Originally developed for Germany’s Volkswagen manufacturing company, a range of highly
durable pneumatic grippers and clamps, produced by the Spanish engineering company Lantec is now available in the UK from FS Engineering (Automation Systems) Ltd. Until recently, Lantec grippers were supplied in the UK by the Yorkshire Company SPA Ltd. A change of business circumstances initiated the transfer to FS Engineering who also resells the Italian Gimatic and the Swiss PWB pneumatic automation components. As a result, the company can offer UK machine builders and manufacturers an extensive range of actuators suitable from light parts manipulation to harsh foundry applications.
Many Lantec products have been designed to solve a specific handling problem and are supplied into various industries throughout Europe, the largest being the automotive.
They are fitted to robots and automated production equipment which must operate reliably and outlast conventional grippers and clamps in high pressure production facilities.
The Lantec industrial range includes double acting, 2-jaw self-centring parallel and angular grippers plus a series of single lever clamps. Their powerful, robust and resilient mechanisms are built into nickel plated aluminium bodies and are actuated by standard compact cylinders enabling quick and cost-effective replacement of worn seals.
Parallel grippers type PPE are available in six different sizes with a maximum gripping force of 1150 N and 2900 N respectively for type PPI.
Typically they feature precision motion with machined and tempered sliding tables and ground steel guides with roller or optional plain bearings.
The angular grippers have a single pivot point that retains a constant distance to the gripping points on both fingers, enabling manipulation of round material with different diameters by one gripper. This system supports flexible production with less stoppage time for tool changes.
The type PAC has 138º wide opening jaws enabling picking parts for example from a conveyor or rotary table without the need of an actuator to retract the gripper for clearance.
The largest of the powerful angular grippers, type PAE has a progressive torque of 350 Nm with a retention force of 773 Nm when locked.
A large choice of clamps is available made to the same high standards as the grippers. The enclosed mechanism allows for use in almost any industry for jigs, fixtures, parts centring applications or picking and placing when equipped with a gripper.
The standard version type BC is available in four sizes with a retention force when locked of 1173 Nm and various clamping angles can be specified to suit the application.
The narrow version type BE comes in 5 sizes with a maximum clamping torque of 825 Nm and is useful for lighter applications and where space is at a premium.
Hydraulic and custom made grippers or complete gripper systems can be produced and supplied on request.