Sauleda eliminates the strain of fabric roll handling with TAWI

Published 6/30/2026

A Sauleda worker uses TAWI's vacuum lifter to handle rolls of fabric.

Lifting fabric rolls required two people and was a physically exhausting process. Sauleda consulted TAWI to design a safer, faster, and more efficient process.

Sauleda is a premium manufacturer for technical fabrics. When Sauleda opened a new logistics hub in Avinyó (Barcelona), they made a decision that many companies put off until it's too late: including ergonomics into the initial design. This is a more proactive way to plan a production process instead of fixing after injuries or sick leave happen.

Why ergonomics should be planned, not improvised

Manual handling of heavy, repetitive loads is one of the main risk factors in any production process. When a company designs a new plant or a new logistics hub, it has a unique opportunity to decide how each load will be moved.

Thinking about ergonomics at this stage helps you uncover risk before the facility is running and operators start feeling the strain. That was the logic behind Sauleda's planning for its new logistics hub in Avinyó and why they reached out to TAWI before loading became a serious problem.

The challenge: heavy rolls & two operators per movement

In the new Avinyó facility, operators handle technical fabric rolls weighing between 48.5 lbs. to 92.5 lbs. (22 kg and 42 kg) repeatedly throughout the day. Done manually, this work requires two operators for each movement. This leads to physical strain, injury risk, and coordination time for smooth movements. It’s the kind of process that's worth solving before operations start, not after.

"We still have the warehouse under construction, but for Sauleda, workplace safety was essential, and that's why we wanted to have TAWI's solutions from the very beginning, to start working safely,", explained Modest Vega, logistics hub manager at Sauleda in Avinyó.

The solution: safer handling with vacuum lifters

From the very start, Sauleda integrated TAWI’s vacuum lifter for moving fabric rolls. The system lets a single operator pick up, move, and set down each roll with one guided motion, eliminating the physical effort of manual handling.

The unit's suction cup adapts to the volume and weight of the rolls. It holds the load securely while the operator simply guides the movement.

The result is a faster process that no longer depends on physical strength or coordination between two people, precisely because it was designed this way from the beginning, rather than added later.

"I work on pallet assembly. Before working with TAWI equipment, the job was much more physical and strenuous, and the task took longer," said Samuel Muñoz, warehouse operator at Sauleda. "These are machines anyone can use — younger people, older people, men, women — because the equipment basically takes on all the weight and handles 90% of our task."

The results: faster & more efficient

Since Sauleda integrated the TAWI lifter into its daily operations, the change has been clear for the production and warehouse teams. A task that used to require two people is now handled by a single operator and noticeably faster. Also, there's a clear reduction in physical effort and injury risk associated with manually handling loads of up to 92.5 lbs. / 42 kg.

"We've made body posture much easier and reduced the strain on the person. We always work this way now, and operators are happy because it spares them an extra effort that, after 8 hours of work, really takes its toll," said Modest Vega, logistics hub manager.

Sauleda's case is a good example of something we say at TAWI often: ergonomics isn't a cost or an extra, it's a design decision. When it's planned from the beginning, a company can expand without that growth hurting the health of the people who make it possible.

TAWI helps many companies with roll handling. Learn more about roll handling solutions.

Want to plan the ergonomics of your next production process from day one? Get in touch with our team to find the right lifting solution for your needs.

Discover how Sauleda, a textile manufacturer, integrated a TAWI vacuum lifter from day one of constructing its new logistics hub in Avinyó (Barcelona).