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Schunk has announced the EMH, an electrically activated, 24 V permanent magnetic gripper that the company states can reduce cycle times and increase production.

Electro-permanent magnets like the EMH can grip many different parts with no change over, according to Schunk. Electro-permanent magnets also have high power density and compact size, which is said to improve the available payload for the robot to which it is mounted.

The EMH is designed to be energy-efficient, as it uses power only when switching from active to inactive and does not consume power otherwise. To improve process reliability, the EMH gives feedback status for active/inactive and signals errors via an LED display on the housing. Once activated, the EMH does not consume energy, meaning parts are still gripped even during a power outage or emergency stop.

To minimize space, the electronics of the EMH gripper are integrated inside the housing and are actuated via the digital I/O module. No external control electronics are required.