Schmalz at IFFA: Efficiency meets finesse

In the cleanroom, the PalVac Sprint Hygienic impresses with its design made of polished stainless steel with seamless welds. (Image: J. Schmalz GmbH)

The intelligent lifting aid QLAi 100 Food is easy to operate and clean. (Image: J. Schmalz GmbH)

From May 3rd to 8th, 2025, the international flagship trade fair IFFA will focus on process technology for meat and alternative proteins. Demonstrating that demanding products can be handled gently yet very efficiently and ergonomically, Schmalz showcases this at its booth B29 in Hall 12.1.

High cycle rates, maximum hygiene, and precise processes – industrial meat processing demands a lot from machinery and automation technology. Companies achieve maximum efficiency only when solutions integrate seamlessly into existing production lines. Vacuum expert Schmalz develops robust systems that handle meat products safely, gently, and at high speed – manually or automatically.

Meat and other food products can be moved process-safely and automatically with the Fingergreifer mGrip. The finger modules handle delicate products very carefully – even with varying shapes and consistencies. Their pneumatic control allows gentle yet secure gripping, and the lightweight design makes the mGrip suitable for use with cobots. Users can easily clean the end effector from the outside, as the finger gripper meets the requirements of CIP (Cleaning in Place) and COP (Cleaning out of Place). Thanks to the hygienic design, the risk of contamination is minimal.

Ergonomically lifting

In wet and hygienic areas, the PalVac Sprint makes it easier for meat processors to move loads. The combination of vacuum hose lifter and swivel crane, made of polished stainless steel with seamless welds, remains almost germ-free and can be easily cleaned through tool-free disassembly. Thanks to FDA-compliant silicone grippers with a metal-detectable sealing lip, direct contact with food is no problem, and system cleaning is straightforward. The vacuum hose lifter PalVac Sprint transports various workpieces such as sacks, barrels, E-boxes, or frozen meat blocks up to 100 kilograms.

Also optimized for contact with food and available in hygienic design is the QLAi 100 Food from Binar Handling, a company belonging to the Schmalz Group. Rounded and polished stainless steel tubes ensure optimal water drainage, and the entire electric cable balancer can be easily rinsed with a hose. It is resistant to most common cleaning agents. The patented handle requires only minimal initial force to lift or set down loads up to 90 kilograms. When the user releases the handle, the movement stops immediately.

Intuitive operating handle

With the redesigned vacuum hose lifter JumboFlex from Schmalz, professionals can move workpieces weighing up to 50 kilograms ergonomically, efficiently, and intuitively. Its optimized handle is suitable for both small and large hands. Users work with it fatigue-free – a real advantage in the food industry, where heavy loads are moved at high cycle rates. The new control buttons replace the single-button control and regulate the upward and downward movement in opposite directions. This allows professionals to guide and control the hose lifter even more precisely. The special feature: workpieces can be positioned at any height while floating, for example, to apply labels.