SCHUNK

Manufacturer information and published contact details

SCHUNK contact details

Head office

Bahnhofstr. 106-134
74348 Lauffen/Neckar
Germany

Telephone +49 7133 103-0

Email info@de.schunk.com

Website schunk.com

UK subsidiary (SCHUNK Intec Limited)

3 Drakes Mews, Crownhill
Milton Keynes MK8 0ER
United Kingdom

Telephone +44 1908 611127

Web schunk.com/gb/en/company/locations

Show SCHUNK headquarters on the map Open in Google Maps →

Contact details as published by SCHUNK SE & Co. KG, checked 2026-10-30. Specify Motion is not affiliated with SCHUNK SE & Co. KG.

SCHUNK product lines

Who SCHUNK is

SCHUNK SE & Co. KG is a German family company based in Lauffen am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg. It is best known for gripping technology and for toolholding and workholding, and it also makes a broad automation range of linear axes, linear motor axes and rotary modules. SCHUNK’s about page gives about 3,700 employees and lists five business areas: gripping technology, automation technology, toolholding, workholding and depaneling technology.

For OEM engineers building assembly and handling machines, SCHUNK’s value is a modular kit. Axes, rotary modules and grippers share mounting interfaces, so a pick-and-place unit can be assembled from catalogue parts with matching adapter plates and cabling.

History and ownership

SCHUNK traces its origins to 1945, when Friedrich Schunk bought a used lathe and began making spare parts for machines in a converted garage in Lauffen am Neckar. In 1964 NSU Motorenwerke commissioned the company to machine 3,000 clutch drums and flywheels a month for the NSU Prinz 4, and Heinz-Dieter Schunk joined the business that year.

In 1982 Heinz-Dieter Schunk saw robots fitted with grippers at a trade show, which led the company into gripping technology. A production site opened in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1992. In 1994 SCHUNK took over Hage GmbH in Mengen, adding lathe chucks.

SCHUNK remains family-run, now led by the third generation. Its legal notice names Kristina I. Schunk as CEO and chair of the management board and Henrik A. Schunk as chairman of the board of directors. The personally liable partner is SCHUNK Beteiligungs SE.

Automation portfolio

Linear motor axes

The LDN is a universal linear axis with an integrated linear motor, roller guidance and built-in measuring system. On the variant pages checked, it reaches 2,700 mm stroke, 4 m/s, 40 m/s² and 500 N peak force (205 N nominal), with ±0.01 mm repeatability and up to 25 kg horizontal payload. Encoder options include incremental 1 Vpp and absolute HIPERFACE or DRIVE-CLiQ, with SIL2/PLd certified systems. A pneumatic brake that engages when depressurised is optional for vertical axes.

The LDL and LDK cover longer and shorter strokes, the ELB is a short-stroke direct drive, and the SLD-Mini and SLD-Midi are compact direct axes.

Mechanical linear axes

The Beta universal axis comes with toothed belt or spindle drive. The Beta 110 spindle version checked gives 5,120 mm stroke, 1.25 m/s, 6,000 N driving force and ±0.03 mm repeatability. The Delta (flat), Gamma (belt or rack and pinion) and Alpha (spindle) cover other sizes and form factors.

Belt or spindle is the main choice here. A spindle gives higher thrust and stiffness, while a belt gives longer strokes and higher speeds. Our linear actuator sizing guide shows how to size for both.

Compact electric axis

The ELP is a linear direct drive with an integrated controller, operated through digital I/O. Ten extension and retraction speeds are set with two rotary switches. The ELP 050-H040 moves 3 kg horizontally over 40 mm on 24 V with ±0.01 mm repeatability, which makes it a direct replacement candidate for small pneumatic slides.

Rotary modules

The ERD is a torque-motor rotary module with an absolute encoder (HIPERFACE or EnDat 2.2) and pneumatic feed-throughs through the table. The variants checked give 0.4 to 1.2 Nm nominal and up to 3.6 Nm peak torque, 600 rpm and 0.01° repeatability. ERT and ERM are further electric rotary units, and SCHUNK also lists pneumatic swivel units such as the SRM and SRU-plus.

The ERD’s peak torque is a short-term reserve for acceleration and braking. Check the RMS torque over the indexing cycle against the nominal rating, as for any direct drive; our frameless motor sizing guide explains the method.

What to tell a supplier

When asking for a quote on a SCHUNK axis or an equivalent, give the moving mass and its offset from the carriage, the stroke, the move profile (distance, time and dwell), the mounting orientation and the required repeatability. With linear motor axes such as the LDN, also say whether the axis is vertical, because a direct drive needs a brake or counterbalance to hold position when power is off. For rotary modules, give the load inertia and indexing angle.

Industries served

SCHUNK’s automation range is built around assembly and handling, and its toolholding and workholding business ties it closely to machine tools and machine loading. Several axes are available with H1G food-compatible lubrication, though SCHUNK notes this does not fully meet EN 1672-2:2020.

Global and UK presence

SCHUNK’s UK subsidiary is SCHUNK Intec Limited, 3 Drakes Mews, Crownhill, Milton Keynes MK8 0ER, telephone +44 1908 611127. The UK website lists products with full variant data, CAD models and an online linear axis configurator. The head office in Lauffen/Neckar is +49 7133 103-0.

Specify Motion and SCHUNK

Specify Motion is independent of SCHUNK and is not affiliated with it. We can help source SCHUNK axes and modules or propose linear axes, actuators and rotary drives from our supply network that meet the same published stroke, force and accuracy figures, confirmed by an engineer. Use find a replacement or our linear actuators hub.

SCHUNK history: key dates

1. 1945Friedrich Schunk starts a small machining workshop in Lauffen am Neckar
2. 1964Volume machining contract from NSU; Heinz-Dieter Schunk joins the company
3. 1982Robots with grippers seen at a trade fair lead SCHUNK into gripping technology
4. 1992Production site opens in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
5. 1994Takes over Hage GmbH in Mengen and adds lathe chucks to the range

SCHUNK linear actuators

Linear stage

LDN linear motor axis

Universal linear axis with an integrated linear motor, roller guidance and integrated measuring system; variants checked reach 2,700 mm stroke, 4 m/s, 40 m/s² and 500 N peak force with ±0.01 mm repeatability.

Rodless screw actuator

Beta universal linear axis

Universal linear axis offered with toothed belt or spindle drive; the Beta 110 spindle version checked gives 5,120 mm stroke, 1.25 m/s, 6,000 N driving force and ±0.03 mm repeatability.

Integrated-motor actuator

ELP compact linear axis

Linear direct-drive axis with integrated controller and digital I/O, set up with rotary switches for ten speeds; the ELP 050-H040 moves 3 kg horizontally over 40 mm at ±0.01 mm repeatability on 24 V.

SCHUNK direct-drive and torque motors

Housed direct-drive motor

ERD rotary module

Torque-motor rotary module with absolute encoder and pneumatic feed-throughs; the variants checked give up to 3.6 Nm peak torque, 600 rpm and 0.01° repeatability.