In May 2022, Piab AB acquired Joulin, a leader in vacuum gripping systems. Since then, the Swedish company has integrated three of Joulin's gripper ranges into its Kenos portfolio.
Piab noted that it continues to market systems for heavy-duty industries under the Joulin brand, whose experts continue to provide support by defining the best system for each customer. The company said it creates sustainable automation for safer and more efficient workplaces.
It claimed that its robotic grippers provide intelligent material flow and enhance human lifting power. Piab said its leading vacuum technology includes suction cups and pumps, as well as full end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) and custom systems.
Piab reported sales of about 1.9 billion SEK ($180 million U.S.), more than 1,000 employees, and four divisions. It serves customers in more than 100 countries from a network of subsidiaries and distributors.
Joulin brings wood expertise
Piab said it has partners and customers in the food and beverage, automotive, packaging, logistics and warehousing, e-commerce, electronics, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries.
The global market for materials handling robots could expand from $8.3 billion in 2021 to $25.9 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.81%, according to Research Reports World. Piab said that its Joulin acquisition is a “perfect strategic fit” to meet this increasing demand.
The company noted that not only does Joulin strengthen its global competitiveness in its core applications industries, but it also builds on Joulin's 60 years of experience in the raw wood industry. Piab plans to continue marketing large grippers and gantry cranes under the Joulin brand.
Piab integrates selected grippers into Kenos line
Piab added that Joulin's MiniGrip, FlexiGrip, and Safe&Light complement its existing portfolio and further strengthens its support of different customer needs.
The Kenos MiniGrip (KMG) is suitable for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), food and beverage, and automotive industries, said Piab. The foam gripper can be adapted to EOAT applications with tight clearance.
KMG's foam surface enables a robot to pick a variety of different objects without adjustment, the company asserted. In case of uneven layer heights, KMG can be equipped with level compensators without needing to change the mounting device.
The Kenos FlexiGrip (KFG) is suitable for the food and beverage, automotive, and construction industries, according to Piab. Collaborative robots can use the vacuum foam gripper, or developers and integrators can combine it in EOAT for industrial robots.
With its foam surface, KFG also offers the flexibility to pick a variety of products without adjustment, Piab said. Its modular design offers fast and easy setup in case of product changes, as well as simple integration into existing equipment, the company noted.
The Kenos Safe&Light (KSL) is designed for applications such as packaging, warehousing, and end-of-line production. The gripper is designed with a carbon fiber structure holding a foam-made body, so it is lightweight to optimize robot or cobot payloads, said Piab.
KSL “is a robust and simple solution for a broad range of purposes, particularly for palletizing applications in rugged and dusty environments,” said the company.
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