FIPA Releases Grippers With Soft, Removable Pads for Time- & Cost-Conscious Injection-Molded Plastics Applications

FIPA Inc., a leading manufacturer of advanced vacuum technology, gripper systems, air nippers, tube lifters, and end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT), has expanded its portfolio of 100 Series sprue grippers with the addition of a new model with exceptionally soft and quickly replaceable HNBR elastomer pads on the inner jaws. Previously available with uncoated, inner-coated, and completely coated jaws, each with a 10mm clamping diameter, the new GR04.106 grippers have the same anodized, high-strength aluminum alloy housings as the rest of the 100 Series, but feature clip-mounted jaw pads designed to facilitate quick removal and replacement, and eliminate the downtime often associated with complete gripper replacement and subsequent system testing and reprogramming. The soft pads on the new single-acting, non-sensing sprue gripper are elastic, low-marking, low-abrasion, wear-resistant, free of both silicone and paint wetting impairment substances (PWIS), and temperature resistant from 30°C to +160°C (-22°F to +320°F), which makes them ideal for gently grasping delicate workpieces with low material thicknesses, like injection-molded plastic parts, while maintaining the pristine quality of their surfaces.

“This latest addition to our proven 100 Series sprue grippers provides a quick, effective, and cost-conscious solution for gently handling delicate parts, while also satisfying increasing temporal and financial pressures experienced throughout the plastics industry,” said Rainer Mehrer, president of FIPA. “With these, worn pads can be replaced in minutes, saving the time and expense associated with replacing complete grippers, and our customers can count on us to ensure that replacement pads are always available for immediate shipping and delivery.”

Tailored to the requirements of the plastics industry, the new 100 Series sprue grippers provide a maximum of 28N of gripping force at 6 bar operating pressure, deliver outstanding performance in environments with filtered and either oiled or unoiled air, and are lightweight (48g / 1.69oz), which makes them especially well suited for EOAT applications.

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