Schmalz at LIGNA: Smart, strong, economical

They have to be versatile, but also efficient and economical – the requirements for end effectors are not easy to reconcile. At this year's LIGNA, Schmalz is proving that the new area gripper FA-X does just that. The system generates 86 percent more suction force than comparable solutions on the market and reduces compressed air consumption by 80 percent. The compact design with integrated vacuum generator and silencer enables short cycles and flexible installations. Users can clean the easily accessible ejector with little effort. Thanks to integrated part recognition sensors, companies can use the FA-X to move different workpieces reliably. The technology combines maximum efficiency with minimum consumption and optimizes sustainable production processes in material handling. The area gripper FA-M variant for external vacuum generation rounds off the series.

Schmalz has the Solution Kit ivOS Wood for the fully automatic gripping of different wooden workpieces. The solution kit consists of an application-specific vacuum gripping system, a 3D camera system and AI-supported software and enables the safe recognition, gripping and precise placement of unknown and varying wooden workpieces – for a wide range of applications, from batch size 1 to series production. Artificial intelligence (AI) identifies different components and allows robots to handle them precisely without manual programming. This allows furniture manufacturers to increase the flexibility of their production, as the smart helper can automate the loading of CNC, drilling, machining or even painting processes, for example, and make them significantly more efficient. Joineries and carpentries can save their staff from monotonous tasks through automation and at the same time counteract the shortage of skilled workers.

The VacuMaster Wood and JumboErgo handling systems solve transportation problems in the wood industry and relieve the strain on skilled workers when loading and unloading machines. The VacuMaster Wood lifts sheets weighing up to 250 kilograms and rotates them by 90 degrees. It moves both air-tight and air-permeable workpieces up to 5,000 millimetres in length very precisely. The height-adjustable operator handle ensures ergonomic handling. The tube lifter JumboErgo can handle workpieces weighing up to 300 kilograms. This means that CNC processing machines, for example, can be loaded and unloaded without tiring. Companies save time and lower their personnel costs by using these lifting aids, as large and heavy sheets can be moved by just one skilled worker.

Schmalz will be showcasing the vacuum blocks from its clamping equipment portfolio for woodworking machines from different manufacturers. For example, the new VCBL-R and VCBL-N models offer a well thought-out 2-in-1 solution: Whether nesting or grid table – the series fixes workpieces safely on the various machine tables and, thanks to numerous dimensions and clamping heights, releases any task in CNC wood processing. The innovative clamping equipment can be prepared in one easy step. The nesting insert on the underside fixes the vacuum blocks on nesting and flat tables. It can be removed in seconds, and the suction cups then sit securely on all standard grid geometries with 30 and 40 millimetres.

Schmalz at the LIGNA: Hall 15, Stand A06