Vacuum lift education and training is essential for operating vacuum lift systems and vacuum lifting equipment. Vacuum lifting is necessary for proper handling of boxes, packages, and cartons. Vacuum lift training is essential as vacuum lifts can be complex if the lifting system requires more than 500 pounds of lifting. There are four main types of vacuum lift systems. These are electric, mechanical, hydraulic and air-powered. Electric vacuum lifters have an electric motor that creates power, while mechanical and self-powered do not need electric or air to operate. In a like manner, hydraulic vacuum lifts contain a hydraulic motor, while air-powered lifts have air cylinders that supply the lifting action.

Vacuum lift education and training has several components. First, training classes, either in class or online, in ergonomics is essential to understand the correct movement and lift. By doing so, the vacuum will be efficient. As such, vacuum lift training and education is vital for a company or individual involved with vacuum lifts. Vacuum lift education and training can help an organization:

1. Learn about how a vacuum lifting system and vacuum lifts work

2. Find vacuum lift suppliers training

3. Learn about manufacturers of vacuum lifts and safety standards

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about how a vacuum lifting system and vacuum lifts work

Training information about vacuum lifters is available on the Internet. Many vacuum lift suppliers provide information on vacuum lifts online.

I recommend: Anver is an educational leader of industrial vacuum lifts information and has operation procedures and technical information on how mechanical vacuum lifters work. Hydraulics Pneumatics provides general information about hydraulic vacuum lifts.

Find out how to safely install and use vacuum lifting equipment

Vacuum lift training information is also available on the Internet. There are books and online literature that can help a company better understand how vacuum lifts work and what it takes to use and maintain a vacuum lift for their business.

I recommend: ASME International has information about installation, testing and maintenance of lifting devices, including vacuum lifting devices. EXAIR Corporation gives an explanation of how vacuum lifts work and also offers a video demonstration.

Learn about OSHA training for vacuum lifting equipment

A company must gain an understanding of how vacuum lifts work and what their components are. As such, it is essential to have knowledge of manufacturers of vacuum lifts and OSHA occupational safety.

I recommend: JJ Keller & Associates provides OSHA safety training on vacuum lift technology. OSHA Institute of America has on-site and online construction safety training programs to help a crew safely operate machinery such as vacuum lifts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Safety regulations regarding proper lifting and handling of materials and heavy objects are usually included within guidelines for vacuum lifts. Vacuum lift manufacturers are required by law to adhere to safety regulations. Vacuum lifting involves an industrial process that has many procedures that need to be followed. Organizations usually consult directly with federal and state safety offices to gather information on these practices. In turn, the federal and state offices maintains a list of organizations that comply with all federal, state, and local government standards.

In use since the late 1970s, vacuum lifters and vacuum lift systems have become essential to proper materials handling. Vacuum lifting equipment of all shapes and sizes lifts and moves a complete range of finished products and raw materials. You can easily find industrial vacuum lifts to manage the materials particular to your business, regardless of the shape, size or surface of your products. Whatever your materials handling needs are, a quick look online will reveal a wealth of solutions. Your ideal vacuum lift may be available already. If not, rest assured that someone will design and manufacture it for you.

Vacuum lifts pay off in the workplace. Workers benefit substantially from a safer, more ergonomic process, while businesses see savings in both time and money. Here are some additional benefits:

1. Vacuum lifts minimize damage to products and raw materials.

2. Consistent use of vacuum lift equipment can reduce Workman's Comp claims and their associated costs.

3. Vacuum lift systems increase efficiency, saving your business time and money.

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Buy from a vacuum lift distributor or vacuum lift manufacturer

You can easily browse vacuum lifts by their applications and specifications online before you buy. Most vacuum lift distributors and manufacturers have extensive websites with photographs, videos, brochures and online quote capability. Consider a distributor located in your geographical area -- their trained staff can visit your business, analyze your needs and recommend the best vacuum lift products. In addition, a distributor will often offer training, installation, plus service and repair contracts that can save you a lot of headaches over the life of the product.

I recommend: The L.K. Goodwin Company is a material handling equipment distributor with a website where you can shop for vacuum lifts, such as heavy duty industrial vacuum lifts.

Buy a vacuum lift for small loads

Light lifting can be even more dangerous than heavy lifting, because discomfort may not show up until long after the damage begins. There are vacuum lifters designed for loads as small as 10 lbs.

I recommend: Vacutrade USA designs and markets the Microlex, a small, one-handed vacuum lift that handles loads up to 75 lbs.

Buy a vacuum lift custom manufactured for your business

If the materials your company needs lifted and moved don't fall neatly into any standard categories, custom manufactured vacuum lifting equipment may be your best choice. Many manufacturers' websites feature pictures of the custom vacuum lift equipment they've designed, and most welcome the challenge of meeting your specific needs.

I recommend: The VLS Corporation is experienced in developing non-standard solutions to material handling problems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to check into used vacuum lifting systems. Buy from a reputable vacuum lift supplier, dealer or manufacturer and you can save a lot of money.

Vacuum lifts work on the principles of suction and vacuum lifting. These lifts have made the task of handling heavy equipment in industries simpler and more economical. It is important to choose a lift that is efficient, ergonomic and safe for your industrial application. Vacuum lifts can have mechanical or electrical drive systems.

This guide will acquaint you with some essential key terms related to vacuum lifts, such as vacuum tube lifts, self-powered mechanical vacuum lifts and vacuum lifting cylinders.

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Vacuum tube lifters

Vacuum tube lifters are very useful material handling devices based on vacuum technology. They can easily lift heavy loads, such as sacks, boxes and drums.

I recommend: Palamatic Handling Systems Ltd., a manufacturer of material handling and lifting devices, offers a description of vacuum tube lifters.

Self-powered mechanical vacuum lifters

A mechanical vacuum lifter hangs from a crane hook and a hoist pulls it up, creating a vacuum to pick up a load. A self-cycling valve controls the vacuum attach-and-release process.

I recommend: You can get comprehensive information on self-powered mechanical vacuum lifts at Anver Corp., a manufacturer of vacuum lifts.

Single or multi-pad vacuum lifters

Single pad vacuum lifters are capable of handling smaller loads. A multi-pad lifter is useful for lifting heavy loads or components with considerably large dimensions.

I recommend: Get more information on single pad and multi-pad vacuum lifters at US Crane and Hoist, a manufacturer of material handling equipment.

Pneumatic vacuum elevators

Vacuum technology has made its way into residential and commercial elevator systems. A vacuum elevator uses the difference in air pressure above and below the vacuum elevator cabinet for its movement.

I recommend: You can learn more about pneumatic vacuum elevators at Daytona Elevator, a manufacturer of residential and commercial elevators.

Vacuum lifting cylinders

Vacuum lifting cylinders are suitable for applications where the material handling system setup should be flexible. The piston of a vacuum lifting cylinder simultaneously sucks and lifts thin, porous and flat objects. These devices are useful for handling paper and thin metal sheets.

I recommend: Read through information on vacuum lifting cylinders at Hennig (UK) Limited, a supplier of vacuum suction cups and equipment.

Vacuum manipulators

A vacuum manipulator is useful in moving items to vacuum chambers for material handling. Warehouses and production floors use heavy-duty vacuum manipulators to move bags, cartons, kegs or sacks. Vacuum lifts are a form of vacuum manipulators.

I recommend: You can get more information on vacuum manipulators at GlobalSpec, a useful online resource.

Vacuum lift systems are used in industrial settings to perform heavy lifting in factory assembly and warehouses, to pack and ship heavy items in any business and to do detailed work in dentistry and other professions. Because of their wide variety of uses, vacuum lifts come in a wide range of sizes and load capacities, with accessories designed to tailor their functions to fit your needs.

When you shop for vacuum lifts online, be sure to examine what components or accessories are included in the price of the vacuum lift. Full vacuum lift systems typically cost several hundred dollars, but you may save on accessories by buying a complete package. Vacuum lift manufacturers also vary prices depending on the load capacity of industrial vacuum lifts, with heavier lifting machines typically priced twice as high as smaller options.

When estimating vacuum lift pricing and costs, consider the following resources:

1. Get the lowest vacuum lift pricing and costs on handheld vacuum lifting equipment;

2. Compare prices on vacuum lifters for industrial settings at a range of load capacities;

3. Find specialty equipment in a broad cost range for vacuum lifting small objects.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy suction cup vacuum lifters for small-scale lifting and cost-effective options

Suction cup vacuum lifters are useful industrial tools for lifting moderately heavy objects by hand. Vacuum lift aids are suctioned to the object to provide handles for grasping and lifting any object with flat surfaces to attach the cups. Because vacuum lifting aids are small and used to assist in lifting object, they are typically priced under $100 and are convenient for transport and storage.

I recommend: MSC Industrial Supply sells small handheld vacuum lifts for $20 to $100 for most models. You can also get suction vacuum lifters for $8 to $17 from ToolTopia.com.

Shop around for vacuum lift systems to do your heavy lifting

Vacuum lift systems are available from a number of manufacturers for a wide range of prices depending on the load capacity and size of the lift. Many vacuum lifts utilize a crane design, and as such may require additional installation or assembly fees. Regardless of the size of the lift, you can expect to pay $1,500 or more for industrial vacuum lifts, with the most advanced systems costing around $20,000.

I recommend: FactoryNew.com offers a range of vacuum lift systems priced from $5,000 to $20,000. Automation.com sells some more compact options for as little as $1,500.

Shop for a specialty vacuum lift for lifting small parts and performing detailed processes

Some industries, such as the dentistry profession or small parts assembly, require the use of vacuum lifting devices to pick up and move small parts and perform detailed actions that cannot be done with the hand. These vacuum tools typically cost several hundred dollars, while larger dental vacuum systems with accessories can cost over $1,500.

I recommend: Zephyrtronics offers their vacuum lift for $185, with micro tip kits for sales for $2 to $20. You can also find dental vacuum systems from KAB Dental for $700 to $1600 for the complete system, or less for the vacuum lift only.