Gripsters from brands from USA

Ten vacuum lifters in the database, often called gripsters in the trades, come from brands headquartered in the USA, spread across seven brand names. The range mixes classic hand-pump vacuum grippers with cordless units and costs a median of €122, almost twice as much as from Chinese brands. Manufacturing presents a mixed picture.

Brands and models

Woods Powr-Grip is represented by three hand-pump gripsters at €110 to €168, including one model for glass. A further listing runs under the abbreviation WPG. Abaco offers two gripsters at €258 each: an oval cordless vacuum gripper with removable battery and digital display, and a rectangular panel lifter with pressure gauge. These are joined by one model each from Kobalt (cordless 8-inch vacuum lifter with 150 kg for €86), QEP (electric, 8-inch, 120 kg, €55), Master Depot (electric, 8-inch, with two batteries, €31) and Marshalltown.

Prices and load capacity

Prices range from €31 to €258, with a median of €122 and an average of €133. Load capacity lies between 57 and 150 kg, with a median of 120 kg. The lowest figure of 57 kg is stated for two hand-pump models from Woods Powr-Grip, the highest for the Kobalt at 150 kg. For every €100 of purchase price you get a median of 148 kg of load capacity, less than half the Chinese figure of 337 kg.

Features

Of all models, 60% are electric and 40% work with a hand pump. That is a markedly higher share of manual units than among Chinese brands, at 6%. Of the six electric models, two charge via USB-C, two have a removable battery and one has a built-in battery. Half of the electric units have an automatic re-pump. A digital display is found on 30% of all models, and the median battery capacity is 2,400 mAh.

Round suction pads dominate the design at 80%, and the seal is rubber on 90% of models. Vibration function, foam seals and twin packs do not appear among US brands. When a hand pump is the better choice over a cordless unit is explained in Electric vs. manual, and for glass panes the guide Transporting glass panes safely helps.

Where the units are made

Four of the ten listings name the USA as the country of manufacture, three name China and three give no information. Alongside Italy, the USA is therefore the only origin for which the data shows manufacturing in the home country. If US manufacturing matters to you, check the information on the rating plate or packaging. Direct comparisons are available in China vs. USA and USA vs. Germany.