Sept 2025 – J. Schmalz GmbH, a global leader in vacuum automation & handling systems, announced the launch of the FQE-V, a modular and freely scalable area gripper system for robotics. It enables workpieces of different sizes and shapes to be handled safely, with applications benefiting from particularly fast project planning.
The new FQE-V area gripper enables precise and safe handling of individually shaped workpieces.
Vacuum expert Schmalz has further developed the FQE series and supplemented it with the FQE-V. With dimensions ranging from 230 × 120 millimetres to 400 × 280 millimetres, the new area gripper is even more flexible in its dimensions and geometry.
It therefore enables precise and safe handling of individually shaped workpieces, regardless of their format. The suction-plate dimensions and suction hole grid can be freely scaled. Applications can adapt the FQE-V to different workpieces quickly and easily using smart design tools. Batch size 1 thus becomes the standard.
Schmalz offers this new development in two versions. The FQE-V-M is equipped with an external, the FQE-V-X with an integrated, particularly energy-efficient vacuum generator. This allows users to benefit from economical operation with a high level of process reliability.
The control valves are also integrated. With its modular lightweight design, the new area gripper significantly reduces weight and thus increases the effective load capacity. Suction cups in different shapes and materials and foam are available as sealing elements. Sound insulation minimizes noise pollution for nearby employees.
Users can choose from a wide pallet of suction trays with different shapes. These are rectangular, round or oval as standard. However, any free form can also be scaled – for example a T-shape. The innovative design of the FQE-V meets the requirements of ISO TS 15066 and is therefore ideal for stationary handling tasks in human-robot collaboration (HRC).
The area gripper also impresses in automated handling – for end-of-line packaging in intra-logistics or for sensitive gripping of products in the automotive, glass and electronics sectors. The FQE-V enables the handling of objects from different pick-up positions. For example, it can dip precisely into workpiece layers in outer packaging or palletize non-rigid cardboard boxes. Because the gripper dimensions can be freely scaled, users can also use the FQE-V to fill goods in outer packaging layer by layer.
