What is vacuum lifting and where is it used?
Products are lifted with suction cups and set down elsewhere, using a vacuum pump or side channel blower as the source.
- large glass sheets, headstones and garden tiles
- doors and worktops, for example 3 by 2 m
- steel plates, including non-magnetic material
- pallets and full boxes heavier than the lifting limit of around 24 kg
- What is vacuum lifting and where is it used?
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Products are lifted with suction cups and set down elsewhere, using a vacuum pump or side channel blower as the source.
- large glass sheets, headstones and garden tiles
- doors and worktops, for example 3 by 2 m
- steel plates, including non-magnetic material
- pallets and full boxes heavier than the lifting limit of around 24 kg
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- Which technique suits which material in vacuum lifting?
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| Material | Property | Suitable technique |
|---|
| Glass, natural stone, sheet steel | Non-porous, seals completely | A small vacuum pump suffices: strong suction, little volume |
| Cardboard, wood, porous stone | Leaks air through the material | Side channel blower: high flow to compensate for leakage |
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- How do I determine the capacity needed for vacuum lifting?
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- weight and dimensions of the product
- number and type of suction cups, plus a safety factor
- porosity of the material, and therefore the leakage
- cycle time: how quickly the vacuum has to build up
- position: lifting horizontally or tilted
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- How do I keep a vacuum lifting system reliable?
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- A vacuum or suction filter keeps dust, grit and chips out of the pump. In stone and steel environments that is essential
- A check valve and, if needed, a vacuum buffer hold the vacuum during a brief interruption
- Periodic service of filters and seals, with an ultimate pressure check, keeps suction at the right level
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