Schmalz at AWFS 2021: Focusing on Efficiency
Schmalz is showcasing its systems for manual and automated vacuum handling in the woodworking and furniture industries at AWFS 2021.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
by: Schmalz Inc.

Section: Press Releases




The Schmalz team is grateful to be back at our first LIVE show since the pandemic. In our booth (#1308) you will have the opportunity to drive our ergonomic handling solutions, participate with a collaborative robot set up showing the latest in vacuum clamping systems and see how gantries and other industrial robots, with the help of our custom area gripping end-of-arm-tooling systems, can improve production and productivity in many of the wood handling processes.

Clamping solutions for CNC machines
One highlight in the clamping area of our booth is the new VCMC series. The mechanical clamping system for CNC machining centers with console tables can securely hold narrow workpieces such as frame parts. This allows the user to adapt the eccentrically-positioned clamping disc to the corresponding workpiece height without tools. Once connected to the machining center vacuum system, the VCMC reaches a clamping force of up to 700 Newtons.

Nesting is another of the latest trends in the manufacturing industry. Nesting makes it possible for any shapes to be arranged with the help of a nesting map, resulting in minimal waste. Schmalz is picking up this trend by specially developing the vacuum block VCBL-G K1 for nesting tables. The vacuum block can be directly positioned on the top of the grid table without having to remove the tabletop first. This eliminates the need to set up the machine, which avoids long downtimes. The low working height of 30 mm means that the VCBL can also be used in 3-axis machining centers with low Z values.

Secure gripping for rough structures
For automated processes, Schmalz is presenting vacuum components and gripping systems for secure gripping and transportation of wooden workpieces. This will include our Heavy-Duty area gripper, FMHD, for glued boards or rough cut or planed timber pieces, as well as the area gripping system FMP-S which is ideal for quick handling of furniture parts and wooden spacers. Robotic solutions are becoming more prevalent in wood processing and Schmalz offers both standard grippers and custom engineered vacuum gripping systems to meet the wide variety wood handling challenges.

Ergonomic handling before and after processing
The vacuum experts will also be presenting a number of solutions at the show for loading machines with wooden boards, particle boards and OSB sheets. Among other things, visitors can look forward to seeing a variety of vacuum tube lifters for handling panels of plywood, doors, MDF, MDO, strips of mouldings, HDO, CLT and any other wooden workpiece need. These lifters enable a worker to ergonomically move workpieces; horizontally, with a 90° tilt or do a 180° flip. We’ll also have the G-force intelligent hoist which offers unmatched lifting precision and speed, and several other vacuum-based lifters in the booth for visitors to test drive.

Schmalz will use its aluminium jib crane to demonstrate its ergonomic and fatigue-free handling. The crane system can be modularly adapted to the application at hand using individual components.





Contact for questions:
Schmalz, Inc.
Marketing Communications
5850 Oak Forest Drive, Raleigh NC 27616
T: 919-600-2185
Schmalz@schmalz.com
www.schmalz.com