Non-pneumatic vacuum gripping and vacuum clamping for glass processes
A technology option for glass manufacturers, plant operators, and automation teams in industrial glass handling
Vacuum technology is well established in glass processing and handling. The G-VAC PS is not intended to replace existing gripping and handling solutions across the board.
The approach is different: The G-VAC PS complements existing solutions in applications where smooth glass surfaces need to be securely gripped or clamped, but where compressed air would consume energy, require infrastructure, generate noise, or add complexity.
The gripper operates on 24 V, without compressed air, without a central vacuum infrastructure, and without a local vacuum pump.
This provides glass manufacturers and plant engineers with an additional technology option for applications requiring simple, compact, clean, or energy-efficient handling concepts.
What does this mean?
In many glass and handling plants, drives, sensors, and controls are electric.
However, the gripper environment is often still pneumatic.
This means additional infrastructure, hoses, valves, compressed air generation, energy losses, noise, and maintenance.
The G-VAC PS eliminates this component in suitable vacuum gripping applications.
For glass processes, this can mean:
- lower energy consumption
- less compressed air infrastructure
- reduced noise
- clean, localized gripping directly at the suction point
- pneumatic-free handling of smooth glass surfaces
- less complexity in grippers and suction cups
Technology: What Sets the G-VAC PS Apart
The G-VAC PS is not a traditional vacuum gripper.
Nor is it an electric vacuum pump.
The G-VAC PS is a pneumatic-free, passive vacuum gripper for smooth and non-porous surfaces. Glass is therefore a particularly obvious application, provided that the surface, workpiece weight, cycle time, and suction area are suitable for the process.
The vacuum is generated and maintained mechanically directly at the suction point. Electrical energy is required only for switching.
The real technological breakthrough lies in the SMA drive:The movement within the gripper is generated by shape-memory actuators made of nickel-titanium (NiTi). These so-called shape-memory alloys change their length when electrically activated, thereby enabling new design principles for gripping systems. This drive offers an exceptionally high energy density, allowing for an extremely small, lightweight design. Whereas a conventional electric drive would quickly weigh over 1 kg and be about ten times larger, our system remains in the range of approximately 100 g.
This makes G-VAC PS particularly attractive for applications where conventional pneumatic vacuum technology works in principle but results in unnecessary infrastructure, operating costs, or complexity.
Technical Specifications G-VAC PS
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Electrical Connection | M8 connector, 4-pin |
| Protection Rating | IP54 |
| Voltage | 24 V DC |
| Rated Current / Switching Current | 30 mA / 250 mA |
| Payload | 5 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40 °C |
| Weight | 100 g without suction gripper |
| Dimensions | Ø 70 mm x 38.5 mm |
System Properties
- Passive suction: no active vacuum generation
- Two power-independent operating states
- Fail-safe principle: no release in the event of a power failure
- Integrated acceleration and vacuum sensors
- Status and diagnostic signals to the PLC
- Visual operation and fault indicators
- Virtually silent operation
- Compatible with standard vacuum grippers
- Available with a robot flange, e.g., for Universal Robots
- Compatible with all common fieldbus systems
Suitable Applications
The G-VAC PS is suitable for smooth, non-porous surfaces, for example:
- Pick-and-place of glass components
- Loading and unloading of machines
- Handling of flat glass or glass panels
- Clamping and fixing tasks
- Positioning and moving smooth glass surfaces
- Handling in automated glass production lines
- Pneumatic-free gripping points on robots, gantries, or handling axes
- Local vacuum clamping points without a central compressed air supply
is not suitable for highly textured, heavily soiled, highly porous, flexible, or air-permeable materials. For wet, coated, or highly textured glass surfaces, suitability must be verified for the specific application.
For flexible or air-permeable materials, we will be introducing the G-VAC AS this summer, featuring high-speed vacuum generation and evacuation directly at the suction point.
Where the G-VAC PS fits into glass processes
Glass manufacturers and plant engineers do not necessarily need to replace existing vacuum technology. The benefit lies in suitable applications where smooth glass surfaces need to be gripped or secured without pneumatics.
The G-VAC PS is an additional technology option for:
- pneumatic-free glass handling
- lower operating costs
- compact handling units
- energy-efficient gripping and holding
- clean or quiet handling
- alternatives to compressed air
- in-house technology testing
- local gripping or clamping points without a central vacuum infrastructure
- Retrofit considerations for existing pneumatic handling processes
This means the G-VAC PS particularly attractive in situations where glass can generally be gripped well with vacuum, but the compressed air infrastructure no longer fits the desired system design.
Industrial Reference
The G-VAC PS is already being evaluated and used in industrial applications, including in the automotive sector.
A successful laboratory test was conducted with a German commercial vehicle manufacturer in the body-in-white sector.
Other applications include glass handling, pneumatic-free gripping of smooth surfaces, injection molding unloading, printed circuit board handling, and industrial parts handling.
Technical Documentation
For further review, you can find our PDF downloads for the G-VAC PS here, as well as an operating cost calculator to compare pneumatic vs. electric systems.
The PDFs provide a concise overview of the operating principle, technical specifications, areas of application, and integration. Using the operating cost calculator, you can estimate the potential savings resulting from replacing pneumatic vacuum grippers.
Next Step
We’d like to work with you to determine whether the G-VAC PS is suitable for specific glass, handling, or clamping processes.
A brief technical discussion is sufficient for an initial assessment. During this discussion, we will clarify:
- which applications are suitable
- what integration requirements exist
- which robot use cases are appropriate
- whether a lab test, pilot project, or a specific application assessment is advisable
Contact:
Roger Kautz
nititec vacuum gripper GmbH
roger.kautz-ext@nititec-gripper.de
Phone: +49 176 62 944 177