J. Schmalz GmbH from Glatten is one of the market leaders in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling systems. The products of this internationally positioned company are used in applications ranging from logistics to the automotive industry, the electronics sector, and furniture production. At LIGNA 2025 in Hanover, the Black Forest-based company will be showcasing solutions for the automated lifting and fixing of wood-based materials, among other things.

Clamping devices for woodworking

Precise, safe, flexible – Schmalz claims to offer the perfect clamping solution for optimal processing of wood panels in CNC machining centers. Vacuum clamping technology securely fixes workpieces so that they can be machined on five sides without having to retool the machine.

Two birds with one stone

Whether nesting or grid tables, the VCBL-R and VCBL-N block suction cups from Schmalz are designed to offer a sophisticated 2-in-1 solution for CNC woodworking. Thanks to tool-free changeover, flexible clamping heights, and a clever friction clip system, they fix workpieces securely and reliably. The additional vacuum connection optimizes fixation on nesting tables, while the membrane technology protects sensitive surfaces. Maximum flexibility, short setup times, and universal applicability – according to Schmalz, this is the ideal solution for demanding applications.

Automated wood handling

Schmalz has developed special individual components and gripping systems for automated wood handling that are designed to meet the requirements of the industry. According to their developers, these ready-to-connect surface gripping systems and suction spiders are specifically tailored to the needs of the wood industry and enable efficient and reliable handling of wood workpieces. This means less downtime, faster processes, and consistently high product quality, even in demanding applications.

AI-supported handling of unknown wood workpieces

The growing demand from end users for individualized, customer-specific furniture, such as custom-made kitchens, is leading to an increase in workpiece variance and the resulting manufacturing variants. The Solution Kit is designed to master the handling of this workpiece variance. The solution consists of an application-specific vacuum gripping system, a 3D camera system, and AI-supported software, enabling the reliable detection, gripping, and precise placement of unknown and varying wood workpieces, suitable for a wide range of applications from batch size 1 to series production. Artificial intelligence (AI) identifies different components and allows robots to handle them precisely without manual programming. The smart helper is designed to make the feeding and destacking of CNC machining centers, the feeding of processing systems such as painting systems, and the destacking from nesting machines significantly more efficient.

Vacuum flat-surface gripping systems for maximum efficiency with minimum consumption

The FA-X/FA-M systems have been optimized for sustainable processes and versatile material handling. The solution grips porous, sensitive, dimensionally stable, or deformable materials such as wood, packaging, sheet metal, glass, and plastic reliably, even if they vary in size, are in undefined positions, or have challenging surfaces. Thanks to its high flexibility, swivel movements of more than 45 degrees are possible. According to Schmalz, the system generates 86 percent more suction force than comparable solutions on the market and reduces compressed air consumption by 80 percent. The compact design with integrated vacuum generator and silencer enables short cycles and flexible installations. Users can clean the easily accessible ejector with minimal effort. Thanks to integrated part detection sensors, companies can move different workpieces reliably with the vacuum flat gripping system. The technology is designed to combine maximum efficiency with minimum consumption and optimize sustainable production processes in material handling.

Manual wood handling

Schmalz vacuum lifters and crane systems are considered indispensable by many users for the ergonomic handling of heavy and large workpieces, as they make loading and unloading machines much easier. Due to the wide variety of formats, weights, and materials of raw wood panels, cut-to-size pieces, workpieces, assemblies, and carcasses, Schmalz offers a range of vacuum lifting devices. The series features a wide selection of different suction pads. In addition, specially adapted crane systems and slewing cranes are available to complement the vacuum lifters.

Vacuum lifters make the Hulk

The VacuMaster Wood is a vacuum lifting device that has been specially developed for the requirements of the wood industry. With this lifting device, the operator can move wooden panels or beams up to five meters long and weighing up to 250 kilograms gently and ergonomically.

Become an Easy Rider with vacuum tube lifters

Finally, the JumboErgo vacuum tube lifter is the ideal helper for frequent and quick lifting and moving of flat workpieces weighing up to 300 kilograms. The rotary handle on the control unit is designed to resemble a motorcycle throttle, enabling particularly sensitive and precise handling of wooden panels.

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