When new manufacturing processes are being developed or production capacity needs to be scaled up quickly, demanding technical requirements can collide with significant time and cost pressures. At the same time, operating conditions differ significantly: while manufacturing in the aerospace industry is shaped by high-performance materials and certified processes, in the electronics industry, for instance, the highest levels of precision and ESD compatibility are paramount. In highly regulated medical and laboratory environments, on the other hand, automation solutions need to ensure stable, contamination-free sequences.
SCHUNK Engineering brings together extensive expertise from a wide range of applications and industries, applying proven technologies and principles to new, customized challenges. "Our customers receive guidance and assurance throughout the entire course of the project – from the first meeting to concept validation and commissioning", explains Sebastian Höpfl, Executive Vice President Business Unit Gripping Technology & Automation Technology at SCHUNK. "We don't just look at individual components, but at the entire process: cycle times, quality, component variants and interfaces. This results in solutions that not only work, but are also economical and future-proof."
SCHUNK Engineering draws on a wealth of experience that is constantly growing: approximately 2,000 customized solutions are developed each year. Added to this is the technological expertise backed by our portfolio of more than 13,000 components. This means that customers benefit from solutions that have been developed, tested, and proven time and again. Instead of reinventing every special requirement, the engineering teams rely on validated designs, established processes, and industry-specific best practices. This shortens the path from the briefing to developing a robust concept, helping reduce technical risks early on in the project.
“Our broad industry expertise is directly incorporated into our conceptual work,” Höpfl emphasizes. "This allows us to work with best practices instead of experiments." Even before the actual structure is built, concepts can be tested and optimized using digital twins, cycle times, and collision simulations. Clear milestones and structured risk and change management also ensure transparency and predictability.
SCHUNK Engineering's range of services extends from validated assemblies and systems to individually designed components. System integrators, machine builders, and manufacturing companies receive tested, coordinated solutions and a robust technical design. This reduces interface risks, provides planning certainty, and minimizes the overall risk in the project. SCHUNK supports the entire process, from defining requirements, project management, design and validation to production, assembly, commissioning and after-sales service.
The solutions offered by SCHUNK Systems Engineering are specifically tailored to the respective industrial environment and are as diverse as the industries themselves. In e-mobility, for example, SCHUNK develops complex assemblies for battery cell handling. In energy technology, compact assembly concepts are created, while in machining, customized clamping solutions are engineered. Whenever possible, the engineering teams rely on proven standard components, validated designs, and tried-and-true solution principles.
SCHUNK also masters highly specialized tasks in special machines and systems due to its comprehensive technological expertise. At SCHUNK Component Engineering, the focus is on individually engineered components. This scope is evident in the diverse fields of application. It ranges from specially configured grippers for recycling or automotive applications and handling and clamping solutions for aerospace engine components, to aseptic grippers and changeover systems in the pharmaceutical industry.
Global engineering hubs ensure that SCHUNK remains close to its customers, even on international projects. At the same time, the teams work worldwide according to harmonized design guidelines as well as uniform quality and documentation standards. This allows solutions to be implemented regionally and scaled across multiple production sites as needed.
That means for SCHUNK, engineering is more than just developing expansion technology. It combines industry and application knowledge, technological expertise, and structured processes to achieve a common goal: to guide complex customer projects to a robust solution more quickly, while minimizing risks throughout the entire project lifecycle.