Schmalz UK reinforces growth strategy with new appointment

Following the launch of the UK subsidiary in 2021, and the subsequent move in 2022 to new industrial and office premises, Schmalz UK continues its planned growth strategy with the recent appointment of Neil Turnbull as sales director.

With some 25 years’ experience within the UK industrial automation industry, Neil’s key objectives include nurturing and securing new business opportunities and supporting the further development of the Schmalz brand of industrial segment product ranges within the UK market place. As a market leader in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling systems, the Schmalz product range is in demand across a diverse range of industry sectors and applications including logistics, the automotive industry, the electronics sector and in furniture manufacture.

Robot, cobot and automation solutions

The Vacuum Automation business unit offers a comprehensive component portfolio targeted at the robotics and automation sectors, which includes suction pads, vacuum generators, complete gripping systems and clamping solutions for holding workpieces.

Neil Turnbull explains: “When using small and collaborative robots, the gripper must meet special requirements: it must be lightweight, universally usable, and quick to integrate. Our robotics solutions are used for loading and unloading machines, order picking, palletising, and de-palletising, or for bin-picking applications.

“The full product portfolio includes standard and configurable end effectors, gripper kits, vision and handling sets, electrical and pneumatic vacuum generators, all fully supported by communication interfaces for bidirectional data exchange, with diagnostic functions for the handling process.”

Making light work of material handling

The company’s Handling business unit provides advanced handling solutions for multiple industry sectors including automotive, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, glass, wood, plastics, logistics, metal, solar and wind energy.

Neil Turnbull continues: “Our range of vacuum lifters and crane systems are at the heart of many different product handling systems. Tailored to suit specific market sectors, these solutions combine innovative product design, high quality, and performance with a comprehensive equipment specification.

“Our Vacuum lifters and crane systems also help address the ergonomics and health protection challenges faced by many companies, by making goods movement and transfer operations simpler, safer, and more efficient.”

Intuitive to operate and versatile in their application, the Schmalz Handling portfolio includes vacuum tube lifters for dynamic transfer of goods with high cycle frequency and chain hoist-based vacuum lifting devices for particularly heavy loads. Rope balancers are ideal aids for sensitive, precise positioning of loads.

Neil Turnbull concludes: “A key part of our offering to the UK industrial market is the engineering support available to our client base. Our UK based engineering team work with customers to specify and test products, ensuring that they meet the unique requirements of individual customers and their applications. The development of our unique, dedicated in-house test facility within the Manchester head office allows end customers to benefit from proven vacuum automation technology.”