Vacuum Technology for the Wood Industry

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Vacuum Technology for Automation

Preventing Double Layers
When handling porous or permeable workpieces such as MDF or particle board, the workpieces can stick together during destacking. With large-area gripper modules from Schmalz, an integrated separating function ensures that vacuum between the boards is halted by restricting the flow of compressed air. In this way, only one workpiece is picked up and held.

Gentle Handling in Furniture Manufacturing Processes
Handling furniture places particular requirements on vacuum technology to leave few marks and prevent damage to the workpieces. Large-area gripping systems from Schmalz are equipped with suction cups or with a special sealing foam. The soft sealing foam makes it possible to handle workpieces without damaging them or leaving marks, so that they can be coated later on without surface imperfections, even after coming into contact with the gripper. The wide range of products includes suction cups made of specially-developed materials from Schmalz.

Handling Layers of small Workpieces after Processing in Nesting Processes
For layers of workpieces that were processed using nesting, extremely small individual pieces must be picked up and transported with as little additional manual work as possible. The nesting gripper SPZ-NG allows you to destack cut pallet layers in just one handling procedure. Different vacuum circuits make it possible to split the gripper into individual segments. Individual vacuum circuits can be switched on or off as needed, for example in order to avoid picking up certain workpieces during gripping.

Handling Workpieces with Gaps
The large-area gripping system FXP/FMP is used for handling workpieces with large gaps, such as doors with cut-outs for windows. The universal gripper is equipped with a special sealing foam and valve components. This makes it possible to handle doors with narrow frames and large openings.

Working in dusty Environments
When handling lumber, sheet materials, laminated beams, construction timber, CLT sheets, pallets or simply natural materials, knot holes, cracks and damaged material with rough surfaces can make it difficult to use standard solutions. The patented large-area gripping system FMHD was especially designed for these conditions. The large-area gripping system FMHD can also be used effortlessly in environments with large dirt particles, in wet environments, cold environments and when working with resin.

Handling Wood Veneers
The thin wooden layers are extremely delicate and can be cracked easily during transport. Schmalz large-area gripping systems ensure particularly gentle handling of instable workpieces, which allows you to destack and transport veneers without cracking or damaging them.

Vacuum Clamping Technology

• In woodworking, vacuum technology is used in many process steps for efficient handling and clamping. Automated or manual handling solutions from Schmalz are particularly suitable for loading and unloading machines and for fixing workpieces.

Increasing the flexibility of CNC machining centers

• Any CNC machining center can be retrofitted with the vacuum clamping system, regardless of manufacturer and type. The modernization enables fast and flexible retooling for frequent product changes - for efficient production processes from batch size one. Schmalz thus offers an economical alternative to investing in a new machine.

Clamping with vacuum in CNC machining

• CNC machining generates high cutting forces that require secure clamping. Structured surfaces present an additional challenge. Clamping with vacuum blocks ensure secure fixation of workpieces during machining. Suction plates with optional sponge rubber sealing edge improve the fixation of structured workpieces.

Vacuum Lifters and Crane Systems

• Wood panel handling - Coated particleboard requires gentle handling to prevent surface damage.
• Panel sizing - Sawdust makes handling difficult when loading and unloading saws and CNC machining centers. Handling with vacuum enables safe transport and thus short cycle times.

Production and further processing of wood-based materials 

• Uncoated wood-based panel destacking - Separator vacuums prevent unwanted removal of double layers when destacking porous panels.
• Spring plungers provide gentle touchdown on sensitive materials and minimize tear-off force. 

Handling of prefabricated wood parts

• Vacuum tube lifters JumboErgo and lifting devices VacuMaster enable fast loading and unloading of joinery systems. Ergonomic material feeding of framing stations and wall production lines are also easy to solve with vacuum handling devices.
• Swiveling, rotating and turning of the workpieces are possible.