What AGI Automation Components does

AGI Automation Components, legally American Grippers Inc., is a U.S.-based manufacturer of pneumatic automation components headquartered in Trumbull, Connecticut. Founded in 1964 by Millo Bertini Sr. as a small job shop machine operation, the company has evolved into a specialized supplier of end-of-arm tooling components including pneumatic grippers (parallel, angular, 2-jaw, 3-jaw, and o-ring configurations), linear actuators (base slides, rodless slides, thrusters, mini slides), pneumatic rotary actuators, feed escapements, robotic tool changers, and load limiters/collision sensors. Its product engineering emphasizes mechanical reliability and interchangeability: components such as T-slot bearing parallel grippers, toggle self-locking angular grippers, rack-and-pinion rotary actuators with output flange hard stops, and fail-safe pneumatic tool changers are designed to be drop-in replacements for discontinued competitor parts without re-engineering. The portfolio spans the AGW, AGP, AGLP, AGA, AGR, AGS, AGSL, AGMS, AGT, AGC, AGE, and AGO sub-brand series, all offered in both imperial and metric versions.

The company is privately held, family-owned and currently led by President Millo Bertini (son of the founder). It maintains its own U.S. manufacturing operation, stocks finished components rather than operating on a JIT basis, and ships most orders same-day when placed before 12 noon EST. AGI sells direct to industrial manufacturers through its website (quote request system), phone, and email; no third-party distributor or reseller network is mentioned. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with a project- or specification-driven sale of engineered components. Its customer base consists of industrial enterprises using the components in assembly, pick-and-place, packaging, loading/unloading, part transfer, and o-ring installation applications, with a secondary use in university robotics research. The founder's 30+ U.S. patents and 60-year operating history constitute the principal intangible assets backing the brand.

Public financial data is absent: the company discloses no revenue, no headcount beyond the 11-50 employee band, no funding history, and no institutional investors. Marketing relies on its website catalog, downloadable CAD/PDF resources, an automation tips blog, and minor university sponsorships (WSU RoboSub, Clemson capstone). Strategic positioning is defensive and niche: compete on availability, interchangeability, and Made-in-USA reliability rather than scale, technology differentiation, or AI-driven features.

Name

AGI Automation Components

Legal name

American Grippers Inc.

Website

https://agi-automation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AGI Automation Components (American Grippers Inc.) is a U.S.-based manufacturer of pneumatic automation components, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Trumbull, Connecticut, serving industrial manufacturers with grippers, rotary actuators, linear slides, tool changers, and feed escapements sold direct via quote.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Components

NAICS

Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK)

Keywords

• Pneumatic automation components
• Industrial grippers
• Robotic end-of-arm tooling
• Pneumatic rotary actuators
• Linear motion slides

Headquarters

HQ city

Trumbull

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pneumatic Automation Components Sales: Direct sales of pneumatic automation components including grippers, rotary actuators, linear slides, tool changers, and related accessories. Products sold as individual units with standard configurations and customization options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AGI Automation Components (American Grippers Inc.) designs, manufactures, and sells pneumatic automation components for industrial assembly lines. The product line includes pneumatic grippers (parallel and angular), rotary actuators, linear slides/actuators, robotic tool changers, feed escapements, load limiters, and o-ring assembly grippers. Products are available in imperial and metric versions and are designed as drop-in replacements for many competitor components without requiring re-engineering.

Product overview

AGI Automation Components (American Grippers Inc.) is a manufacturer of pneumatic automation equipment founded in 1964, headquartered in Trumbull, CT. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation components including pneumatic grippers (parallel, angular, single jaw, 2-jaw, and 3-jaw configurations), linear actuators (base slides, rodless slides, thrusters, and miniature slides), pneumatic rotary actuators, feed escapements, robotic tool changers, load limiters/collision sensors, and o-ring assembly machines. All products are available in imperial and metric versions for global market compatibility. The product line spans multiple series: AGW (wide body grippers), AGP (wedge grippers), AGLP (T-slot bearing grippers), AGA (angular grippers), AGR (rotary actuators), AGS (base slides), AGSL (rodless actuators), AGMS (mini slides), AGT (thrusters), AGC (tool changers), AGE (feed escapements), and AGO (load limiters). The company emphasizes Made in USA manufacturing, in-stock availability, and products designed to be drop-in replacements for discontinued competitor parts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AGI: Primary brand name for automation components including pneumatic grippers, rotary actuators, linear slides, and related automation equipment.

Products and services

• Pneumatic Grippers Pneumatic grippers for robotic and automated assembly applications including parallel, angular, single jaw, 2-jaw, and 3-jaw configurations. Used for part handling, pick and place, and assembly operations in industrial manufacturing.
• Linear Actuators Pneumatic linear actuator slides providing smooth linear motion for automated machinery. Includes base slides, rodless slides, thrusters, and miniature slides for various stroke and payload requirements in industrial automation.
• Pneumatic Rotary Actuators Rack and pinion rotary actuators with output flange stop design for precision rotary positioning. Available in multiple bore sizes with torque output ranging from 7 in-lbs to 310 in-lbs at 100 PSI for industrial assembly automation.
• Feed Escapements Pneumatic feed escapements for singulating and releasing individual parts from hoppers, conveyors, vibratory feeder bowls, tracks, and magazines in automated production lines.
• Pre-Assembled Gripper/Rotary Units Multi-motion actuators combining gripper and rotary functions for compact automation solutions in industrial assembly applications.
• Robotic Tool Changers Pneumatic robotic tool changers enabling automatic switching of end-effectors. Feature fail-safe locking mechanisms and support for electrical contacts and pneumatic ports. Available in seven sizes from 1 inch to 10 inches diameter with load capacities up to 6000 in-lbs.
• Load Limiters and Collision Sensors Robotic load limiters and collision sensors preventing damage to end-of-arm tooling and peripherals. Variable trip point designs for protecting robotic equipment from overload conditions.
• O-Ring Assembly Grippers Pneumatic o-ring grippers for automated seal installation. AGP-6-OR (6-jaw) and AGP-8-OR (8-jaw) models for placing o-rings from 3 to 12 inch I.D. Feature independent spreading and ejector movements for reduced ring deformation during installation.

Quantifiable outcome

• AGP-250 operated 24/7 for 4+ years without needing maintenance attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Washington State University (WSU) RoboSub TeamminorOthers · 1 January 2013AGI Automation Components donated hardware and time to support WSU students participating in the International RoboSub Competition. AGI provided pneumatic actuators and hardware for automated manipulation of objects enabling the AUV to grip, rotate, pick and place objects, drop markers, and fire torpedoes. NAVSEA also provided $20,000 and mentorship to the project.
• Clemson UniversityminorOthers · 1 January 2013AGI provided equipment to support a Capstone design project performed by students at Clemson University. Students designed an ergonomic O-ring assembly to reduce worker repetitive strain injury. The project used AGI's AGP-8-OR O-ring seal assembly gripper to demonstrate automated and hand-assist bench-top assembly modes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tolomatic: Tolomatic manufactures pneumatic and electric linear actuators, rodless cylinders, and slides for industrial automation. Its linear actuator families compete with AGI's AGS, AGSL, and AGMS slide product lines in the same use cases.
• Camozzi: Camozzi is an Italian manufacturer of pneumatic components including grippers, cylinders, and actuators serving industrial automation customers worldwide. Its product families overlap with AGI's parallel grippers, rotary actuators, and linear slides.
• Bimba Manufacturing: Bimba Manufacturing produces pneumatic actuators, rotary actuators, grippers, and pneumatic accessories for industrial automation, positioning it as a US-based specialty competitor with overlap on AGI's actuator and gripper catalogs.
• Destaco: Destaco (a subsidiary of Stabilus) specializes in grippers, linear slides, and robotic tool changers with a focus on drop-in replacement and industrial clamps. Its catalog overlaps almost line-for-line with AGI's gripper, actuator, and tool changer families, making it the closest US-based specialty competitor.
• Zimmer Group: Zimmer Group is a German manufacturer specializing in grippers, linear components, and robotic end-of-arm tooling. AGI's parallel and angular gripper families overlap with Zimmer's product offering for industrial and collaborative robot integration.

Broad incumbents

• Festo: Festo is a major German pneumatics and automation manufacturer with parallel and angular grippers, rotary actuators, and linear slides that overlap directly with AGI's core catalog across the same industrial manufacturing customer base.
• Schunk: Schunk is a leading German manufacturer of gripping systems and clamping technology, including parallel and angular grippers, rotary modules, and tool changers for robotics and automation. AGI competes directly with Schunk on heavy-duty gripper and tool changer opportunities.
• Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin's Industrial Motion division produces pneumatic cylinders, rotary actuators, grippers, and air preparation components. Its broad pneumatics portfolio competes with AGI in industrial assembly and material handling applications.
• SMC Corporation: SMC is the world's largest pneumatic components manufacturer, offering grippers, actuators, valves, and air preparation equipment. It is the dominant incumbent whose discontinued SKUs AGI specifically targets with drop-in replacement products.
• IMI Norgren: IMI Norgren (part of IMI Precision Engineering) manufactures pneumatic actuators, grippers, and motion control products for industrial automation. Its US presence targets similar customers as AGI on factory floors and OEM machinery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 AGI Automation Components