piab announces new piSOFTGRIP®

Piab introduces a cost-effective soft gripping tool that is developed especially with food industry automation in mind.

The unique piSOFTGRIP® has three gripping fingers and a vacuum cavity, all made in one piece, resulting in a simple and robust product. As it is vacuum-driven, the gripping force is easily adjusted and controlled by the applied vacuum level.

The soft gripper will grip sensitive and lightweight objects of odd geometries and/or an unusual surface. Bin-picking of small irregularly shaped objects, such as toys, is another potential application.

Food compliant and detectable material

Made in detectable silicone approved for direct contact with food, in accordance with FDA 21 CFR and EU 1935/2004 regulations, the piSOFTGRIP® vacuum gripper is the first of its kind. The food-compliant silicone gripper enables the food industry to extend their automated food handling to include a wider range of products. Unpackaged, fresh and delicate food items can be handled without risk of being spoiled due to crushing.

Great gripping solution for sensitive and delicate objects

piSOFTGRIP® is an excellent and cost-effective solution for sensitive and delicate objects. The gripping force can easily be controlled by simply adjusting the vacuum level. The soft gripper can grip objects with a diameter of up to 50mm [1.97”].

Easy to use and control

The soft gripping vacuum tool is as easy to control and install as a suction cup, and it uses the same fittings as Piab’s popular piGRIP® suction cups. An optional stainless-steel fitting offers wash-down provision to assist cleaning.

The silicone-made piSOFTGRIP® vacuum gripper is also a lightweight automation tool, which means that very little extra weight is added when fitted to robot arms.

Combined with Piab’s end-of-arm vacuum tool piCOBOT®, the piSOFTGRIP® offers a powerful and flexible “plug and play” extension for collaborative robots.