In a remarkable achievement, Schunk, a leading German engineering firm, has been awarded the prestigious HERMES AWARD at this year’s Hannover Messe, the world’s foremost trade fair for industrial technology. The award was presented during the ceremonial opening on April 21, 2024, by Germany’s Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, with high-profile guests including Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in attendance.
The HERMES AWARD, renowned for celebrating significant technological innovations that demonstrate market readiness along with benefits to industry, society, and the environment, recognized Schunk for their innovative 2D Grasping Kit. This cutting-edge project features a combination of AI software, a specially designed camera and lens, an industrial PC, and an application-specific gripper. Schunk’s technology excels in enabling the automated picking and handling of components under varied conditions, such as changes in lighting, color, or background.
Professor Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and chair of the jury, praised the project: “Schunk’s 2D Grasping Kit represents a significant advance in production and logistics automation, crucial for addressing the economic and social challenges ahead. Its robustness and user-friendly interface were key factors in our decision. This award underscores Schunk’s role as a leader in driving forward the automation industry with sustainable innovations.”
Schunk’s achievement showcases their commitment to innovation and excellence in engineering. The company was selected from among tough competitors, including industry giants Bosch Rexroth and Siemens, underscoring the intense competition and the high standards of the award.
The 2D Grasping Kit allows for the efficient automation of repetitive sorting or logistics tasks with minimal setup effort, thanks to its AI-driven component variant modeling and the ability to operate with smaller sets of training data, drastically reducing recognition learning times.
The HERMES AWARD is an annual feature of the HANNOVER MESSE, sponsored by the Land Niedersachsen and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and it continues to highlight groundbreaking technological innovations that have a meaningful impact on the future of manufacturing and beyond.