Manual handling injuries in the workplace within the woodworking industry are often due to repetitive lifting and moving of timber and boards.
Palamatic has been supplying vacuum lifter systems to the woodworking industry for over 35 years. Vacuum-lifting technology is a widely recognised solution for lifting and rotating wood product, with thousands of systems in daily use.
Common panel handling problems relate to the awkward nature of the payload – particularly so for CNC, router, edgebander and beam saw loading operations. Palamatic’s board, panel, door and furniture lifting systems take the strain away from the operator, replace it with a user-friendly vacuum-powered lift assister and protect product from accidental damage.
Stuart Ingledew, regional sales manager for Palamatic for 20 years, explains how a vacuum lifter works: ‘’The operator lowers the vacuum lifter onto the product, and 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!’’
Palamatic offer an optional LOMO lift-off, bike brake-style lever, that can be added to the control handlebar. This is simply squeezed in to allow for an easier release. The lift-off bike brake cannot be pressed in normal operation to release the board, andwill only work when the board is on a hard surface – the machine bed or floor.
A common safety concern of customers is whether a board can be dropped. Stuart explains the safety features that eliminate this risk: ‘’The main safety feature which prevents a product from being dropped is the power safety valve. This allows a steel plate to fall into place over the main hole very simply with gravity if the power shuts down, which in turn allows the vacuum to be maintained inside the tube and pads – meaning the board won’t drop off.’’
Asked what would happen if an operator tried to lift product above the weight capacity of the lifting system, Stuart adds: ’”In summary, it won’t lift. We include a vacuum relief valve that limits how hard the pump can work, meaning your lifter would be set to your parameters and specified to lift the weight it has been designed for.’’
All vacuum lifters require a gantry crane system to be suspended from, and choosing the correct type is critical. The lifting system runs up and down the swing arm, which moves side to side, giving 270° coverage and up to 350kg working load, and can be offered in lengths of up to 5m.
The swing jib is most commonly supported from a centre-post support pillar, but can also be hung from existing steelwork, wall mounted, ceiling mounted or as a mobile base option. Where headroom is an issue, an inverted or articulated jib can be offered.
If the application is just a straightforward lift from A to B, Palamatic would recommend a 4 or 5m swing jib. Invariably, the support post would be positioned to the left or right of the machine bed, but can be placed centrally if there is no risk of a forklift truck colliding with the post.
The support posts for the gantry are in general 3600mm tall and 150-250mm square for a standard woodworking application, on a baseplate which would be 450-600mm square and require 6-8in of concrete to bolt into.
If moving ducting/pipework is a concern, the operator would swing the jib away from the machine bed after loading the board, which would move the jib out the way of the moving parts. They would normally attach the lifter to the next board to be lifted on the stack while the machine is cutting – with some companies also building their own stand in which to put the lifters between uses.
For applications where four stacks need to be loaded onto a double machine bed, a swing jib may not be the best option. Stuart explains: ‘’It’s best to consider an H-style gantry for jobs with more than an A-to-B or A-to-C lift.’’
Supported from either floor-mounted support pillars or existing structural steelwork, the S-LINE H Crane gantry system is suitable for when a large working area needs to be covered, and can be specified with one or two vacuum-lifting systems. The lightweight aluminium overhead rail gantry offers easy movement of the lifting system around the area.
Stuart concludes: ‘’There’s nearly always a way to fit a gantry in somewhere, so we always recommend arranging for Palamatic to carry out a site survey of the area. Where a visit is not possible due to Covid, we can arrange a video call to discuss the application.’’
Aftersales support, service and spares parts are vital due to the high level of use a vacuum lifter will have in a busy woodworking factory, states Palamatic. Annual or biannual services are recommended, as well as regular cleaning of the filtration system which protects the electric pump from dust within the production area.
Centrally based in the UK in Chesterfield, with a dedicated sales and service team, Palamatic is well placed to guide customers through the decisionmaking process, and to provide support once their system is installed. For advice and a no-obligation quotation, contact Palamatic.
01246 452054
[email protected]
www.palamatic.com
