting of everyday processes and also allowed for are very happy with the improvement they have seen since the Palamatic Vacuum Lifters have arrived,” he said.
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