Today, robots are capable of handling much larger and heavier payloads than in the past. Those applications require robust grippers that are up to the task.

Collaborative robots have been grabbing all the headlines recently, but a new breed of brawny, six-axis robots has slowly been gaining favor with some manufacturers. Vendors such as ABB, Fanuc, Kawasaki, Kuka and Motoman now offer machines that can routinely handle heavy parts or bulky subassemblies.