Robot Gripper Handles 30% More Items With Soft Touch Tech

Robots are getting better at one of the hardest tasks in automation: picking up things without crushing them or dropping them.

Locus Robotics just boosted its warehouse robots by adding NeuraGrasp, a soft gripping technology that combines suction with gentle pinching. The upgrade helps their Array robot handle 30% to 40% more items than traditional suction cups alone, including tricky objects like porous plastic bags and cloth items that used to slip right through robotic fingers.

The timing couldn't have been better. Locus had already deployed robots that completed over 6 billion picks in warehouses worldwide, but they wanted to handle more variety. Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Nexera Robotics had spent years perfecting its soft gripper through six different design versions and was ready to scale up.

When the companies met at a trade show in 2025, they realized they were perfect partners. Locus needed better gripping technology, and Nexera needed a path to reach thousands of warehouses.

"We want to see this technology deployed at scale," said Roy Belak, senior vice president of robotic grasping at Locus and former CEO of Nexera. "That's something that excites me as somebody who's an innovator."

The integration happened faster than expected because Locus had already built its Array robot with the right power and air supplies. The teams worked quickly to slip Nexera's technology into the development process before it was too late.

The Bright Side

Traditional warehouse robots rely heavily on suction cups, which work great 60% to 70% of the time. But they struggle with bags, fabrics, and small containers that don't seal well.

NeuraGrasp bridges that gap by combining suction with soft pinching motions that adapt to different shapes and materials. The soft grippers can squeeze gently around items without damaging products, avoiding costly mistakes like crushed goods or failed picks.

Locus is prioritizing quality over speed, focusing on reliability that warehouse managers can count on day after day. The company wants to eliminate double picks, dropped items, and product damage, which quietly drain profits even when robots move fast.

Customers are already lining up to test the upgraded Array robots. Belak expects the next public demonstration will showcase the new gripping technology in action.

The robots are learning to handle the physical world with something closer to a human touch, one gentle grip at a time.