Vacuum Technology for the Automotive Industry

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Highly Dynamic and Transparent Processes

• Automotive suction cups for transmitting high lateral forces to dry, dry-lubricated and oil-lubricated sheet metal
• Powerful vacuum generators with integrated process monitoring for shortest grip and release times

Resistant to Dirt and Oil

• Specially developed suction cup materials with high resistance to drawing oils
• Robust vacuum generators that work reliably under the toughest operating conditions

Good Adaptation to Complex Workpiece Shapes

• Complete range of suction cups for the most varied workpiece formats and contours in almost all process steps of sheet metal forming
• Wide range of holders for optimum adjustment of the suction cups to the workpiece contour
• Flexible lightweight construction tooling for highly dynamic processes with maximum output in press shop and body shop

Temperature Resistance During Hot Forming

• Suction cups made of the material HT2 for unloading hot sheet metal parts from the press tool
• Wear-resistant magnetic grippers with high holding forces for flexible handling of sheet metal parts with complex shapes or cutout patterns

Safety and transparent processes

• Continuous monitoring of the vacuum systems for leakage, contamination and cycle times
• Acquisition, evaluation and visualization of all relevant process data to increase plant availability

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

High Energy Efficiency During Vacuum Generation and Handling, for example in joining processes or during emergency stops

• Suction cups with outstanding sealing properties on complex shapes
• Vacuum generators with integrated air-saving function

Reliable and Transparent processes

• Continuous monitoring of vacuum systems for leakage, contamination and cycle times
• Recording, evaluation and visualization of all relevant process data to increase system availability

High Ozone Resistance in all Materials Used

• Specially developed suction cup materials ensure a long service life in the environments surrounding laser cutting machines and welding systems
• Extension of the maintenance intervals of large-scale and complex gripping systems

Vacuum Powered for Flexible and Cost Efficient Operation

• Low weight tooling by using suction cups instead of heavy mechanical clamps
• Space saving gripping from above instead of lateral mechanical clamping

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Handling and Installing Front, Side and Rear Windows

• Mark-free suction cup material HT1 for handling glass along the entire process chain, from application of the adhesive to installation in the vehicle
• Suction cups with a flexible sealing lip, a bellow and a defined support surface for gentle pickup of curved windows with high force transmission

Handling and Placing Automotive Batteries

• Gripping system enables safe handling of different battery types using check valve technology and adaptable sealing foam
• Available with integrated pneumatic vacuum generation or with external electrical vacuum generation, depending on customer requirements

Automated logistics processes with Cobots

• Compressed air independent vacuum generators for autonomous warehouses or stationary handling tasks with collaborative robots (Cobots)
• Vacuum gripper ready for connection for automated "grip into the box" and removal of individual parts from containers with chaotic or pre-sorted packing patterns
• Handling sets for the quick assembly of gripping solutions

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Logistics and intralogistics in the automotive plant

• Fatigue-free handling of starter batteries of different sizes and geometries
• Intuitive fatigue-free handling of aluminum rims in intralogistics

Safe handling of heavy components

• Loading and unloading of car gas tanks into carriers
• Handling of large windshields in the warehouse

Manual handling in the press store and paint store

• Ergonomic handling of even large-format sheet metal parts such as roofs at the end of a press line and in the post control
• Ergonomic support for lifting and lowering hoods and tailgates

Manuelle Manual handling in assembly

• Safe and ergonomic handling of cardan shafts, windshields, fuel tank systems, Exhaust units, starter batteries and battery modules for e-vehicles
• Ergonomic handling of large-format components of commercial vehicles, buses and motorhomes