Selecting the Right Vacuum Cup for Your Application

How Vacuum Cups Work for Material Handling

Vacuum cups (suction cups) are used across packaging, printing, and food & beverage operations on both manual and automated machinery. They can reliably handle bottles, plastics, sheet metal, pipes, heavy glass, bricks, and more.

A cup needs a vacuum source to grip—typically a rotary-vane pump or a vacuum ejector. By creating lower pressure inside the cup than outside, the cup seals against the surface and generates holding force. Cup geometry and material vary to match part weight, shape, and surface condition.

Choosing the Right Design

Most vacuum cups fall into two families: flat and bellows.

• Flat cups suit smooth, flat surfaces (e.g., corrugated boxes, glass sheets).
• Bellows cups have accordion-style folds that compensate for height variation and uneven surfaces—ideal for bottles and flexible packaging.

Vacuum Cup Holding Force

There’s no one-size-fits-all cup. Use this quick sizing approach to ensure adequate capacity:

Formula

Force (F) = Pressure (P) × Area (A)

• F = required holding force (add a safety factor for lift orientation)
• P = expected vacuum level (PSI)
• A = total effective sealing area of the cup(s) (in²)

Orientation Safety Factors

• Horizontal lift: multiply the part weight (lbs) by 2×
• Vertical lift: multiply the part weight (lbs) by 4×

Tip: For multiple cups, sum their effective areas. Always consider surface condition, leakage, acceleration, and add a comfortable safety margin.

Get the Cups You Need

We stock a wide range of sizes, styles, and materials for industrial and packaging applications. Browse our vacuum cups online, or call 1-800-229-0009 to match a cup to your application.