Introduction of vacuum suction pads to ensure secure

handling of goods in industrial automation system

Suction pads have become indispensable for manual and automated handling.
Application-specific design, creative engineering and quality manufacturing mean
that there is a suitable gripper for every task.
Vacuum suction pads are an essential tool in the field of handling technology. While they were
initially only used for the secure handling of flat goods with relatively smooth and dense surfaces,
today they can be found in every industry and can be used for virtually any task, even the most
demanding. Because they can be customized for various applications, enormous possibilities are
opened up for engineers and manufacturers of handling technology, material flow equipment,
auxiliary devices and specialized machines. The vacuum technology specialist J. Schmalz GmbH in
Glatten, Germany, is a pioneer in this field and, as the market leader, has significantly advanced
field of suction pad technology. This company from the Black Forest region offers an extensive
range of suction pads in standard and special designs. This includes miniature suction pads for
handling electronic components, maxi suction pads for rotor blades of wind turbines, special
grippers for sensitive wafers or extra robust suction pads for handling scaled steel sheets.

From tiny to enormous

Suction pads from PFYN series are standardized handling components with diameters of up to 200
millimeters. The smallest of the PFYN suction pads are primarily used for assembly in the field of
electronics manufacturinga PFYN suction pad with a diameter of 1 mm can transport components
with a suction force of 0.03 newtons. The round, flat suction pads are suitable for all components
and work pieces with smooth or slightly rough surfaces. They are designed with a single sealing lip
and are available in various materials. This includes HT1, the high-temperature material developed
specially by Schmalz, as well as temperature-resistant silicone (SI) for securely transporting hot
parts. In addition, delicate workpieces can be picked up without static using suction pads made
from material Perbunan (NBR-AS). Their small interior volume means that these suction pads can
be evacuated in a very short time. This allows for fast cycles and improves handling dynamics.

At the other end of the spectrum are the large-format suction plates with a special foam rubber
seal. These suction plates can be used to securely grip rotor blades for wind turbines. They are
available in standard sizes from 650 x 220 mm up to 650 x 300 mm, as well as in customer-specific
Page 1 / 4

special sizes such as 800 x 400 mm or larger. These suction plates have a maximum load of 1,000
kilograms at 0.6 bar and can withstand loads of twice that much. Depending on the size of the
rotor blade to be transported, suction pad systems several meters in length and with multiple
suction plates can be used. So far, the largest suction pad system for rotor blades created by
Schmalz is 58 meters long, has 42 suction plates and can pick up loads of up to five tons.

From delicate to heavy duty

Schmalz offers sensitive suction pads such as the SWGm series for handling raw wafers and cells in
the electronics, solar and photovoltaics industries. These can handle wafers or cells extremely
quickly, reliably and with reproducible precision while still remaining gentle. This ensures reliable
processes in even highly automated industry sectors. These grippers also have a fully integrated
vacuum supply which ensures a consistently high volume flow. This creates a low vacuum level
when compared to other vacuum applications. In addition, the contact surfaces made from PEEK
(polyetheretherketone) ensure minimal contamination of the raw wafer surfaces. This prevents socalled blind spots from occurring.

The gripper requirements for handling scaled steel sheets are very different. Because the raw sheet
metal is hot-formed beforehand, the grippers must be able to reliably and precisely grip the sheets
under difficult conditions. For this purpose Schmalz developed, among others, the SAB series of
suction pads. The series is based on a bellows suction pad with 1.5 folds. They are available with
diameters from 22 to 125 mm and can be made of NBR (Perbunan) or the high-temperature
material HT2. The grippers are especially stable against horizontal forces and lateral acceleration.
The constructive design with 1.5 folds, special groove and an additional inner support ensure a high
level of rigidity. The sealing lips are also designed so that the grippers fit onto the workpiece
surface optimally. This allows for high process speeds and fast handling cycles. This is particularly
important when feeding presses.

From extremely precise to unbelievably fast

A suction pad for the assembly handling of heavy and cumbersome glass sheets has different
properties than a gripper for the highly dynamic handling of sheet metal in mass production. With
the suction plates SGF, individual suction pad systems can be used for handling glass sheets. They
are suitable for all flat, smooth workpieces made from glass or plastic. They are designed to absorb
high shear forces, which can be caused by acceleration or vertical handling. Schmalz produces the
suction plates with diameters from 125 to 400 millimeters. Depending on the size of the
component, multiple suction plates can be arranged on the beam as needed. The suction plates
Page 2 / 4

with 125 and 200 millimeter diameters have a thin, flat sealing lip. This ensures low relative
movement during pick-up, which prevents damage to the surface. The plates with 300 and 400
millimeter diameters, on the other hand, have a rigid sealing lip. This ensures an optimal pick-up
response and allows it to be gently placed on the workpiece. The suction plates are also light. This
improves dynamics for automated handling, for example in the production of plate glass.

Schmalz offers even more dynamic solutions for the production of sheet metal parts. The bellshaped suction pad SAXM in sizes with diameters from 30 to 115 millimeters are designed for this
purpose. These high-speed suction pads have high holding forces and provide maximum
absorption of shear forces on oiled sheet metal. The round bell-shaped suction pads have a special
interior structure, an oil groove, an inner support and a flexible sealing lip. Their three-part
construction consists of a suction pad, a connector upper part and a friction disc. The disc, which
comes into contact with the workpiece, is made of extremely wear-resistant and oil-resistant
Elastodur (ED). The high suction pad stroke ensures that the suction pads conform to the contours
of the workpieces and quickly establish a vacuum.

From porous to vacuum-tight

Handling workpieces with dense surfaces is a comparatively easy task for vacuum grippers. On the
other hand, porous or permeable surfaces, such as textiles made from carbon fiber (CFRP) or
composites such as Kevlar or woven fabrics, present a challenge. Schmalz designed the SCG series
of special grippers specifically for these applications. They are designed as complete systems with
integrated vacuum generation. They combine closely positioned suction openings and an
immediate high volume flow with integrated vacuum generation. This ensures reliable handling for
not only composite textiles, but also for non-rigid, unstable components, extremely thin and
delicate foils or even thin (foil) circuit boards.

In addition to the PFYN series, FGA and FSGA suction pads can also be used to transport
workpieces with vacuum-tight surfaces. Their highly dense surfaces make them particularly suited
for handling injection molded plastic parts. These suction pads can also be made of the special
high-temperature substances HT1 or HT2 for quickly removing finished parts, which are still very
hot, from a tool or machine. HT1 and HT2 are extremely stable and heat resistant up to 250 degrees
Celsius and help to substantially reduce cycle times for injection molding machines.

(8.059characters incl. spaces)

Page 3 / 4

Images:
Image 1:
The smallest: The PFYN flat suction pad with 1 mm
diameter handles electronic components with a
suction force of 0.03 newtons.

Image 2:
The PFYN flat suction pad handles workpieces with
smooth or slightly rough surfaces, hot workpieces,
and delicate workpieces.

Image 3:
The SWGm series of suction pads are designed to
handle delicate wafers.

Image 4:
The bell-shaped suction pad SAXM ensures fast
handling of sheet metal and car body parts with
high holding forces and shear force absorption.

Image 5:
The composite gripper SCG is intended for handling
porous, non-rigid and unstable components.

Image 6:
Suction plates SGF with diameters up to 400
millimeters: for handling glass or plastic sheets with
high lateral acceleration

Images: J. Schmalz Gm
Page 4 / 4