The perfect match for crystal-clear inspection

As the world market leader in inspection systems for pharmaceutical glass packaging, Vimec knows better than anyone how important precision is. But even for the most advanced machines, like Vimec's latest “Titan”, a reliable gripper is essential. This is where the collaboration with Zimmer Group comes in. Zimmer Group's intelligent gripper technology enables Vimec to deliver the accuracy and flexibility that customers worldwide demand.

What makes the Titan so special?

Titan is a flexible offline inspection system designed specifically for measuring pharmaceutical glass containers, such as vials, syringes and cartridges. While conventional inspection systems are often limited in terms of accuracy, Titan offers up to 10 times greater precision. This enables pharmaceutical companies to monitor their production without time-consuming conversions or adjustments. What's more, the Titan can effortlessly switch between different product formats. And all without sacrificing speed or quality.

An additional challenge when inspecting glass packaging is the use of a camera system. Glass presents unique visual challenges, but thanks to Vimec's intelligent software, these obstacles can be easily overcome. The result is a system that guarantees the same high level of accuracy in clean rooms, laboratories and measuring rooms.

The gripper from Zimmer Group: the key to flexibility and precision

But even the most advanced machine stands or falls with a good handling system. For the Titan, Vimec was looking for a gripper that could pick up a wide range of glass products safely and accurately, without risk of breakage or damage. Initially, Vimec considered developing its own gripper, as it was assumed that there was no existing solution that could meet the stringent requirements.

The Titan had to be flexible enough to handle all the different product sizes without changeover. This required a sophisticated handling concept, with the key component being a gripper that could pick the products “blindly” from the tray. Without knowing exactly which product it is. Since the products are made of glass, it was important that the gripper did not apply too much force to avoid breakage. At the same time, the product had to be held firmly enough to allow accurate measurements.

“What stood out to us immediately when we started working with Zimmer Group was their ability to really think with us. The combination of technical expertise and willingness to provide us with a test gripper made a huge difference in the development of the Titan,” says Koen Deuss of Vimec.

That's where Zimmer Group came in. With the Softgrip technology and the gripper's long reach, the Titan was able to switch between different product sizes with ease, without the need for retooling. The gripper's soft touch ensures that the glass containers are clamped firmly but not too hard – a crucial factor for Vimec's fragile products.

In addition, IO-Link technology enabled seamless integration of the gripper into Vimec's system. With only a single thin cable for power and signal, installation was quick and easy, allowing Vimec to continue focusing on delivering the highest quality standards.

A successful partnership

The collaboration between Vimec and Zimmer Group has resulted in a machine that not only stands out for its precision, but also for its flexibility and reliability.

“We knew that developing our own gripper would be quite a challenge, but thanks to the support of Zimmer Group Benelux, we were able to find an existing solution that perfectly met our requirements,” says Koen Deuss of Vimec. “We couldn't have achieved the flexibility and accuracy that the Titan now offers without Zimmer Group.”