Vacuum handling in wood processing

19.05.2009

Vacuum handling systems of various designs and lifting capacities play a major role in woodworking and wood processing. The use of vacuum handling allows handling and material flow tasks in trade and industry to be performed more efficiently than ever.

In modern handicraft and production plants, vacuum tube lifters and vacuum lifting devices are indispensable when handling wooden boards, sawn timber, construction timber, furniture components, entire furniture bodies and more. Because unmilled wooden boards, pre-cut parts, workpieces, components and furniture bodies can be extremely varied in format, weight and consistency, J. Schmalz GmbH from 72293 Glatten in the Black Forest, specialist in vacuum handling technology, has two series of vacuum handling systems in its product range: vacuum tube lifters Jumbo and vacuum lifting devices VacuMaster. Both series offer a large selection of differing suction pads and gripper systems as well as combined grip/swivel units. But that's not all: Schmalz also offers complete material flow and handling solutions, including aluminium crane systems and slewing cranes to hold the vacuum handling systems. Furthermore, for woodworking and wood processing companies, Schmalz offers practical workshop equipment such as vacuum workbenches, vacuum workstands, vacuum turning benches, transport trolleys and sheet transport trolleys, so that the user receives the entire peripheral material handling equipment and efficient auxiliary equipment from one source.

Vacuum tube lifter Jumbo feeds CNC machining centres and more...

The vacuum tube lifter Jumbo is particularly suited to the frequent and rapid lifting and moving of wood products of all types, up to a size of 4,000 x 2,000 mm and a weight of 300 kg. The compact device can be adapted for crane systems, wall-mounted and column-mounted slewing cranes and can be used practically everywhere it is needed in connection with a wood processing centre. Vacuum tube lifters Jumbo are especially designed for loading unmilled boards and removing processed workpieces by one operator. The tube lifter can be equipped with a variety of suction pads, making them flexible, economical and universally deployable rationalisation components. For easy, ergonomic rotation of workpieces up to a max. 120 kg, the vacuum tube lifter can be equipped with a pneumatic swivelling unit.

Handling wood efficiently? Vacuum lifting devices VacuMaster Comfort!

Vacuum lifting devices VacuMaster are the ideal tool for heavy wooden boards weighing up to 2,000 kg. The vacuum lifting device grips the workpiece. The load can be lifted safely and moved using a crane. The VacuMaster series is based on a modular building-block system, meaning that individual handling solutions can created to match the requirements. The basis modules can be equipped with vacuum generators of various outputs. A selection of various ergonomically designed operator handles, a variety of standard and custom-made vacuum suction pads, and both longitudinal and lateral cross arms for holding the suction pads are also available. Schmalz offers two versions of vacuum lifting devices: VacuMaster Basic and VacuMaster Comfort. Both VacuMaster models are available in the “horizontal”, “90° swivel” and “180° turn” designs. This means, for example, that even upright saws can be fed ergonomically using vacuum lifting devices.
The VacuMaster Comfort comes with a number of additional features not present in the basic model, such as hoist chain control integrated into the controller, pushbutton vacuum generation and pushbutton swivel function (if available). In addition, an electromagnetic valve for the two-hand-vacuum-off function offers even greater safety when handling workpieces.

VacuMaster Window - handling windows and glass

The VacuMaster Window lifting device series is aimed specifically at glass processors and window fabricators. Available in 170 kg, 225 kg and 300 kg bearing load versions, these lifting devices are equipped with two or four suction plates, depending on the version and the size of the workpiece. The flexible arrangement of the suction pads makes it easy to handle multi-sash windows with sash parts and can also be manually rotated left or right by 90°. Accordingly, upright glass sheets can be picked up, rotated and placed in a window/door frame - without the help of an additional person. VacuMaster Window is also available in a Comfort version.

Handling and material flow with aluminium cranes

For complete material flow and handling solutions from a single supplier, Schmalz offers a range of its own aluminium crane systems and slewing cranes that are both flexible in their application and very easy to move. The show-stopper here is the optimum relationship between structure and weight on the one hand, and lifting capacity and working area on the other. In addition, multiple beams can be installed in one crane track when needed, so that, in practice, one crane system can fulfil many tasks. The aluminium crane systems are available in single-beam, double-beam and monorail versions. The aluminium crane systems can cover working areas up to approx. 8 x 30 m and are suitable for loads up to approx. 700 kg. Aluminium column-mounted slewing cranes have a swivelling range of 270° and are either anchored firmly in the floor or mounted on a moveable base plate, which makes them mobile. Wall-mounted slewing cranes make for a cost-effective solution when a solid wall or shop pillar, onto which the crane can be easily mounted, is already available. The maximum swivelling range for these cranes is 180°. Aluminium slewing cranes are suited for loads up to 650 kg, depending on the jib length, which can be up to 6 m.

Practical workshop equipment for trade and industry

Practical workshop equipment is available to trade and industry, including a wide range of vacuum workbenches, vacuum workstands and vacuum turning benches, instantly increasing efficiency and productivity. The Vacuum workbench PVT picks up workpieces of various sizes and dimensions, made from smooth-surfaced materials, and holds these for safe and reliable processing from all sides. The workpieces can be rotated through 180°. They can be fastened in steps of 45° by use of a foot pedal. The vacuum workbenches are designated for loads between 90 kg and 180 kg. The vacuum workstand PVS has the same basic function, but can be rotated without limits, can be clamped at any angle and can be swivelled from horizontal to vertical and back again. The vacuum turning bench VWT 180° makes it possible to rotate larger and unwieldy workpieces rotated through 180°, a procedure that takes only 10 seconds. All surfaces and edges can be worked on individually, without the need to re-clamp. This applies to workpieces weighing up to max. 150 kg.

The comprehensive range of workshop equipment is rounded off with practical transport trolleys for the protective transport and storage of sawn timber, profiles, pieces of furniture, sheets of wood, plastic and glass, furniture elements and other such items.

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Questions regarding public relations:
J. Schmalz GmbH Marketing Communications Aacher Strasse 29 D-72293 Glatten	Tel.: +49 (0)7443 2403-506 Fax: +49 (0)7443 2403-9506 presse@schmalz.de

Questions regarding usage:
J. Schmalz GmbH Customer Centre Aacher Strasse 29 D-72293 Glatten	Tel.: +49 (0)7443 2403-105 Fax: +49 (0)7443 2403-9105 kundencenter@schmalz.de

Further information:

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