Magswitch Recap of Automate 2025

Bottom Line Up Front: Magswitch delivered our biggest and most comprehensive showcase yet at Automate 2025, featuring five cutting-edge robot demonstrations highlighting our revolutionary magnetic automation solutions across diverse industrial applications.

Expanding Horizons in Robotic Automation

Our presence at North America's largest automation trade show demonstrated how Magswitch continues to revolutionize industrial processes by replacing costly vacuum cups, heavy grippers, and problematic pin clamps with our patented switchable permanent magnetic solutions. The five demonstration robotic and fixturing stations illustrated the versatility and intelligence of our magnetic gripper technology across multiple manufacturing scenarios.

Revolutionary Smart Technology in Action

Variable Field Output Excellence

The centerpiece of our exhibition featured the Magswitch SMART Electrically-actuated E30 in a random bin picking application on a Yaskawa GP8L robot. This demonstration highlighted the game-changing capabilities of our Variable Field Output (VFO) technology, which allows operators to vary the level of magnetism from E30. So that means you can lower the magnetic flux field to pick only one part, then turn it up to carry the part to the drop position securely.

Advanced vision integration enhanced this system's precision. The robot-mounted Magswitch E30 is guided to the part pick position by the Keyence 3D Vision system and then checked for position X and Y by the Keyence 2D Vision System. This combination of magnetic innovation and visual intelligence represents the future of bin picking applications, especially for complex geometries that traditionally challenge conventional gripping systems.

Collaborative Robot Integration

Our collaboration with Universal Robots showcased the seamless integration of magnetic technology with collaborative robotics. The Universal Robots UR10e is seated on a Magswitch MagBase 10 2.0, a modular, magnetic base that allows the COBOT to move in and out of workstations. This configuration demonstrated how our magnetic bases enable unprecedented flexibility in robotic deployment, allowing manufacturers to reconfigure their automation setups as production demands change quickly.

The demonstration featured the Magswitch PLAY20X4 magnetic gripper with an Impaqt Robotics PQ0 interface EOAT destacking angle irons, equipped with innovative custom W-shaped pole shoes which allow the tool to destack and pick up the angle iron pieces in either peak-up or peak-down orientation. This versatility eliminates the need for complex part orientation systems, streamlining the automation process significantly.

Next-Generation Product Innovations

Plug & Play Electric Solutions

Perhaps the most exciting reveal at our booth was the introduction of our newest electric tools. Featured in this robot cell are the NEW Magswitch PPE30 and PPE50. Both are electrically actuated switchable permanent magnets with part present sensing and are designed to be plugged and played with just about any standard I/O block.

The PPE30 demonstrated remarkable versatility in a single demonstration, showcasing three distinct picking configurations. The bottom of the PPE30 is picking up a nail plate – a challenging vacuum or mechanical grippers application. The West side of the PPE30 magnet has a pin on the pole shoes to precisely locate a small bracket in a Pick & Place application. And finally, the East side of the PPE30 magnetic gripper has a V-cut to handle a threaded rod. This multi-sided capability represents a paradigm shift in end-of-arm tooling design, offering manufacturers unprecedented flexibility from a single gripper solution.

Advanced Machine Tending Applications

Our machine tending demonstration featured dual Magswitch T20 magnetic grippers in a machine tending and grinding application. The T20s are mounted to a 90-degree PQ90 module from Impaqt Robotics. The sophistication of this setup was evident in the custom tooling design, where one Magswitch T20 has a custom pole shoe that allows for side-pick of the rods. The other T20 has longer, step-under pole shoes for handling smaller parts.

This demonstration highlighted how the Magswitch T20s can present either the rod or bottle cap opener to the grinding/polishing wheel for finishing while securely handling the part. The integration with a PUSHCORP active compliance device, which will monitor for a constant force or position (to indicate wear on the media wheel) showcased the intelligent feedback systems that make modern automation efficient and adaptive.

Cycle Time Optimization Through Intelligent Magnetism

Our dual-robot assembly simulation provided a compelling demonstration of efficiency optimization. The setup featured two robots with different operational strategies. The LH KUKA robot grabbed one web at a time and placed it, while the RH KUKA robot grabbed two and dropped one at a time. Using the Magswitch ELAY30X5's Variable Field Output feature, the RH robot saved about 5-8 seconds of cycle time.

This demonstration was intentionally designed to illustrate the tangible benefits of our VFO technology. The 5-8 second cycle time reduction might seem modest, but when multiplied across thousands of cycles in high-volume manufacturing environments, the cumulative impact on productivity and operational costs becomes substantial.

Partnership Ecosystem and Collaboration

Throughout our demonstrations, the value of strategic partnerships was evident. Our collaborations with industry leaders like KUKA Robotics, Yaskawa/Motoman, Universal Robots, ABB Robotics, Syndevco, Impaqt Robotics, PUSHCORP, and Keyence demonstrated how Magswitch magnetic technology integrates seamlessly into comprehensive automation solutions. The robot dress packages with high flex corrugated tubing from Syndevco keep the hose utilities and communication cables protected and carefully secured with a flexible clamping system and adjustable straps, ensuring that our magnetic solutions work harmoniously within complete robotic systems.

Market Impact and Industry Applications

The diversity of applications demonstrated at our booth reflects the broad market impact of magnetic automation technology. From automotive Body-in-White applications to general manufacturing material handling, our solutions address the critical pain points manufacturers face daily: operating costs, high energy consumption, and downtime.

Our technology's rapid adoption by major global OEMs and Tier One Suppliers in Europe, Asia, and North America validates the transformative potential of magnetic automation. As manufacturers increasingly seek to address labor scarcity while improving efficiency and establishing more dynamic supply chains, magnetic grippers offer a compelling alternative to traditional automation approaches.

Looking Forward: The Future of Magnetic Automation

Automate 2025 reinforced our position as innovators in the magnetic automation space. Attendees' enthusiastic response to our Variable Field Output technology, smart sensing capabilities, and plug-and-play electric solutions indicates strong market demand for more intelligent, adaptable automation tools.

The integration of advanced pole shoe customization capabilities further enhances our value proposition. With customizable pole shoes, the AR series can handle any geometry you throw at it. No need to find a flat spot in your next project. This flexibility, combined with our ongoing product development in electric actuation and smart sensing, positions Magswitch to meet the evolving demands of Industry 4.0 manufacturing environments.

As we reflect on our most successful Automate exhibition yet, we're energized by the possibilities ahead. The conversations, connections, and collaborations initiated at Booth #1035 will undoubtedly drive innovation and adoption of magnetic automation technology across diverse industrial sectors. The future looks magnetically bright for manufacturers seeking to transform their operations with more efficient, intelligent, and adaptable automation solutions.

The magnetic revolution in automation isn't coming—it's here, and Magswitch is leading the charge.