06/07/2024
piSAFE® has for some years been a highly appreciated member of Piab's assortment of products with elevated safety functions. As the reliable vacuum pump is now upgraded, the safety focus remains. However, versatility and sustainability have been added to the mix as new healthy prerequisites.
Piab has announced new updates to piSAFE®, making it even safer.
Since its introduction in 2021, piSAFE® has clearly been the vacuum ejector of choice where an exceptionally high level of gripping safety is necessary for a stable manufacturing process. The key feature being the vacuum safety valve, which maintains the vacuum level in the COAX® based pump at all times.
"The pump qualities aside, the vacuum safety valve is the real heart inside this compact body", said Anders Falk, Automotive Product Manager at Piab Vacuum Automation Division. "The mission is clear – maintain a firm grip on the lifted object, whether the compressed air supply is on or off, and regardless of the switching being deliberate or a system failure. piSAFE® is adamant!"
This quality has made piSAFE® especially appreciated in demanding automotive applications such as glass and body assembly, where a dropped part would have severe consequences.
As the offered safety level was already satisfactory, other prerequisites were added to the list when piSAFE® went for its recent 2.0 tour through Piab's R&D department.
"The new piSAFE® program is more versatile than its predecessors in many ways”, said Falk. "The VSV variant, for instance, uses only one feed for both vacuum feed and release function, which makes it compatible with many centralized vacuum systems, our piCOMPACT® platform being one. piSAFE® is also more sustainable in the sense that it now can carry a silencer that supports a noise-free work environment.”
The piSAFE® concept is now divided into four fully configurable products to enable the customer to freely choose a suitable level of functionality:
- piSAFE® – Fully equipped pump unit with safety functions.
- piSAFE® Vacuum Safety Valve (VSV) – Same safety functionality, to be used with external vacuum pump.
- piSAFE® Vacuum Safety Valve MINI (VSV MINI) – Safety functions in a minimized format.
- piSAFE® Mounting Bracket – Versatile bracket to be used with piSAFE® products, other systems like the piSTAMP®, or just to be used as suction cup holder for external vacuum sources.
Consequently, the configurator has been updated accordingly with one product card for each of the four products. Apart from the product split, the new version of piSAFE® has undergone the following improvements:
- VSV – Common feed using atmospheric quick release (AQR NC), which means one hose for both feed and release, instead of one for each. Supports increased compatibility, easier installation and less maintenance.
- Silencer now optional for a healthier work environment. Protects the hearing of staff involved in the everyday process.
- New attachments available – 32 mm ball joint, 16 mm lock pin and a special level compensator. The latter is possible to configure as fit-to-purpose.
“I am happy to introduce all these updates to our automotive customers. With these improvements it's fair to say that piSAFE® is among the safest and most versatile pump products on the market in this segment,” said Falk.
About Piab
Piab is evolving automation through progressive gripping, lifting and moving solutions. Since 1951, Piab has been serving industries like e-commerce logistics, food, pharma, automotive and more, improving energy-efficiency, productivity and work environments. With a presence in more than 100 countries, Piab is a global organization dedicated to developing automation solutions that enhance the efficiency and quality of production processes. For more information, visit https://www.piab.com.
