Save a Worker from Lifting or Moving Tons of Product: Ergonomic Handling with Schmalz Lifting Devices

As a system provider with many years of experience in the field of vacuum handling technology, Schmalz offers highly sophisticated solutions that can be used to move heavy loads ergonomically. The products improve the health and safety conditions in many industries and applications. The demographic changes that society is currently undergoing also affect the workplace: The number of older employees will continue to grow in the coming years.

• Aging workforce:  by 2020  25% of workers will be over 55 years old
• → How will employers accommodate them in warehouse and manufacturing jobs ?

Many experts believe that this demographic shift will also increase the risk of disability in the workplace.

• 55 million workdays lost in 2009  – 30% where due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s)
• Resulting in $82 billion cost in wages and lost productivity

The older an employee is, the longer it takes them to recover.  Therefore the amount of sick days that workers will take is also expected to increase. The result is that securing the manpower of older workers while protecting the health of younger employees will become increasingly important for companies. Activities such as lifting and carrying loads involve an increased risk to health.

• 32 million workers = 25% of the US workforce are exposed to body twisting or bending for more than 50% of their work time

Let’s do the math: An employee in the shipping area commissions’ packages with an average weight of 10 pounds. If this employee handles 120 packages per hour, that amounts to an overall load of 9,600 pounds per working day. This compares to the weight of a grown elephant. This example highlights how important lifting aids are, even with small loads. Schmalz is accommodating these changes and developed vacuum lifting devices and crane systems that focus on ergonomics. Along with that, Schmalz also focuses on safety, productivity and sustainability. We know from experience that companies only invest in safety conditions when it benefits them in more than one way (lower worker compensation costs and outages, higher staff retention rates, higher job satisfaction from less physical work, ability to hire from a wider applicant pool for physical jobs, …) . Loads weighing up to 100 lbs can be moved ergonomically and quickly with one hand with the vacuum tube lifter JumboFlex,

Small, light and fast

The Schmalz vacuum tube lifter Jumbo has been developed for dynamic applications up to 660 lbs. The Jumbo is ideal for frequent fast lifting and moving of work pieces such as cardboard boxes, bags, buckets or barrels in in-house logistics, as well as for loading and unloading CNC  machines. The tube lifter allows for a back friendly position at all working heights and is equipped with an intuitive operating handle. Loads weighing up to 100 lbs can be controlled precisely and accurately with the “JumboFlex” thanks to a one-handed operator handle with integrated controls. This innovative product is particularly suitable for commissioning goods, like packages, in the area of warehouse and shipping logistics. . The operating elements of the tube lifter are designed symmetrically, making it equally suitable for right- or left-handed users.

Large, heavy, unwieldy

Vacuum lifting device VacuMaster is perfect for safe, low-effort handling of heavy loads such as metal plates weighing up to 4,000 lbs. The vacuum lifting devices “VacuMaster” were designed for heavy applications weighing up to 4,000 lbs. They make it possible to handle large and flat work pieces safely. Their bow-shaped operator handle, easy to reach operating controls and low weight make them particularly ergonomic. Furthermore, the modular design makes it possible to adapt the device to the individual needs of the user. This ensures simple handling and an ergonomic working posture. “VacuMaster” is also used successfully in a wide range of industries and applications, such as for loading CNC machining centers with metal or plastic sheets, or for handling fragile windows and glass. We are reacting to the trend of using lifting aids for lighter loads. We expect the laws to become much stricter in this area in the future,” says Klaus-Dieter Schwabenthan Head of Business Development. We are furthermore looking to increase the modularity of our products in order to implement individual solutions based on customer needs. “However, reducing the weights of our devices is also important,” he explains. The vacuum specialist is also planning to continue their partnership with universities and research institutions and will integrate the results of the latest studies in ergonomics into their products.

More information about the products

• Vacuum Tube Lifter Jumbo
• Vacuum Lifting Devices VacuMaster
• Cranes and Crane Systems

Questions regarding public relations: Schmalz Inc. Marketing Communications 5200 Atlantic Avenue Raleigh, NC  27616 Tel.: +1-919-713-0880 Fax:+1-919-713-0883