Ergonomically optimum load handling is good for the workers' health and productivity.

Which is the right way to lift heavy or unwieldy loads? Should you bend from the waist or should you squat down and utilise your powerful thigh muscles? Should you hold the load at arm's length or, like professional weightlifters, keep it close to your body? Regardless of whether you select the right or wrong solution to each question, lifting heavy objects can endanger your health and does not motivate people!

The only good solution to this daily dilemma is to use mechanisch-pneumatic lifting devices or to use vacuum tube lifters. The latter are commercially available in all shapes and sizes. However, in spite of making the actual lifting operations easier, many vacuum-aided lifting devices cause more problems than they solve if their operation is not based on ergonomical principles and they force their users to repeatedly adopt working positions which, in the long run, cause discomfort and even pain.

For the vacuum specialists at J. Schmalz GmbH in 72293 Glatten, whose vacuum tube lifters of the JUMBO series ensure ergonomical handling of a wide range of workpieces, equipment, containers, cardboard boxes, etc., ease of operation has the highest priority. The modular system permits the individualy design and assembly of a vacuum tube lifter in accordance with the newest ergonomical principles and makes child's play of the handling of airtight loads weighing up to 300 kg or of loads with porous surfaces weighing up to 230 kg. Here, "Ergonomy by Schmalz" means the avoidance of unnatural body movements, the minimisation of physical stress which results from the work and the reduction of working accidents by ensuring safe handling with easy operation. The operator controls the vacuum with a valve on the operating handle: increasing the vacuum liifts the load, decreasing the vacuum lowers it. The available range of configurations and features of the vacuum tube lifter JUMBO clearly shows that Schmalz supply what they promise. There are, for example, three different operating concepts, with the corresponding controls, for differeing applications and load weights.

The JUMBOERGO has a very compact operator handle similar to the handlebar of a motorcycle. The twist grip on the right side of the handle (which opens and closes the valve with the aid of a cam) permits easy and precise control of the vacuum for gripping and raising/lowering light to heavy loads. Due to the natural movement of the operator's hand, this twist grip also supports the stacking of loads at ground level or at heights of up to two metres.

The JUMBOSPRINT is intended primarily for the handling of heavy and unwieldy objects and is suitable for use under even the roughest operating conditions. The all-round operator handle permits the user to grasp it with both hands, which means that the complete lifting unit can be steered and positioned precisely, even with a heavy load attached.

The JUMBOHANDY is designed for one-hand operation and is ideal for applications where large numbers of light objects have to be moved quickly. This model can be eqquipped with two different operator handles: the "pistol grip" for fast and precise movement and positioning of objects of all types at the normal benchtop height and the "bow handle" with which the objects can be gripped ergonomically from any position and moved over a large lifting range. The one-hand operation also leaves the user's other hand free for other operations, such as guidance of the parts during assembly.

The operating handles are available in various lengths, permitting the operator to stay outside the danger area when handling loads. A swivelling operating handle is also available for the JUMBOERGO.

For all versions which are powered by a blower (JUMBOERGO und JUMBOSPRINT) there is an optional radio remote control unit FFS for switching the blower on and off by wireless. In addition, the JUMBOERGO can be equipped with a pneumatic load-swivelling device PSE with which workpieces weighing up to 120 kg can be swivelled by 90° from the horizontal position to the vertical position (and vice versa).

Further accessories such as a rotating device, dust filter (with monitoring) or lifting-tube extensions result in a total of far more than 1000 standard versions in the three series JUMBOERGO, JUMBOSPRINT and JUMBOHANDY. All of these can be implemented easily from the modular construction system.