Manual Material Handling

By Plant Engineering Staff November 1, 2008

Portable lift

The LiftPod is a personal and portable lift platform designed to provide the stability of a work platform and the portability of a ladder. It features an enclosed platform to accommodate a 360-degree range of motion, a work tray for tools and materials and a 14-foot working height. Wheels allow one person to move it between sites. Elevation is controlled by a battery-operated drill or an optional battery pack. The unit weighs 145 pounds.

JLG Industries Inc. : www.jlg.com

Forklift level indicator

The Accu-Tilt fork-tilt level indicator shows the operator the level of the forks at all times. It also indicates to the operator the correct angle to travel with a load and can help the operator park the lift truck. The system installs on most counterbalanced lift trucks; installation does not require tools and requires less than one minute. Though mounting on the left side of the truck is preferred, it can be mounted on either side to accommodate hydraulic hoses or other obstructions.

Liftow Ltd. : www.liftow.com

Axis stages

The XYZ-axis stages are available in a variety of combinations. They come in several different constructions, including aluminum with black anodizing, brass or 440C stainless steel with electroless nickel plating. Dovetail, linear and crosse-roller styles are offered with rack-and-pinion, set-screw or micrometer head feed mechanisms to provide precision. RoHS compliant, options include a linear ball guide system, low-temp black chrome plating and movement accuracy to 3-

Misumi USA Inc. : www.misumiusa.com

Containment tray

The PIG pallet containment tray is designed for use with containers of product that leak or drip and cause contamination to the ground or floor. The tray fits on standard-sized pallets to catch stray liquids, granules and powders. Constructed of polyethylene, the ribs on the bottom of the tray elevate the stored items away from spills. Pallets measuring 40 x 48 inches can be placed inside the tray.

New Pig Corp. : www.newpig.com

Harsh environment pallet trucks

The extreme environment corrosion package is available on three truck models — a 4,500-pound walkie truck, a 6,000-pound walkie truck and a 6,000-pound capacity end rider truck. The product provides protection for trucks exposed to salty, high-moisture, washdown and corrosive environments. The trucks feature a galvanized frame, stainless-steel linkage pins, a controller splashguard, a motor shield and a sealed lift limit switch. Applications include chemical processing, poultry, meat and fish processing, and cold storage.

The Raymond Corp. : www.raymondcorp.com

Jib crane

The Pivot Pro is a light-duty articulating jib crane designed for capacities up to 150 pounds. The crane features a sealed tube design that eliminates the need for festooning, reducing festoon pile-up and the likelihood of kinked hoses. Its articulating knuckle design offers safe operation by limiting the whip of the boom. Designed for use with many OEM tube lifters, applications include palletizing, pharmaceutical packaging, food and beverage, automotive and glass and ceramics handling.

Gorbel Inc. : www.gorbel.com

Production system

The manual production system is based on modular aluminum framing components, combining them with ergonomically-tested manual workplace components. It adds a range of new workstations, flow racks and accessories designed for Lean production principles such as one-piece flow and line-side parts stores. Designed for flexibility, the system can be configured to fit varying workplace dimensions and functional needs. Components include complete workstations, tabletops, material shelves and other accessories that are ESD-safe.

Bosch Rexroth Corp. : www.boschrexroth-us.com