Schunk is now offering a compact valve box which is directly attached to the PGN-plus gripper and helps to increase actuation speed by up to 100%. The valve box reduces the compressed air consumption and in turn reduces energy costs at the same time. In conventional pneumatic solutions, the compressed air of the feeding long air supply line is lost at each cycle, but with the valve box, which is directly attached to the gripper, the piston area of the actuator is immediately filled, resulting in reduced air consumption, and shorter cycle times. Longer air supply lines are not necessary because the compact unit is provided with air and electrical signals through central connections. The valve box with optimized size can be easily commissioned at the actuator by plug and play with gripping force maintenance devices, throttles, or proximity switches. Sizes for the PGN-plus universal grippers are available from 64 to 160.
