Gripping device comprising - a base body; - at least two gripping elements (1, 2); - at least one cylinder-piston unit; - two directional valves (200, 201) upstream from the cylinder-piston unit and each comprising a main infeed to pneumatically control the cylinder-piston unit; - at least two sliders (100, 101) or swivel arms that support the gripping elements, wherein the sliders (100, 101) or swivel arms are mounted and guided within the base body between an open and closed position and are driven by means of at least one cylinder-piston unit; - at least one sensor (155, 180), which is arranged at least in or on the base body or in the module housing and detects at least one physical characteristic of the sliders (100, 101) and/or the cylinder-piston unit; - an electrically controllable switch module accommodated on the base body in a module housing, - wherein the module housing comprises at least one pressure medium connection and at least one electrical connection, which comprises both load as well as control lines, - wherein the at least two directional valves (200, 201) and at least one electronic computer and memory module are arranged in the switch module for the implementation of external and internal control signals and their evaluation, wherein the internal control signals originate from the at least one sensor (155, 180); characterized by a proportional controller upstream to the directional valves (200, 201) each comprising a main infeed, which proportional controller comprises a pressure regulator, an electrical signal-generating pressure sensor, an amplifier and at least two electrically controllable directional valves (251, 252). - a base body; - at least two gripping elements (1, 2); - at least one cylinder-piston unit; - two directional valves (200, 201) upstream from the cylinder-piston unit and each comprising a main infeed to pneumatically control the cylinder-piston unit; - at least two sliders (100, 101) or swivel arms that support the gripping elements, wherein the sliders (100, 101) or swivel arms are mounted and guided within the base body between an open and closed position and are driven by means of at least one cylinder-piston unit; - at least one sensor (155, 180), which is arranged at least in or on the base body or in the module housing and detects at least one physical characteristic of the sliders (100, 101) and/or the cylinder-piston unit; - an electrically controllable switch module accommodated on the base body in a module housing, - wherein the module housing comprises at least one pressure medium connection and at least one electrical connection, which comprises both load as well as control lines, - wherein the at least two directional valves (200, 201) and at least one electronic computer and memory module are arranged in the switch module for the implementation of external and internal control signals and their evaluation, wherein the internal control signals originate from the at least one sensor (155, 180); - wherein the module housing comprises at least one pressure medium connection and at least one electrical connection, which comprises both load as well as control lines, - wherein the at least two directional valves (200, 201) and at least one electronic computer and memory module are arranged in the switch module for the implementation of external and internal control signals and their evaluation, wherein the internal control signals originate from the at least one sensor (155, 180);