FORMHAND Automation

Name

FORMHAND Automation

Legal name

FORMHAND Automation GmbH

Website

https://formhand.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Robotics and Gripping Systems

NAICS

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHABAJ

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Material Handling & Logistics Equipment

SECONDARYIMAHABAI

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Material Handling & Logistics Equipment

Keywords

• Flexible gripping technology
• Industrial robotic grippers
• Vacuum gripping modules
• Automation handling solutions
• Modular end effectors

Headquarters

HQ city

Braunschweig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Gripping Modules and Periphery: Sale of FORMHAND modules (FH-R4, FH-R8, FH-R12, FH-R15, FH-Q5, FH-E3020) and supporting components including suction modules (S and M variants) and hose modules (2m-25m lengths).
2. Testing and Validation Services: Tiered testing services including free initial consultation, free hand trials (up to 30 minutes), Test Kit rental (from €570), feasibility studies (from €1,300), and on-site field trials with engineering support.
3. Engineering Services: Custom engineering services for special dimensions, material combinations (granulate and outer skin optimization), and extended functionalities including interface integration.
4. Spare Parts and Accessories: Replacement parts including cushion skins, connection carriers, sensor technology, and seal foam rings available through after-sales service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FORMHAND Automation develops, manufactures, and sells intelligent flexible gripping modules that combine granulate-filled cushions with electrically generated vacuum to grip components with widely varying geometries. Its portfolio spans six gripping modules (FH-R4, FH-R8, FH-R12, FH-R15, FH-Q5, FH-E3020) with capacities from 1 kg to 25 kg (up to 85 kg with the Saugmodul M), complemented by electric suction modules, hose modules, and engineering, testing, and after-sales services.

Product overview

FORMHAND Automation offers a modular flexible gripping technology system combining universal granulate-filled gripping pads with electrically generated airflow. The product portfolio centers on six core gripping modules (FH-R4, FH-R8, FH-R12, FH-R15, FH-Q5, FH-E3020) ranging from 40mm to 300x200mm in size, complemented by two suction modules (S and M) and a hose module for system integration. The modules adapt to virtually any surface geometry, enabling handling of different components with a single gripper. The system operates without compressed air using electric suction modules, and supports applications in robotics, clamping, and tensioning across automotive, plastics, logistics, and manufacturing industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FH-R4 Gripping Module The smallest FORMHAND gripping module with a 40 mm round gripping pad, designed for small, complex-shaped components and integration into collaborative robot applications; lifts up to 1 kg dynamically.
• FH-R8 Gripping Module Cobot-professional gripping module with an 80 mm round pad, ideal for collaborative robot applications and intralogistics; lifts up to 2 kg dynamically.
• FH-R12 Gripping Module Smallest module in the Type M series with a 120 mm round pad, designed to handle components ranging from roof tiles to fenders; lifts up to 5 kg dynamically.
• FH-R15 Gripping Module All-rounder gripping module with a 150 mm round pad and 65 mm molding depth, suitable for components ranging from roof tiles to fenders; lifts up to 8 kg dynamically.
• FH-Q5 Gripping Module Square gripping module specifically designed for compressed-air applications, featuring a 50x50 mm pad and 30 mm molding depth; lifts up to 2 kg.
• FH-E3020 Gripping Module Largest and strongest FORMHAND module with a 300x200 mm rectangular gripping pad and 150 mm molding depth, providing up to 250 N of gripping force; lifts up to 25 kg dynamically and is also suitable as a stationary clamping element.
• Saugmodul S Suction Module Compact electric suction module for handling light components up to 8 kg, with a 230 V connection for simple integration; dimensions 307x598x506 mm and weight 32 kg.
• Saugmodul M Suction Module High-performance electric suction module for components up to 85 kg, with a 400 VAC / 5.6 kW connection and compact 742x655x628 mm dimensions; fully wired and ready to use.
• FH-Schlauchmodul Hose Module Specially developed hose module for easy integration of all FORMHAND modules, available in 2 m, 6 m, 12.5 m, and 25 m lengths with a 32 mm inner diameter and 80 mm bending radius.
• Test & Innovate Services Testing and validation services for prospective customers, ranging from free initial consultations and 30-minute hand trials to Test Kit rental (from €570), feasibility studies (from €1,300), and on-site field trials with FORMHAND engineers.
• Engineering Services Custom engineering services for special dimensions, material combinations (granulate and outer skin optimization), and extended functionalities including interface integration.
• After-Sales Services Customer support and technical assistance combined with spare parts and accessories (cushion skins, connection carriers, sensor technology, seal foam rings) and product documentation including datasheets and information sheets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Position and repeatability accuracy of ±0.3 mm achievable
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• FipaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2022Strategic partnership announced in May 2022 with Fipa, a specialist in gripping and clamping technology, for complementary product offerings and market expansion.
• RobotUnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Selected as one of 20 best European robotics startups for the pan-European robotics acceleration program, providing exposure and ecosystem support.
• PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Research partnership with Germany's national metrology institute, receiving €10,000 research grant for joint research project.

Scale indicators4 records

Broad incumbents

• Festo: Festo is a broad automation components incumbent offering pneumatic and electric gripping/handling systems alongside a much larger portfolio; its compressed-air vacuum grippers compete directly with FORMHAND's electric vacuum approach in European automotive and industrial automation.
• Destaco: Destaco (Apex Tool Group) provides material handling, gripping, and clamping products with broad automotive and industrial automation exposure, positioning it as a broader incumbent competitor to FORMHAND's specialized gripper offering.
• SMC Corporation: SMC is a global pneumatic and electric automation components incumbent with a substantial vacuum gripper portfolio; it competes with FORMHAND primarily in compressed-air-based gripping but increasingly in electric vacuum solutions.

Direct peers

• Schunk: Schunk is a leading German manufacturer of gripping systems and end-effectors for robotics, with deep automotive OEM relationships that overlap heavily with FORMHAND's target customer base in body shop and assembly automation.
• Fipa: Fipa is a specialist in gripping and clamping technology and a current FORMHAND strategic partner; its broader gripper portfolio overlaps directly with FORMHAND modules in industrial handling applications.
• Piab: Piab is a direct competitor in vacuum-based gripping and material handling end-effectors, serving the same automotive, logistics, and packaging customers as FORMHAND with comparable electric vacuum technology.
• OnRobot: OnRobot provides flexible electric grippers for collaborative and industrial robots, including soft/flexible gripping products, competing head-to-head with FORMHAND's universal cushion grippers in cobot and SME automation deployments.
• Zimmer Group: Zimmer Group manufactures gripping, clamping, and handling technology for industrial automation, with a comparable focus on flexible end-effectors for automotive and machine-building customers across Europe.
• Schmalz: Schmalz is a global leader in vacuum automation and material handling components, with a broad gripping and vacuum handling portfolio that directly competes with FORMHAND's electric vacuum modules in automotive and logistics end-effectors.

Emerging players

• Soft Robotics Inc. Soft Robotics develops compliant, soft-material grippers that adapt to varying object geometries — the closest technological analog to FORMHAND's granular-cushion approach, primarily serving food, e-commerce, and consumer goods automation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTube14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/channel/UCwq6AxbO9_84Nsr6GassnsA
• LinkedInde.f54db463750940e0e7f7630fe327845e-gdprlock/company/formhand-automation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FORMHAND Automation