Manufacturer of mechatronic gripper components, robot hands (EOAT), automation systems and 3D printing components for automation technology.
ASS Maschinenbau GmbH
Overath (DE) · Plymouth, Michigan (USA)New on Amplifa
About ASS Maschinenbau GmbH
ASS Maschinenbau GmbH was founded in 1983 and develops, designs and produces mechatronic gripper components, robot hands (EOAT), automation systems as well as 3D printing and lightweight construction components at its Overath site. The basis is the ASS robot hand modular system with more than 2,500 standardized mechatronic components, supplemented by over 8,000 special gripper parts; from these, grippers are built for workflows such as inserting, removing, assembling and quality inspection. Also offered are turn-key automation systems with programming and integration of robot systems, control cabinet construction, vision systems, needle gripper solutions for flexible materials as well as coatings (EP, PTFE, flock). In 3D printing, ASS produces using the SLS process from polyamide and, since 2022, using the CFR process from glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced Onyx, starting from lot size one. Customers come primarily from the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, e-mobility, the plastics injection molding industry, lightweight construction/fiber composites, aerospace as well as white goods and medical technology. Around 120 employees work at the certified climate-neutral site in Overath; for over 20 years, >ASS< End of arm Tooling Inc. in Plymouth, Michigan has been representing the company for the North American market.
- Site
- Overath
- Processes
- Robot hands (EOAT) / gripper construction (design, production, assembly), Automation systems (turn-key solutions, programming and integration of robot systems), 3D printing using selective laser sintering (SLS, in-house 'PA-Forming'), Fiber-reinforced 3D printing using the CFR process (Continuous Fiber Reinforcement), Coating of components (EP coating, PTFE, flock), Control cabinet construction and programming (switchgear and control systems, robot systems), Vision systems / quality control systems (system integration), Needle gripper handling for flexible materials (FRP/CFRP/GFRP, foams, textiles,
- Materials
- Polyamide, Onyx (carbon or glass fiber reinforced), Aluminum, Carbon (lightweight elements), CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic), GFRP (glass fiber-reinforced plastic), Natural fiber / bio-natural fibers, SMC (Sheet Mould Compound)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, Climate-neutral site (CO2 sequestration 122 t, PRIMAKLIMA label PK-DE-00744), ISO 9001:2015 (DEKRA), EU Machinery Directive (declaration of conformity/installer's declaration), ISO 14001, IATF 16949
- Founded
- 1983
- Employees
- around 120
- Industries
- Automotive and commercial vehicle industry, E-mobility, Plastics injection molding industry, Lightweight construction/fiber composites (CFRP, GFRP, SMC, natural fiber), Aerospace engineering, White goods (household appliances)
- 01
Design and conceptual engineering
- 02
3D printing (SLS/CFR) and production of gripper components
- 03
Coating (EP, PTFE, flock)
- 04
Control cabinet construction and programming
- 05
Assembly of robot hands and automation systems
- 06
Commissioning, maintenance and on-site optimization
Materials and Processes
Polyamide (SLS)
Lightweight components and complete robot hands with integrated pneumatics, produced using the laser sintering process ('PA-Forming').
Onyx (glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced)
Composite material for fiber-reinforced 3D printing using the CFR process with high strength at minimal weight.
Aluminum
Material for gripper parts and components that can be coated with EP, PTFE or flock as needed.
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP)
Flexible composite material for handling with needle grippers in lightweight series production.
Glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP)
Fiber composite material for handling solutions including overmolded parts and organosheets.
Sheet Mould Compound (SMC)
Adhesive fiber-matrix semi-finished product that is handled residue-free with anti-stick coated contact surfaces.
Natural and bio-natural fibers
Renewable materials that adhere in a heated state, for anti-stick coated needle gripper handling.
Foam and textiles
Bulky or thinnest flexible materials, handleable with needle grippers with penetration depths from zero to over 80 mm.
Carbon (lightweight elements)
Lightweight elements for hybrid solutions made of standard components and custom-made parts.
Locations
Overath
DEHeadquarters: development, design, production, sales
- Lot size
- Individual parts from quantity 1 to series production
- Materials
- Polyamide, Onyx, aluminum, CFRP, GFRP
- SLS 3D printers ('PA-Forming')
- 3D printers CFR process (Continuous Fiber Reinforcement, since 2022)
Plymouth, Michigan
USSubsidiary >ASS< End of arm Tooling Inc., sales North America
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robot hands (EOAT) / gripper construction (design, production, assembly)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Plastic, Aluminum, Onyx (carbon/glass fiber reinforced), Polyamide, Carbon, CFRP, GFRP, SMC |
| Automation systems (turn-key solutions, programming and integration of robot systems)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Plastic, CFRP, GFRP, Natural fiber, SMC |
| 3D printing using selective laser sintering (SLS, in-house 'PA-Forming')Additive | – | – | – | 1 piece | Polyamide |
| Fiber-reinforced 3D printing using the CFR process (Continuous Fiber Reinforcement)Additive | – | – | – | – | Onyx, Glass fiber, Continuous carbon fiber |
| Coating of components (EP coating, PTFE, flock)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum, Polyamide, Onyx, other solid materials |
| Control cabinet construction and programming (switchgear and control systems, robot systems)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vision systems / quality control systems (system integration)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Needle gripper handling for flexible materials (FRP/CFRP/GFRP, foams, textiles,Assembly | Penetration depths from zero to over 80 mm | – | – | – | CFRP, GFRP, Natural fiber, Carbon fabric, Foam, Textiles, Organosheets, SMC |
| Material tests / testing and field trials for handling solutionsTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design and conceptual engineering (robot hands, automation systems, custom designs)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly service (custom gripper parts and robot hands)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Solutions for testing equipment for battery or EOL testingTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLS 3D printer (laser sintering process, 'PA-Forming') | – | – | – | – | Overath |
| 3D printer for the CFR process (Continuous Fiber Reinforcement) | – | – | – | 2022 | Overath |
Additional services
Quality and Certification
The quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015 by DEKRA and has been effectively applied since 1996. All affected products have an installer's declaration or declaration of conformity under the EU Machinery Directive; vision systems serve as integrated quality control.
| Evidence | Overath |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 (DEKRA) | |
| EU Machinery Directive (declaration of conformity/installer's declaration) | |
| ISO 14001 | |
| IATF 16949 |
History
- 1983
Founding of ASS Maschinenbau GmbH
- 1996
Introduction and effective application of a quality management system
- 2002
ASS becomes part of INDUS Holding AG
- 2003
Representation in the American market through >ASS< End of arm Tooling Inc., Plymouth, Michigan (for over 20 years)
- 2021
Climate-neutral site through CO2 sequestration via PRIMAKLIMA
- 2022
Expansion of the 3D printing portfolio with the CFR process using Onyx material (glass/carbon fiber reinforcement)
- 2027
New management as of July 1, 2027 (announced)