Robotiq Expands Vacuum Gripper Portfolio with High-Capacity PowerPick Multi
Robotiq has significantly broadened its end-of-arm tooling ecosystem with the launch of the PowerPick Multi, a high-density vacuum gripper designed to solve the perennial bottleneck of product changeovers in palletizing and pick-and-place applications. By leveraging an array of 24 independent vacuum cups that can be activated in recipe-driven zones, this new tool allows manufacturers to handle a wider variety of box sizes and shapes without the need for manual hardware reconfigurations.
If you have spent any time trying to keep a cobot palletizing line running through a dozen different SKU changes in a single shift, you know the pain of "tooling bloat." Every time the box size shifts, someone has to either swap the gripper or manually adjust the suction pattern. With the PowerPick Multi, Robotiq is effectively moving the goalposts. By utilizing an intelligent URCap interface that communicates directly with the robot’s force sensors, the system can execute cycles in as little as 0.14 seconds, maintaining a payload capacity of 30 kg while keeping the operation precise enough to avoid marring delicate materials. It is a textbook example of how intelligent gripper design can turn a rigid automation cell into a flexible, production-ready asset.
The broader PowerPick series—which includes the 10, 20, and 30 models—remains a staple for those requiring dedicated, high-flow vacuum solutions. These units are built for plug-and-play integration, a feature that has become the gold standard for collaborative robot (cobot) deployments. By attaching the vacuum generator directly to the base of the robot, Robotiq has simplified the pneumatic plumbing requirements that often turn end-effector integration into a multi-day ordeal. For facilities where compressed air is either unavailable or undesirable, the EPick series offers a compelling alternative. These electric-vacuum generators pack the performance of traditional suction cups into a quiet, 64 dB package that runs entirely on 24 VDC, making them ideal for mobile or clean-room environments where external air lines would be a logistical liability.
For the automation engineer, the value proposition is clear: stop spending hours designing custom mounting plates and start leveraging standardized, software-driven tooling. Whether you are dealing with the high-payload requirements of industrial palletizing or the quiet precision needed for sensitive assembly, Robotiq’s approach to vacuum technology is aimed at maximizing robot uptime and minimizing programming overhead. The integration of force-sensing software with a zone-based suction array isn't just about moving parts faster; it’s about creating a robust, autonomous flow that can handle the variability of modern warehouse logistics without requiring constant human intervention.
Written by: Alex Sterling. With over 15 years of experience in systems integration and plant floor optimization, Alex specializes in translating complex mechanical specifications into actionable strategies for high-throughput manufacturing environments.