Piab Introduces BLFF 42 and 55 Suction Cups for High-Performance, Mixed Item Handling
Piab, a global leader in smart vacuum automation, has expanded its suction cup portfolio with the launch of the BLFF 42 and BLFF 55 cups—the first commercially released sizes in the new BLFF (Bellow Long Flexible Fit) family. Designed to address the classic trade-off between stability and flexibility in vacuum handling, these cups offer a unique combination of reach, stability, and adaptability for demanding automated environments.
Engineered Stability with Flexible Gripping
The BLFF cups feature a rigid bellow structure combined with a soft, overmolded lip, enabling them to securely grip both heavy and delicate objects while maintaining exceptional stability under acceleration. When fully compressed under vacuum, the cups behave like a compact “hockey puck,” resisting elongation and minimizing load sway. This design supports higher accelerations and throughput compared to traditional multi-bellow cups, making them ideal for fast-paced automation.
Optimized for Logistics, Warehousing, and Parcel Handling
The BLFF 42 and BLFF 55 are tailored for mixed-item applications in logistics centers, warehouses, and parcel sorting hubs, where object sizes, shapes, and materials vary from pick to pick. These cups operate effectively at higher vacuum levels and flows, ensuring robust handling in rapid, automated systems.
Two Initial Sizes, Three Hardness Levels
The initial offerings include 42 mm and 55 mm sizes, which expand slightly when actuated to approximately 45 mm and 56 mm in diameter, providing a secure grip envelope on product surfaces. Both sizes are available in three material hardness levels—soft, medium, and hard—allowing users to customize cup behavior based on object type, acceleration profile, and vacuum system characteristics. Color coding simplifies identification and enables mixing stiffness levels across larger grippers or zones for fine-tuned performance.
Durable, Recyclable Material and Long Service Life
Manufactured from a TPE material that is both extremely durable and fully recyclable, the BLFF cups support Piab’s sustainability goals and customers’ environmental targets. Despite a thin, compliant lip, internal wear testing shows high abrasion resistance, with failure modes more likely involving long-term compression set than physical wear. This contributes to extended service life and reduced maintenance.
Flexible Fittings and Smart Accessories
The BLFF 42 and 55 cups accommodate a wide range of fitting sizes to match various machine interfaces, including quarter-inch, three-eighth-inch, and half-inch options for the 55 mm version, available in both male and female configurations. A modular feature unit can be equipped with a 40-micron high-flow filter and/or a sense valve, protecting vacuum systems from contamination and enabling intelligent detection in suitable applications.
The source for this article is https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2026/06/29/piab-introduces-blff-42-and-55-suction-cups-for-high-performance-mixed-item-handling/26781/.