Vacuum lifting device used to transport a selection of products from a place such as a warehouse or manufacturing facility to another place. They're regularly used in carrying out delicate tasks and to lift and transport heavy-duty loads. Vacuum lifter tools are often as essential as a handheld suction cup or as complex as a pump-powered, multi-pad device.
Typically, heavy-duty vacuum lifters are suspended from a hoist or boom arm by a hook or other attachments. The lifter's suction devices are connected to the pump through a series of pneumatic tubes. These suction devices are often cups, pads, or other shapes and are manufactured from synthetic materials, like silicone and Nitrile, and from various metals, which give the plate backing. These plates are fastened to varied mating fixtures on the vacuum lifter frame, a unit generally consisting of a planar, sturdy metal body. The pump is often controlled automatically, manually, or remotely, relying on the design of the lifter, and may create a partial vacuum between the cup or pad and the workpiece when properly affixed. Once the seal between the cup and workpiece is strong enough, the unit and workpiece are often elevated then moved via the attached hoist or boom. Often this might be a straight path along a horizontal arm. Vacuum lift forklift attachments are also used.
Heavy-duty vacuum lifters are typically used to transport or move large flat objects, like long or wide sheet panels or large plates of glass. Units used for food processing and similar tasks have a special design, often featuring bellows shaped suction attachments, which cushion the merchandise and creates room for constant suction. Somewhat similar tube lifters are used for cargo duties, where they assist in moving boxes and other shipping containers in a storage or shipping facility. These units generally contain one vacuum drive, lift tube and operated by hand suction head.
Vacuum lifters have incredible stability. They are primarily the go-to for lifting large or heavy objects. They boast of the strength, stability, and security normal cranes do not have as their load swings back and forth. One of the hallmarks of vacuum lifting equipment is their ingenious way of leaving your good unmarked. No scratches, no minor dents, no markings of the edges or along the base where chains and hooks had to be installed for a secure lifting experience; vacuum lifting equipment simply attaches, sticks and lifts.
Considering how easy and effortless that sounds, there are different types of vacuum lifters out there. The purpose of this article is to enlighten you on the best types of vacuum lifters out there. Read them below:
Powered Vacuum Lifting Beams
These ingenious powered vacuum lifts are ideal for both horizontal and vertical equipment and are perfect for lifting items such as glass panels.
Getting the right equipment to lift and secure glass panels in place is often tricky; glass is fragile and hence poses a major risk. If it shatters unexpectedly, it could be extremely dangerous for anybody within the near vicinity. This is often where specialist glass handling vacuum lifting equipment takes center stage. With protected suction pads, this glass-handling vacuum equipment comes with the selection of a 90-degree tilt for you to securely and easily transfer your glass panels from one place to another with little to no damages.
This isn’t the only advantage of powered vacuum lifts, the added energy supplied by battery or mains means they're able to lift more weight than other vacuum lifts. Additionally, supplementary features like folding arms allow you to swap between long and short material sheets, and resting trestle allows you to securely remove your vacuum equipment from your cranes. This means that no matter how long and wide or short and thin your sheets are, this particular vacuum lift is up to the work.
Self-suction Lifting Beams
If you are keen on saving that tiny bit of cash, then choosing self-suction vacuum lifting equipment could be just right for your crane. This excellent engineering masterpiece has physics working for its glory.
It is usually suspended from a hoist hook, and the self-suction lifting beam is then lowered onto the material to be lifted or transported. The vacuum is activated when the equipment is pulled upwards, saving you money and at the same time still supplying you with the great, mark-free result all vacuum lifting equipment provides. If you are a smidgen uncertain that one of these equipments might not be up for the challenge, these vacuum lifting beams come in a wide range of suction pads to provide you extra security.
Battery Operated Vacuum Lifters
Battery-operated vacuums provide you with the great advantage of a further hand and in saving you money on your energy bills. These particular vacuum lifts use specific powers for particular tasks, two of such types are:
Alpha Battery
This is used as either a battery or a close main. This lift is often controlled by one person, is hand-operated, and ideal for small lifting tasks like smooth or rough, concrete, plastic, metal, or glass tiles.
Beta Battery
This is often designed for a two-person operation lifting air-tight materials like concrete slabs and natural stone. It is a bit like the self-suction lifting beam, but this vacuum lifter creates suction immediately after being put in place and is usually released by a valve.
Hand Operated Vacuum Lifting Device
There is absolutely no reason for cranes to be involved in any part of your construction jobs. Sometimes a simple hand-operated vacuum lifter is perfectly acceptable for tackling those smaller, simpler jobs without the danger of smudging or marking glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal sheets.
Conclusion
Now that you know the types of vacuum lifters out there, you should be able to pick the one that best fits your project. All of the vacuum lifters are great, but one may have one advantage over the other or be better suited to a specific task than another.