Choosing the right vacuum lifting system for your application

Vacuum lifting systems are used in different industries and environments. Over the years, versatile and safer designs in vacuum lifting equipment have emerged to meet modern needs. CRL is a leading manufacturer of customized equipment that can be engineered to meet common and uncommon requirements.

Hand held lifters and below-the-hook lifters

Hand held lifters use manually operated pumps, levers or simple press-on application to create a vacuum. To determine the appropriate style of hand cup, information on the weight and type of material, the duration of the lift, and the attachment speed is required. The W4950 Wood's Powr-Grip® 8" Vacuum Cups are designed to operate on a pump system, and create a vacuum under their gripping pad section.

Below-the-hook vacuum lifters are used to handle large sheet metals with the aid of floor hoists, cranes or forklifts, which provide vertical and horizontal movement of the load. They normally come with a powered vacuum system.

What to keep in mind when choosing vacuum lifting systems

• Capacity and support

CRL factors in variations in slip resistance (which can arise due to contamination on the load or vacuum pads), and weight magnification, to set load capacity ratings for below-the-hook lifters.

While capacity is technically defined in terms of load weight, the support applied by the lifter across the load surface is also important. Therefore, due consideration must be given to the type of material, that is, glass, stone or sheet metal.

• Load manipulation

Below-the-hook lifters can lift and manipulate loads without excessive strain to the user. CRL can design below-the-hook lifters with the manipulation capabilities to move loads quickly and ergonomically.

• Speed

Lifter speed is the time required to move a load from where it is to where you want it. Factors that need to be considered to determine speed requirements include time to apply the lifter to or release it from a load, the time for a powered tilt or rotation cycle, the number of times per hour a movement is performed, and the distance the load must travel. After the speed and frequency requirements have been identified, the CRL Customer Service Department can determine the type of vacuum lifter required for the application.

• Power

Below-the-hook lifters are available with AC, DC or compressed air vacuums. For air powered systems, the capacity of the compressed air source must be specified in terms of pressure and flow to make the right choice.

CRL offers an online vacuum lifter configurator program that helps you determine which vacuum lifting equipment is ideally suited to your needs. The selection process is easy, and you can make an informed decision on the right product, such as P11104DC Wood's™ Powr-Grip® Single Channel DC Vacuum Lifting Frame For Flat Material.

Get more information on vacuum cups and accessories from CRL here.