Palletizing process more efficient with custom lifting solution

When a solution calls for a standard or custom overhead material lifting system, companies often turn to Engineered Lifting Systems & Equipment (ELS) — not only for its high-quality products, but also for the expertise of its highly skilled team, particularly when it comes to tooling integration. 

Case in point. 

Operators on a packaging assembly line were tasked with manually palletizing plastic-strapped sleeves of 125 egg cartons weighing 35 pounds. Not only were the physical demands of building multi-layered pallets to a five-foot height difficult because of the delicate nature of the product, but the reach required was beyond recommended limits. There had to be another way — a safer and more efficient way — to complete the task at hand.

The customer decided that a lifting solution would solve the problem, and planned to install a new assembly line to accommodate the change. A floor embedded lift table was originally considered, but in the end it was agreed that this option did not address the whole application. 

The appropriate solution was a custom lifting system supplied by ELS. The solution consisted of a Gorbel workstation jib crane with a pneumatic air balancer mounted on its 12-foot boom, and a pneumatic gripper-style lift assist end effector. Two fixed and two moving paddles on the lift assist clamp the sleeve while the balancer and jib provide the overhead lift. Rotation stops controlled the radial lifting coverage of the jib crane for the palletizing work area. The air balancer’s vertical travel features infinite variable speed control with integrated controls mounted onto the lift assist handle. 

The result of the custom solution was a more efficient and ergonomically friendly palletizing process — a win for both the company and its employees.

To learn more about its standard or custom overhead material lifting systems, contact Engineered Lifting Systems & Equipment.

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