The traditional methods of handling materials involved the use of slings, chains, and hooks. However, these methods are risky because of the increased chances of the item shifting or loose. What’s more is that they are usually free-swinging, making it even harder to control the item being moved. Construction companies often deal with handling large materials. Whether it’s on roads and bridges, water and sewer, or other landscaping projects, these companies will always have to move huge and heavy items from one place to the other. That is why they must constantly ensure that safety is guaranteed. Efficiency is also important when handling these heavy items.
How then can these companies move items efficiently while guaranteeing the safety of the materials and involved personnel? There are so many ways these companies achieve this goal, but the trendy method is using powered vacuum lifters. With these devices, companies can now perform their jobs faster while ensuring the safety of all their staff members.
As earlier mentioned, the traditional materials that we used a couple of years ago include slings, chains, and hooks. But when these materials are used, there’s a higher risk of the load coming loose or shifting. When using these traditional options, the presence of personnel will always be needed to keep the heavy item from swinging back and forth. In some cases, the personnel may need to climb to the top of the materials. These factors only increase the chances of injury and other potential hazards.
Safer Lifting with Powered Vacuum Lifters
The need for on-the-job safety cannot be overemphasized, and vacuum lifters offer a safer way to handle larger weights, unlike the other conventional methods. Also, these lifters eliminate the mechanism used by slings, chains, and hooks, all of which are time-consuming.
The main component of these powered vacuum lifters includes the vacuum reservoir, valve, vacuum pump, alert system, and vacuum pads.
They may have hydraulic power or a self-contained engine that drives the pump. That will also maintain the vacuum pressure in the reservoir. Following the activation of the vacuum lifter, a vacuum is pulled between the object to be lifted and the suction pad. This creates an engagement that ensures that the material is securely handled. Also, the vacuum seals serve to hold the material for a long period until the vacuum is released.
One of the amazing things about these lifters is their maneuverability. They can go through different places, including areas where people are not advised to go. That implies that workers will not need to climb materials to perform different tasks or provide support for free-swinging materials.
Powered Vacuum Lifters will meet your Needs
Most of the vacuum lifters in the market are designed to be for general purpose to make them suitable for different types of material handling. Suction pads and vacuum lifters are not available in different configurations so that people can choose what’s suitable for their needs or for the material to be lifted. For example, a vacuum lifter that is designed with a lifting capacity of 1000 kg should never be used to lift anything heavier than that.
One way to make the vacuum lifter versatile is by using it with multiple pads. That will allow the lifter to accommodate for a different type of materials, sizes, and weights. Fortunately, you can now rent these pads and vacuum lifters. We usually recommend the need to undergo training before using any powered vacuum lifter. That is to ensure that the device is used properly and also to ensure safety. There’s always a manufacturer’s manual attached to the device. With the manual, you can perform safety checks and regular inspections before you proceed to use the lifter. The ultimate aim of using a vacuum lifter is to increase productivity and safety, but you can only achieve this when you do things rightly.
General Considerations to Make when Selecting a Vacuum Lifter
When selecting a vacuum lifter, it is important to analyze factors like load orientation and other material-handling requirements. These requirements include the temperature of the material, the type, and the dimensions of the materials to be moved. That is because vacuum lifters are built differently, and there’s a limit to what they can handle. Therefore, you must never overlook material conditions and specifications when choosing a vacuum lifter.
Examples of land orientation include vertical, angled tilting, side-gripping, and horizontal. It is important to note that side grippers and vertical lifters may not be suitable for loads that will need rotation. Also, most 90-degree tilting vacuum lifters are usually fully-powered. There are also 360-degrees and 180-degree vacuum lifters available in the market. You have many options to choose from, but it is always best to make a more informed decision before selecting a vacuum lifter. There are different power sources for these vacuum lifters. It could be electric, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic, or air-powered. The air-powered lifters have motors or air cylinders, while the hydraulic lifters have hydraulic motors or hydraulic cylinders. For electric-powered lifters, electricity is the major power source, while mechanic lifters do not require compressed air or electricity to function.
Conclusion
Powered vacuum lifters are lifting equipment that utilizes vacuum as the main operational mechanism. This equipment promotes productivity and minimizes operational hazards to the barest minimum. They are available in different forms and can be used on different surfaces and different materials. However, to get the best from these devices, you must ensure that you use them appropriately. We also advise people to read the manufacturer’s manual regularly, especially for maintenance purposes.