Spotlight on ... ergonomic equipment

Conveyor tables: Verti-Lift has launched a full line of scissor lift tables, turntables, and tilt tables that are engineered to work with virtually any type of conveyors built in to optimize production, ergonomics, and operator safety. The company works with distributors and systems integrators to custom design, build, and integrate its tables with ball transfer conveyors, gravity roller conveyors, heavy-duty chain-driven live roller conveyors, and more.

The tables are available in standard sizes and custom designs to meet specific customer requirements, with vertical travel of 24 to 60 inches and capacities from 2,000 to 6,000 pounds. Offered in single or tandem scissor lifts, with single, double, or custom widths in floor- or pit-mounted designs, Verti-Lift tables are ideal for assembly line or batch process production and assembly projects, the manufacturer says.

All Verti-Lift conveyor-equipped equipment features accessible internal power units, hand or foot controls, heavy-duty tubular frames, heavy-duty hydraulic cylinders, and lifetime lubricated kingpin bearings to ensure a long service life with no maintenance. Optional accessories include accordion skirts, oversized platforms, portability packages, and a variety of conveyor tops. (Verti-Lift)

Lifting device: Attco Inc. has introduced the "Sky Hook with Articulating Arm," a portable ergonomic lifting device designed to offer increased range of motion and full 360-degree rotation. Like all Sky Hook industrial lifting devices, this model can lift up to 500 pounds in a variety of applications, the company says.

While theSky Hookcan bemodified for customer needs and lifting requirements, the standard design consists of a few main elements. Its core design is its structure. Built with structural steel tubingand featuring 100-percent welds, it can withstand extreme industrial lifting abuse while weighing as little as 26 pounds, the company says.

The Sky Hook also features a fully lubricated swivel hook capable of rotating 360 degrees with the touch of a finger, while supporting a 500-pound load. It has a swivel ergonomic handle and removable boom tube for easy storage.

One of the Sky Hook's distinguishing features is its spring brake design, which enables it to lift the load with precision and accuracy. The spring brake is a self-locking brake mechanism that prevents the load from free falling or lowering without the user's permission. (Attco Inc.)

Heavy-duty tilters: Vestil, a manufacturer of material handling equipment, has introduced the heavy-duty Tilt Master series of material tilters, designed to lift and position filled tote boxes or baskets without the need of a fork truck or lift table. These 90-degree tilters will function as a transporter by moving completed products from workstation to workstation without waiting for a forklift.

An ergonomic handle comes standard on the Tilt Master for easy maneuverability. Each unit has a thin profile to allow the user to get as close to the load as possible. The tilters roll easily on 8- by 3-inch phenolic steering wheels. A floor lock comes standard, and the Tilt Master series units are designed to be used with open bottom pallets or skids alone. The Tilt Master Straddle units can be used with virtually any kind of container or pallet. Units come standard with a hand pendant control on an 8-foot coil cord. (Vestil)

Ergonomic workstations: Unex Manufacturing has introduced its Flow Cell workstation, designed to help manufacturers apply Lean manufacturing principles and create custom-designed ergonomic modular workstations. According to the company, Unex ergonomic workstations are 13 times stronger than the typical tube-and-joint modular structure, supporting up to 1,000 pounds per level thanks to their heavy-gauge steel construction. Other tube-and-joint models can max out at 150 pounds at their longest beam width, and the tubes can bend under too much weight and have to be replaced, Unex says. The Flow Cell's square tubing is designed to eliminate the need to replace bent or damaged beams. (Unex)