This section provides an overview for end effectors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 end effector manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked end effector companies as of November, 2024: 1.Innovent Technologies, 2.Columbia/Okura LLC, 3.Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc..
Table of Contents
An end effector is a device attached to the wrist of an industrial robot, also known as end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) or a robot hand. These devices are crucial for automating factory production processes, enabling robots to assemble, inspect, and transport products with high efficiency.
End effectors can be mechanical or electromechanical and function as grippers, process tools, or sensors. Their diversity ranges from simple two-finger grippers for pick-and-place tasks to sophisticated systems equipped with complex sensors to mimic human touch.
End effectors play a pivotal role in automating assembly, transport, and pick-and-place operations within industrial settings. Grippers, designed with the versatility of the human hand in mind, are among the most developed end effectors, facilitating the manipulation of objects by robots.
Examples include finger grippers, which may have two to six fingers, vacuum grippers, magnetic grippers, and needle grippers, showcasing the ongoing innovation in end effector technology.
End effectors enable industrial robots to perform a wide array of tasks, from welding to painting, evolving alongside industrial robots to meet the demands of various applications. The use of an auto tool changer (ATC) allows robots to switch between different end effectors to tackle multiple processes, enhancing their versatility despite the time required for switching.
Factory automation (FA) encompasses the automation of production processes, significantly advanced by the development of technology that allows for automatic machining through CAM systems. Industrial robots, equipped with articulated arms or manipulators, are integral to this automation process, with end effectors enabling precise movements for tasks like assembly and inspection.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Ingersoll Rand Inc. is a manufacturer of flow creation and industrial products, founded in 1871, and headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina. It provides an array of compressors, from centrifugal to gas, reciprocating, high-pressure, and oil-free options. Additionally, it offers BOP handling systems, balancers, hoists, winches, and barring motors. Its services encompass replacement and repair, catering to various industries such as aerospace, construction, electronics, and power generation. The company quality management is reflected in ISO 9001 certification across most manufacturing facilities, and its products conform to international standards like ATEX, CE, DNV, and ABS.
Columbia/Okura LLC, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Vancouver, WA, is a designer, manufacturer, and integrator of robotic palletizing solutions. The solutions include industrial robots, cooperative robots (cobots), and integrated machinery such as bagging machines, valve bags, air packers, impeller packers, and pallet dispensers. The products are used in the fabrication, finishing, transfer, packing, and sorting processes in the manufacturing and processing sectors of the industrial, manufacturing, and processing industries. The firm provides spare parts, installation, training, maintenance, and retrofits. It is a PMMI, IDFA, IAOM, PSSMA, and Asta Association member.
SEYMOUR Advanced Technologies LLC is a manufacturer of automated machinery based in North Carolina, USA, founded in 2019. The company provides industrial automation solutions by offering tools, toolboxes, studio toolboxes, and product development services. The company boasts a team of experienced engineers in industrial automation, where the team plays a crucial role in developing and implementing automation solutions for its clients. Its primary clientele consists of companies that require automated industrial machinery, where solutions are needed to rely on automation to optimize manufacturing and production processes.
Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc. was originally founded in 1946 in Rockford Illinois. Dixon Automatic Tool is an automated assembly products and services supplier. Dixon Automatic Tool offerings include automatic screwdrivers, automatic nut-runners, automatic part placers, automatic setting systems, robotic end effectors, assembly work cells, hand-held drivers, feeder bowls and feed systems, and features Stöger products for customers’s automation needs. Dixon Automatic Tool also offers two escapement types that can be tooled to escape and transfer piece parts, as well as electric hand-held screwdrivers.
Tuff Automation, Inc., established in 1993, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a manufacturer of conveyors, transfers, carts, and lifts. The company’s products are custom-built to the client's requirements. Additionally, it provides custom material handling solutions to businesses in the United States. It combines mechanical design with controls engineering to develop turnkey systems for commercial and industrial applications. The company aims to be a source for custom automated material handling solutions.
DESTACO, a Dover Company was founded in 1915, is a global manufacturer of automation, workholding, and containment solutions, headquartered in the United States. The company's product portfolio includes clamps, grippers, end effectors, and robotic tool changers. They are a worldwide supplier in the design, manufacture and support of clamping, gripping, linear/rotary transferring and robotic tooling solutions for workplace and flexible automation needs. Their customer base covers a wide range of industries requiring a global customer service network offering consistent solutions and program support.
Innovent Technologies, established in 2007, is a manufacturer of electronic components based in the United States. The company specializes in designing and producing cutting-edge sensors, switches, and control devices that are used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation. Innovent Technologies is driven to provide advanced solutions that enhance the performance and efficiency of electronic systems. The products are known for quality, durability, and precision, making them a preferred choice for businesses seeking quality electronic components.
Binar Handling AB, established in 1979 and headquartered in Sweden, is a manufacturer of ergonomic lifting and handling solutions. The company's products include control handles, manipulator arms, and lift rail systems for the automotive, metal, and engineering industries. Its safety features include handle sensors, load cells with auto balance, and swivels made of anodized aluminum. Its solutions enable users to lift 600 kg with minimal effort through an ergonomic control handle that translates hand movements into electronic signals. The company's Ergo glass end effectors for handling flat surfaces are available in multiple configurations and can be customized based on specific needs.
SUHNER Schweiz AG, founded in Germany, is a manufacturer of robotic grinding solutions and abrasive materials. The company's product portfolio includes abrasive materials for robotic grinding, special tools for refining industrial surfaces, CNC tool holders and machining units to multiply the capacity, and robot programming software. It also offers weld removal for industries like food processing and medical and stainless steel polishing to obtain high finish surfaces and low roughness values.
Orbray Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of precision engineering products that was originally founded in 1919 as Adamant Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd. before rebranding in January 2023. Based in Adachi-ku, Tokyo, the company produces various products used in precision engineering, including industrial jewels such as rubies, diamonds, and sapphires used in watches and LEDs. It also offers small motors and fiber optic components, such as ferrules, attenuators, and terminators. Orbray products have a wide range of applications, including in watchmaking, robotics, meteorology systems, and medical devices.
igus GmbH, established in 1964 and based in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of technical products made using polymers for movement. Its products include injection molding frames, motor control systems, and plain bearings, and it has over 240,000 products in over 1,000,000 variations. It serves 188,000 companies from over 80 countries worldwide in 50 different industries, including packaging, automotive, and renewable energy. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certified, and in 2023, it recorded €1.115 billion in sales. Since 2021, the company has purchased 380 new injection-molding machines and has replaced 275 old ones.
FerRobotics Compliant Robot Technology GmbH, founded in 2006 with headquarters in Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria, is a manufacturer of robotic equipment and end-of-arm tools for robotic applications. The company's product line includes multifunctional end-of-arm tools for any industrial robot, the Active Belt Grinder, an active, sensitive belt grinder that provides a custom solution for automated high-quality finishing, and robot add-ons for car body surfacing and sheet metal processing. These products are used for automated grinding, polishing, deburring, handling, and mounting in the automotive, process manufacturing, and aerospace industries.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Innovent Technologies |
12.3%
|
2 | Columbia/Okura LLC |
10.4%
|
3 | Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc. |
10.1%
|
4 | SEYMOUR Advanced Technologies LLC. |
9.5%
|
5 | Tuff Automation, Inc. |
8.4%
|
6 | Jomar Corp. |
8.1%
|
7 | FERROBOTICS |
7.8%
|
8 | DESTACO, A Dover Company |
7.0%
|
9 | Lifting & Material Handling |
6.7%
|
10 | Orbray Co., Ltd. |
5.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the end effector page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 8 | 72.7% |
Sweden | 1 | 9.1% |
Switzerland | 1 | 9.1% |
Japan | 1 | 9.1% |
1 product is listed.
Shinano Kenshi
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The ASPINA robot hand is an end effector for collaborative robots. Large strokes, hollow structures, and detailed adjustments are common features.