Gripsters from brands from Germany

German brands are represented in the database by five listings from two manufacturers: Schwerkraft and Werkmax. All five are cordless vacuum lifters, often called gripsters in the trades, with a rubber seal. With a median price of €90, they sit between the budget Chinese brands and the more expensive suppliers from Israel, Italy and the USA.

Brands and models

Schwerkraft offers an oval cordless vacuum gripper for tiles with 300 kg holding force and an LED indicator, which appears in three listings at €60, €90 and €110. Werkmax is represented by the Plattini Digital, a round cordless vacuum gripper with 120 kg, a digital display and a built-in battery. It is available on its own for €59 and in a case for €179.

Prices and load capacity

Prices range from €59 to €179, with a median of €90 and an average of €100. On load capacity, German brands reach the highest median of all countries of origin at 300 kg, with a range from 120 to 300 kg. For every €100 of purchase price you get a median of 273 kg of load capacity, and only brands from China are higher, at 337 kg. The cheapest Schwerkraft listing offers 300 kg for €60. How such figures compare across the whole field is shown in Most load capacity per euro.

A high rated load capacity is no substitute for care when you place the lifter: the surface must be clean and flat, and large-format panels call for two pairs of hands or two vacuum grippers.

Features

All models are electric. The three Schwerkraft listings show the vacuum via LEDs, the two Werkmax listings on a digital display. The difference between the two display types is explained in Digital display vs. LED. The two Werkmax units have a built-in battery, and none of the listings states a removable battery or USB-C charging. An automatic re-pump is fitted to 40% of the models. Vibration function and foam seal do not appear, and the seal is rubber throughout. Of the suction plates, 60% are oval and 40% round.

Where the units are made

None of the five listings names a country of manufacture, and none states China. A German brand does not automatically mean manufacturing in Germany: brands from Israel, Spain and the USA also have their tools built wholly or partly in China. If the country of manufacture matters to you, check the rating plate, packaging and instructions. Direct comparisons are available in China vs. Germany and Germany vs. Spain.