"We are experiencing a fundamental shift in industrial production towards smart, intelligent processes - from initial planning and design to commissioning, ongoing operation and maintenance," emphasized Henrik A. Schunk, Managing Partner and CEO of the gripping system and clamping technology specialist Schunk at the end of SPS 2019. "As a result, the component landscape will also change fundamentally. For gripping systems, this means that flexibility, intelligence and a radical simplification of design, commissioning and programming are increasingly becoming the focus of users."

The trend is reflected in the highlights that Schunk presented in Nuremberg. For example, the ERT celebrated its world premiere as the flattest rotary unit with absolute encoder currently on the market. It can be used universally in a compact space and has freely definable rotation angles and high torques. Also on show were the certified Co-act EGL-C large-lift gripper, the certified Co-act EGP-C small parts gripper and the flexible EGH, which is designed to make it easy to enter the world of cobots.

Digital product life cycle
With the EGI, the family-owned company also presented an intelligent small parts gripper with a certified Profinet IRT interface, which enables an individually programmable stroke of up to 57.5 millimetres per jaw and flexibly adjustable gripping forces of up to 100 newtons. Schunk used the EGI as an example to illustrate how the complete product life cycle of components can be digitally mapped, from the calculation and design tool to the digital twin, commissioning via a web server and smart data evaluation and processing during operation via the Profinet interface.

According to the specialist, lightweight robotics in particular will gain momentum in the coming years. Ready-to-use Plug & Work portfolios, including for Universal Robots, are designed to make it easier for users to get started. The range of components includes certified co-act grippers as well as pneumatic and electric gripper modules, sensors, quick-change systems and plug-ins. One highlight in this segment was the EGL large-stroke gripper, which, in conjunction with the robot arms from UR, defines a new benchmark for flexibility, force and functionality in clean to harsh environments. It can be used to alternately handle a wide variety of parts weighing up to three kilograms in a process-safe and gentle manner. as