Automated, economical and reliable handling of sensitive and geometrically irregular products: Schmalz is expanding its portfolio with the finger gripper mGrip Basic and the control module SRCU Basic. This makes automation available even where a high degree of flexibility and cost-efficiency is required.

Anyone who automates in the food product, agricultural, packaging or logistics industries will be familiar with the problem: potatoes, baked goods, dairy products or items packed in nets and blister packs. The goods are irregularly shaped, delicate and vary in size and weight. Conventional mechanical grippers quickly reach their limits here. Schmalz is now closing this gap with two new solutions: the finger gripper mGrip Basic and the control module SRCU Basic. These models specifically lower the entry hurdle and bring proven soft-touch handling to industries that previously had no economical access to automated handling.

Gripper without leaving a trace

The finger gripper mGrip Basic picks quickly and holds reliably. Nothing is damaged or contaminated. Source: Schmalz GroupThe finger gripper mGrip Basic picks quickly and holds reliably. Nothing is damaged or contaminated. Source: Schmalz Group

Pneumatics-controlled finger grippers are more adaptable than mechanical systems. The finger gripper mGrip Basic uses soft, variable finger modules with a specially developed geometry. They adapt to the shape of the articles without damaging them. The finger distance and position can be flexibly adjusted. This makes it suitable for applications with varying products — such as fruit and vegetables, confectionery and baked goods or products packaged in plastic film.
A key advantage of the modular system is that the finger modules can be quickly dismantled and repositioned thanks to the integrated mounting elements. If the product changes, the configuration changes and not the gripper. This reduces changeover times and lowers investment costs.

Full control, minimum effort

The control module SRCU Basic supplements this concept. The operator can manually adapt the output pressure via an adjustment handle and thus vary the grip strength. The vacuum switch displays the current pressure value. In addition, the control module has an internal pressure reduction valve that automatically limits the output pressure and thus prevents the fingers from being overloaded. This extends the service life of the system. For applications with low product variance and up to 120 picks per minute, the module offers a particularly economical and reliable control solution.
Applications can also integrate the finger gripper mGrip Basic into their own end-of-arm-tool (EOAT) solutions, as the finger modules and mounting plates can be integrated into individual gripper systems. This gives designers the freedom to develop tailor-made solutions based on Schmalz`s proven soft finger technology.
The mGripedia platform shows in over 100 real applications how Schmalz handles sensitive products automatically, hygienically and reliably — from croissants to chicken thighs. All use cases can be filtered to find the optimal solution for a specific workpiece. If required, direct feedback from the experts is just a click away. Schmalz therefore not only supplies hardware, but also a tried-and-tested modular system of expertise, data and application experience that can be quickly transferred to your own processes.

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