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Vacuum generation
for handling technology
Future trends point to mobile, autonomous and energy efficient systems. Harald Kuolt • Functional Coordinator Pre-Development J. Schmalz GmbH • Glatten, Germany
Automated production is the key for marketable products. Automation
technology makes it possible to cut process costs, increase output and productivity, and raise quality—all of which lead to highly efficient production and better, less expensive and readily available products. That is why the market for automation systems and industrial robots is on the rise.
And in any automated production system, handling is a critical function. In general, users are interested in process-safety with suitable accuracies without influencing or damaging the workpiece. Add to that are high uptime for equipment, short cycle times, and lower up-front investments and running costs. Especially for gripping and clamping of workpieces, vacuum automation plays an essential role across virtually all industry segments for just these reasons. The core part of a vacuum gripping system is vacuum generation, and pneumatically driven vacuum generators have for years been widely used in handling applications. That may be changing. Recent technological developments have led to new types of automated systems, such as mobile handling platforms and human-robot collaboration. Such applications will make compressed-air powered vacuum systems less desirable or unavailable. Here’s a look at how electrically driven vacuum generators can overcome the challenges and increase the energy efficiency
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