Repetitive manual handling is a major cause of musculoskeletal injuries throughout industry. Vacuum & air assisted lifting is employed in thousands of companies worldwide.
Palamatic are market leaders in providing lifting and handling solutions that solve lifting and handling problems for all manufacturing industries, reduce damage to your product, distribute labour effectively and meet Health and Safety Requirements.
Benefits of a Vacuum Tube Lifter
- Efficient use of labour Effortless repetitive lifting Minimal running costs
- Robust stainless steel construction
- Increased operator safety & performance Increased productivity
- Low maintenance
- Lift tubes available in 2500mm and 4000mm overall length
How do Vacuum Tube Lifters work
Health and Safety Solution
According to HSE figures, manual handling is responsible for more than a third of all injuries resulting in three or more days absence. More than half of all workdays lost to work-related health problems involve injured muscle, bone or connecting tissue, collectively known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). ”MSD is the greatest health and safety challenge for Europe”. Over 40 million EU workers are affected by MSD. These injuries (accidents not included) cost employers over €385 million or between 0.5% and 2% of the Gross National Product,” a significant burden on the EU economy”.*
In accordance with BS EN 14238:2004 Palamatic vacuum lifters operate with a minimum surface area (of the suction foot under vacuum) of 2 times the cross sectional area of the lifting tube.
A Palamatic Vacuum Tube Lifter uses a single power medium – vacuum, to grip and lift heavy or awkward loads. An electrical vacuum pump (or vacuum ejector pump) creates a vacuum level when a suction pad or gripping device is placed on an object load. The resulting low pressure makes the tube contract vertically and the object load is lifted. The operator controls the vacuum flow using a simple, finger touch operating valve, making the work physically easier and safer. Increasing the vacuum draws air out of the tube and the load is lifted. Reducing the vacuum allows air to enter the tube and the load is lowered. It really is that simple!
Safety of the lifting system is always our priority. The combination of the lifting and gripping functions requires no special interlocks or devices. A quick acting non-return valve and a suction force vs. lifting force safety factor of 2.5 times, prevent the load from being inadvertently dropped – even in the event of a mains power failure.
Vacuum tube lifters are the perfect suspended-load handling aid for applications where the load is positioned below the lifting assembly’s centre of gravity. Vacuum tube lifters are NOT suitable for off-set or cantilevered load handling processes e.g. loading shelving/ racking – please see our Manipulator and/or PillarLift™ range.
A typical system includes:
- Vacuum Pump/Blower Vacuum Relief Valve Dust Filter
- Vacuum Transfer Hose Vacuum Tube Lifter Control Housing Suction Feet Wide Gantry / Crane
- Variety of sizes, ratings and voltages available
- Protects vacuum pump from overload
- Various types available to protect vacuum pump in most industrial environments
- 51mm i/d, tough hosing
- Includes – 360o swivel, safety valve and main lift tube
- Variety of valve options and rigid and/or flexible extensions available variety of alternative sizes and seal types available
- Pillar or wall mounted jibs or overhead ‘H’ cranes available
By taking away the stresses and strains of everyday lifting and transporting of loads in the workplace, Palamatic’s engineered handling solutions have been able to help thousands of companies solve their manual handling problems Worldwide
For further information about our products please contact us.