Vacuum lifters are devices used to transport a variety of products within a set area, such as a warehouse or manufacturing facility. They are regularly employed in applications as delicate as placing eggs in egg-cartons, as well as the transport and lifting of heavy duty loads. Vacuum lifter tools can be as basic 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 attachment. The lifter’s suction devices are connected to the pump through a series of pneumatic tubes.
A standard vacuum lifter locks on to the load and maintains the seal, without constant suction, however, in material handling applications that are porous, such as canvas bags, or objects that bend and twist when lifted, a continuous lifter is much more suited. These style lifters provide perpetual suction on the load to maintain the lift safely.
Self-powered mechanical vacuum lifters, electric and air-powered vacuum lifters are all available in lifting capacities ranging up to 60,000 lb (26,600 kg) or more.
