The vacuum-tube lifters made by the vacuum specialists J. Schmalz GmbH in 72293 Glatten are being used more and more for the loading and unloading of woodworking machines. Fast loading and unloading reduces the non-productive times of the machines, which means that most of the machine running time is productive time. The vacuum-tube lifters make workpiece handling easier and reduces the number of persons needed for this work. In order to make the handling of sheets of wood and other workpieces even more efficient, Schmalz has developed a new pneumatic swivelling unit with which sheets of wood and glass, items of furniture and other workpieces can be swivelled through 90°, from the vertical to the horizontal and vice versa, by a single person.

It is thus possible to lift sheets of wood which are stacked in the vertical position and turn them to the horizontal position so that they can be placed on the table of the machining centre. After machining has been completed, they can be swung back to the vertical position for space-saving stacking or simply be stacked in the horizontal position. The pneumatic swivelling unit PSE has a pneumatic drive which relieves the operator of the physical effort of swivelling the load and also ensures safe transport. The unit is operated from the operator handle, which also permits easy guidance and positioning. Compared with its predecessors, the new swivelling unit PSE is more compact and lighter. This makes it more flexible in use and permits short handling times to be achieved. The lower weight also means that heavier loads can be lifted with the same vacuum-tube lifter. The lower overall height permits the handling of parts in restricted spaces.


The pneumatic swivelling unit PSE can handle loads weighing up to 120 kg. The hose connections to the vacuum grippers are designed for operation in the rough conditions which exist in woodworking shops. In contrast to its predecessors, which had a mechanical venting valve, the new unit is vented pneumatically. This permits the quick and safe release of the workpiece in any desired position. The compressed-air line is integrated into the lifting tube, which means that there are no external hoses to get in the way during handling. The swivelling rate can be set as desired. If necessary, the motion can be stopped in any intermediate position.


Generously dimensioned vacuum grippers guarantee safe operation. They exceed the requirements of the applicable safety regulations for the vertical handling of parts with a coefficient of friction µ = 0.5. The ergonomical and practical operating controls prevent incorrect operation and the resulting inadvertent release of the load. The pneumatic swivelling unit PSE is available in five versions with maximum loads of 30 to 120 kg.