SCHUNK receives German innovation prize for climate and environment (IKU)
What will sustainable, automated handling look like in the future? SCHUNK asked itself this question and, with the support of the Saarbrücken startup company INNOCISE, delivered a novel solution approach: ADHESO. The innovative grippers can grip sensitive or difficult-to-pick-up parts gently, without residue and with absolutely no energy. The partners got their inspiration from nature: Geckos have millions of tiny hairs on their feet that stick to surface molecules. This allows them to move across smooth surfaces at lightning speed and also support their entire body weight upside down. Adhesion is the magic word. ADHESO also uses this principle: individually adapted plastic pads made of special polymers reproduce the fine hair structure on the adhesive grippers. This means they safely adhere to a wide variety of materials and can hold parts without the need for compressed air, a vacuum, or electricity. The sophisticated grippers thus significantly reduce energy consumption in automation processes. "ADHESO is one of the simplest and at the same time most innovative handling technologies on the market," summarizes SCHUNK COO Johannes Ketterer.
For its "green," economical gripping technology, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action awarded SCHUNK the German innovation prize for climate and environment in the category "environmentally friendly products and services." The award ceremony took place on May 16, 2022, in Berlin. 150 companies with forward-looking innovations had applied. The automation expert SCHUNK was among the 10 that convinced in the end. The new technology is also a success on the market: Since SCHUNK presented the ADHESO 2020, there has been unabated interest. SCHUNK and INNOCISE want to continue this success story and to further intensify their cooperation, in order to advance sustainable automation processes worldwide.
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