No, the "hot stuff" is not a tuned-up racing car or motorcycle, but a brand-new range of special suction pads from the vacuum specialist J. Schmalz GmbH in D-72293 Glatten.

These new high-temperature suction pads SPL-HT have been developed for the automatic handling of hot to extremely hot workpieces such as those in the glass industry (during manufacture of float glass or in the tempering process) or in the hot forming of metal parts. They withstand temperatures of up to 600 °C for long periods without loss of their function.

The body of the suction pad is made of stainless steel and the sealing ring – which serves to grip and hold the workpiece – is made of a special textile material. In the case of wear or damage, this sealing ring can be replaced quickly and easily, which minimises the idle times needed for replacement. The high-temperature suction pads SPL-HT are suitable for handling flat workpieces with smooth surfaces. They are currently available in the sizes 35, 60, 90 and 140 mm (diameter of the sealing ring), permitting suction forces in the range 52 to 820 N.

With these high-temperature suction pads, Schmalz extend their wide range of suction pads upwards, supplementing the high-temperature suction pads made of the material HT1, which have been available for several years.