Designed for food, consumer goods, and light manufacturing applications, the piSOFTGRIP 40-3 enables automation of products that are traditionally difficult to handle with rigid grippers, such as fresh produce, protein, baked goods, confectionery, and fragile components. Built in one piece with soft silicone and actuated by vacuum, the gripper mimics the gentle but secure grasp of a human hand.

Canton, MA - June 10, 2026 - Piab, a global leader in smart vacuum solutions, today announces the launch of the piSOFTGRIP® 40-3, a new three-finger soft gripper that extends the company's popular piSOFTGRIP® family with larger, stronger, and more versatile handling capabilities for delicate and irregularly shaped items.

Designed for food, consumer goods, and light manufacturing applications, the piSOFTGRIP 40-3 enables automation of products that are traditionally difficult to handle with rigid grippers, such as fresh produce, protein, baked goods, confectionery, and fragile components. Built in one piece with soft silicone and actuated by vacuum, the gripper mimics the gentle but secure grasp of a human hand.

Gentle Handling, Strong Performance
With its three-finger design and increased gripping envelope, the piSOFTGRIP 40-3 can safely and reliably pick a broader range of products, including larger diameters, irregular geometries, and deformable items. The soft, food-grade silicone material distributes pressure evenly around the product surface, minimizing the risk of bruising, marking, or damage.

Ideal for Food and Hygienic Applications
The piSOFTGRIP 40-3 is developed to meet stringent requirements in primary and secondary food handling and other hygiene-sensitive environments. Its design features:
• Soft, FDA/EC-compliant food-grade silicone for direct food contact
• A one-piece construction with smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces
• Compatibility with common wash-down and cleaning regimes depending on installation
This makes the gripper an attractive solution for tasks such as picking fruit and vegetables, bakery items, ready meals, confectionery, and packaged foods, as well as hygienic handling in cosmetics and pharmaceutical environments.

Plug-and-Play Integration with Robots and Automation Lines
To streamline deployment, the piSOFTGRIP 40-3 is engineered for easy integration with a wide range of industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), and dedicated pick-and-place systems. Key benefits include:
• Simple control via vacuum - no complex valves or extra actuators
• Compatibility with Piab's comprehensive vacuum ecosystem, including pumps, ejectors, and accessories
• Lightweight construction that supports use on smaller, low-payload robots
• Configurable mounting options for rapid adaptation to existing tooling and end-of-arm setups

About Piab
Piab is a global leader in smart vacuum solutions for automated manufacturing and logistics. Serving customers in the food, packaging, automotive, electronics, logistics, and general industrial sectors, Piab helps companies improve productivity, quality, and sustainability through innovative gripping, lifting, and vacuum technology. With a worldwide presence and a strong focus on research and development, Piab continually expands the boundaries of what is possible in automated handling.