Oxipital AI and Schmalz extend partnership for automated picking

The VX2 Vision System uses AI for food-grade inspection and picking. Source: Oxipital AI

When combined with artificial intelligence, robotic picking systems can handle an increasingly wide range of goods. Oxipital AI last week added J. Schmalz GmbH to its Preferred Partner Program.

The longtime collaborators said they will integrate Oxipital AI’s advanced machine vision technology for inspection and picking with Schmalz’s mGrip robotic fingers and vacuum end-of-arm tooling (EOAT).

“This partnership is delivering next-generation robotic grasping solutions that enhance operational efficiency; reduce labor reliance; and ensure consistent, safe, and profitable production for end customers in the food and beverage industry and beyond,” said Oxipital AI.

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Oxipital AI focuses on inspection, guidance

“Working with Schmalz has been incredibly easy and fruitful for both companies, combining expertise from both teams to ultimately provide the customer with market-leading automated solutions,” stated Mark Chiappetta, president and CEO of Oxipital AI. “Schmalz engineers are experts in designing and deploying capable tooling solutions into complex robotic handling applications.”

“Paired with Oxipital AI’s vision technology, the Schmalz team will be able to expand the applicability of their solutions to increasingly challenging manufacturing processes,” he added. “We are excited to expand our existing relationship and look forward to many years of continued collaboration.”

Founded in 2013 as Soft Robotics, Oxipital AI said it provides AI-enabled machine vision for product quality inspection and robotic guidance in critical industries such as food processing, agriculture, and consumer goods production. Previously focused on soft robotic EOAT, Soft Robotics divested its gripper business to Schmalz in August 2024 and pivoted to machine vision.

The Bedford, Mass.-based company said its mission is “to deliver actionable insights through deep object understanding to customers as they embrace Industry 5.0 and unlock previously unachievable levels of resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability in their manufacturing operations.” In November 2024, Oxipital AI released its VX2 Vision System.

Schmalz seeks the lead in robotic grasping

“Schmalz has worked with Oxipital AI since its inception, so joining their preferred partner program was the logical next step in our ongoing relationship,” said Volker Schmitz, president and CEO of Schmalz North America.

“Both of our organizations focus on robotic automation, so there were inherent synergies from the start,” he said. “Pairing our tooling with Oxipital AI vision technologies has enabled us to provide our customers with more capable and higher-performing picking solutions that we couldn’t offer in the past.”

Founded in 1910, Schmalz is a global market leader in vacuum industrial automation and ergonomic material handling systems. With more than 10,000 components, its Vacuum Automation unit includes suction cups and vacuum generators, as well as complete robotic gripping and clamping systems for holding workpieces, for example, in CNC machining centers.

Glatten, Germany-based Schmalz explained that its Handling Systems unit offers vacuum lifters, servo hoists, and workstation crane systems for industrial applications. The company said its Intelligent Factory solutions make production and logistics processes more flexible, productive, and efficient, while also preparing them for digitalization.

Schmalz asserted that it now offers more ergonomic and robotic systems for packaging, food, and pharmaceuticals thanks to its investments in new technologies and acquisition of products from Binar Handling, Palamatic, and Soft Robotics’ mGrip. Schmalz and Oxipital AI exhibited together at Automate last month.

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