The vacuum specialist Schmalz is expanding its gripper portfolio: As of August 5, the family-owned company from Glatten will acquire the mGrip product family from the US company Soft Robotics (SRI), including all finger gripper configurations, patents and the associated know-how. Schmalz is thus expanding its market position in the food product handling sector.

"The food industry is a growth market," says Dr. Kurt Schmalz, Managing Partner of the Schmalz Group. "With our new portfolio of finger grippers, we now offer our customers finger grippers for the automated handling of food products in addition to an extensive portfolio of vacuum grippers."

Thanks to their modular design, the gripping systems are particularly flexible to use and can be easily and quickly adapted to customer requirements. They are the most solid and versatile option for the precise handling of delicate objects that are difficult to grip due to their changing shape.They are also characterized by high hygienic suitability, which is crucial for the food industry. Typical fields of application are the direct handling of baked goods, fruit and vegetables as well as meat and fish. Thanks to its high quality, the mGrip product family fits perfectly into Schmalz's portfolio, which also stands for technologically leading products in the field of automation with vacuum.

With the acquisition of the mGrip product family, Schmalz will also continue to operate the existing location in Boston, Massachusetts. "By continuing the existing infrastructure in Boston, we gain quick access to the market and continue to ensure reliable delivery to our customers," says Dr. Volker Schmitz, Managing Director of Schmalz USA, who will also manage the Boston location. "The acquisition of these grippers is further proof that Schmalz continues to grow as a leading global provider of vacuum solutions for industrial automation."