Small, lightweight – and powerful: New vacuum generator of the ZH-A series as a compact version with integrated silencer

The new vacuum generator of the ZH-A series as a compact version ensures a lightweight machine design thanks to its small size and low weight, enabling higher throughput with high process reliability through improved performance. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

Vacuum generation finds a wide range of applications across the industry: from packaging and palletizing to material handling and automatic assembly to automatic transport and pick-and-place. Process engineers face the challenge of achieving a small and lightweight machine design without sacrificing performance. To meet these high demands, SMC has further developed its ZH-A series vacuum generator into a compact version. Thanks to the reduction in overall volume, it is a true lightweight and still offers a larger total volume flow – ideal for use in mobile handling applications.

Whether in the semiconductor, electrical, automotive, or food industry, in life sciences, or a wide range of manufacturing and assembly equipment: vacuum generators are an indispensable standard component for various applications – and must meet growing requirements. To this end, SMC, the specialist for pneumatic and electrical automation, has developed a compact version of its ZH-A series vacuum generators. This provides process engineers with a solution that enables an even more compact machine design while offering high performance with easy assembly and maintenance. Especially advantageous: the reduction in weight improves efficiency, as robots, for example, can perform faster movements without compromising process safety.

Small outside, powerful inside

The engineers at SMC have designed the ZH-A series vacuum generator with a diet, creating a compact version. By reducing the connection height by up to 20% (-4.6 mm) and the overall volume by up to 39% (-14.1 cm³), it is not only significantly more compact but also enables smaller and more cost-effective machine designs. The weight has also been reduced by up to 59% (-19.4 g) compared to the predecessor. It now weighs only between 28.7 g (1.5 mm nozzle diameter) and 46.4 g (1.8 mm nozzle diameter). Overall, this allows more output to be placed in the same space, reducing CO₂ footprint and investment costs. Additionally, faster cycle times are achievable thanks to the lower inertia, increasing throughput.

At the same time, SMC has not compromised on performance: the maximum achievable vacuum is -90 kPa, and the maximum suction volume flow, depending on the nozzle size, is 78 l/min (1.5 mm nozzle diameter), 128 l/min (1.8 mm nozzle diameter), and 155 l/min (2.0 mm nozzle diameter) – an increase of 11% for the smallest nozzle size compared to the previous model. This allows for faster evacuation during workpiece handling, with higher reliability and even shorter cycle times. An integrated muffler also ensures that exhaust noise is reduced, thereby improving work safety.

Flexible mounting options and easy to distinguish

The ZH-A vacuum generator in the compact version can be easily installed on different machine designs thanks to three mounting options: process engineers can choose between direct mounting, mounting with L-bracket, or DIN rail mounting. The same applies to the connection, which can be either a quick-connect fitting or threaded connection (G/Rc/NPT threads), or a combination of both.

To also adhere to the Poka Yoke principle, the pressure ring features a color coding that immediately distinguishes between metric sizes (light gray) and inch sizes (orange). This not only facilitates easy identification of the product but also complies with the requirements of markets such as the US. Since the hole spacing for fastenings remains the same as the predecessor, replacing it with the ZH-A series in the compact version is straightforward – enabling a machine upgrade without any issues.