Not Your Grandfather’s Lift
While there are many standard lifts being manufactured by the industry, there are also applications using lifts that the industry may not think about. Today, it is not just about palletizing and de-palletizing. Recently, MHI Solutions spoke with lift manufacturers and asked them how day-to-day use of lifts has changed.
Bob Clark, vice president of sales for MHI member Bishamon, has seen a definitive shift in how lifts are designed. “Years ago, the industry was dominated by standard hydraulic lifts. These lifts were the backbone of many material handling applications. In recent years, manufacturers have introduced ergonomic material handling lifts. The lifts are cost effective and profitable alternatives to worker injuries when repetitive movements, working posture or nature of the movement creates injury hazards for the individuals performing these tasks,” Clark explained.
Over the last years, the industry has seen an explosion of lifts that position a load versus raising and lowering a load. “The newest lifts on the market have been designed to eliminate workers’ bending by automatically raising and lowering pallets during loading or unloading. These new lifts are user-friendly without the use of mechanical springs, motors or hydraulics. As the load changes, the newest lifts automatically adjust, keeping the top of the load at a convenient working height,” Clark concluded.
