References

Zabolak specialize in finishing of wooden flooring and panels, from raw material to structuring, staining, oiling and packaging. After packaging, the finished wood bundles need to be palletized. The bundles weigh up to 50kg and without ergonomic lifting equipment this needs to be handled by 2 people.

Palletizing 50kg bundles of wood without effort

At Zabolak in the Netherlands, palletizing the finished wood product is facilitated by using TAWI vacuum lifter. The operators use the lift system on a daily basis and it makes the work easier and improves employee health. Using the vacuum lifter, the physical effort needed to put the large bundles on pallets is minimized.

Improved workforce flexibility

According to Mr. Henny Jacobs, Managing Director at Zabolak in Netherlands, another advantage of using TAWI lifting equipment is that every employee can work with the lifter, even temporary personnel learns very easy how to work with the lifter. “This makes people very flexible on that work station”, Henny Jacobs, Zabolak.

Clarebout, producer of pre-fried and frozen potato products, have invested in their employee’s health and wellbeing. At their production site in Belgium, TAWI ergonomic lifting solutions are used at several work stations to handle big and heavy rolls. The lifting equipment makes it possible for one employee to lift 80 kg rolls from pallets and transport them into packaging machines, all without putting any harmful strain on their bodies.

One person can lift and transport 80 kg rolls, effortlessly

In the packaging process, Clarebout employees lift the large and heavy film rolls from pallets, stacked vertically in two layers. They tilt them from vertical to a horizontal position and then transport the rolls to packaging machines where the fries are filled in bags, closed and sorted for further supply. 80 kg rolls are not easy to lift, tilt and transport in an ergonomic and time efficient way, but TAWI lifting equipment has made this possible.

Optimized work flow and ergonomics

By combining different lift systems from TAWI, Clarebout was able to get a complete solution for handling rolls. Ergonomically, safely and efficiently. To optimize the work flow, a hoist lift is used for lifting the rolls from pallets, tilting them and placing them horizontally on a lifting trolley. The lifting trolley is then used to transport and mount the rolls into the packaging machine. The two lift systems from TAWI work together seamlessly to ensure a time efficient and ergonomic work flow.

Rockwool, world leading supplier of stone wool products and insulation systems, have invested in several ergonomic lift systems from TAWI. At their production site in Belgium, vacuum lifters and lifting trolleys are used daily to lift and transport various goods and they have become a natural part of the production flow. By investing in TAWI lifting equipment, Rockwool wanted to make the work easier and more ergonomic for the employees.

Lifting 7200kg of boxes every day, effortlessly

Lifting boxes weighing between 20-30 kg and stacking them on pallets was done by hand until a few years ago. One pallet can contain up to 72 boxes, each box weighing around 25 kg, equalizing a total weight of around 1800 kg per pallet. One employee will fill at least four pallets per shift, lifting a total of 7200 kg. Using TAWI lifters, these weights can be handled in a time efficient way and without putting any harmful strain on the workers bodies.

Improved employee health and satisfaction

Since the investment was made the lifters have been used on every shift, every day. The production workers have experienced positive time saving effects since they can now maintain the same work speed all day, without getting tired. Danny Flass, production site supervisor, is convinced that the investment in TAWI lifting equipment pays off quickly due to the obvious health benefits for the employees.

Previously, all sheets were handled manually. Each lifting operation was heavy and could only be carried out by the strength of two employees at a time. For that reason, it was difficult to complete packing an order without interruptions. Furthermore, it was challenging to avoid scratches and damages on edges and surfaces, which would then lead to complaints from our customers.

We contacted TAWI

We reached out to TAWI to find a durable solution to avoid heavy lifting operations and product damages.

Today, we have an improved workflow and get fewer complaints

Our vacuum lifter is used 25-50 times a day. It is a valuable tool that is used by all the employees in the storehouse, whenever they need lifting assistance. We can dispatch orders without interruptions, because the lifting can be handled by one person alone, and last but not least, we receive fewer complaints from customers because we avoid damaging the products.

Manual routine lifting, every day

At RPC Superfos, in Randers, large amounts of packaging products are produced and packed all week 24 hours a day. As a part of their daily work, the packing employees pack the finished products into cardboard boxes and place them on pallets. They have many lifting operations over shoulder height and stack cardboard boxes up to 2.6 meters in height. These kinds of routine lifting operations affect the body in the long term and could lead to work-related injuries.

Vacuum lifters were the solution to the problem

We contacted TAWI and together we found a solution that fits perfectly to our needs. We have used the same company for over 18 years now as our favorite supplier when it comes to lifting equipment.

Ergonomics is our top priority

The vacuum lifters are used day and night by the packing employees and all new members of the staff are taught how to operate the lifting equipment as a part of their training. They use the vacuum lifters with suction foots and lift with hooks. “We would not be able to handle the manual lifting operations without them”, says Susan Betzer, packing employee and work environment representative at RPC Superfos Randers. Henning Frederiksen, Project Manager, continues: “With our vacuum lifters, we lower the risk of work-related injuries happening in the long run. Moreover, our employees are pleased that we have found a solution that considers their health and well-being”.

Workers at the SCA production unit in Falkenberg, Sweden handle many big and bulky reels every day. The reels are picked from pallets and transported to a machine where they are lifted and mounted in the machine. Reels need to be picked up both horizontally and vertically, and thanks to a recent investment in six new TAWI Lifting Trolleys, SCA workers are now able to do that effortlessly.

The investment in the new trolleys was an important step in improving ergonomics and reducing the risk of long term problems caused by repeated manual lifting. With the lifting trolleys, reels are easily picked up from pallets or racks, rotated, transported and mounted on the machine shaft. The ergonomic and comfortable handle, and the fact that the trolleys are easy to roll and transport, are seen as great added benefits.

Thanks to the investment in the new generation TAWI Lifting Trolleys, SCA are able to avoid heavy manual handling and minimize the strain on workers’ backs, shoulders and knees.

When the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly, Systembolaget, opened up a new store in Kungsbacka, TAWI vacuum lifter was installed in an aluminum crane system to facilitate ergonomic and efficient unloading of products. Some among the staff doubted the benefit of the lift at first and chose to continue lifting manually, with no aid. But when the company’s annual review recently revealed an increase in problems with back and knees among the staff, management encouraged them to start using all ergonomic tools at hand.

In the Kungsbacka store we meet Henrik who admits that he was rather skeptical at first, fearing that the vacuum lift would make his work more time consuming. But after using the lift every day for one month he changed his mind. “It is nice to be relieved from the heavy lifting, and you can feel such a difference at the end of the day”, says Henrik.

There is consensus among the staff that the Cobra is an excellent tool which is easy to use and handles most types of boxes. “On a busy day we might need to pick 20 pallets. If you pick without the tool the first pallet might be quicker, but in total you will save time by using the vacuum lifter since you will be able to keep an even pace throughout the day. And you won’t be completely exhausted afterwards”, Henrik concludes.

Jotun Paints Europe Ltd operate an UPPER TIER COMAH site in the Humber Region. Jotun uses highly flammable solvents and resins in the manufacture of paint related products.

Jotun has a policy for employees to use manual handling aids for items weighing more than 25kg. Many of the products manufactured exceed this weight limit, therefore TAWI were contacted to find suitable lifting solutions. Due to the nature of the products used in manufacturing and filling, all equipment must be intrinsically safe and TAWI were asked to install ATEX rated equipment within the process areas capable of lifting up to 50kg.

Easy and efficient lifting

Jotun currently have vacuum lifting equipment in various designs and capacities in order to meet the requirements for different plant designs. The equipment is easy to use and completely removes the need for the operator to handle the item. Due to the success of the equipment used for filled cans or paint, Jotun are now looking to invest in more TAWI lifters for handling paper sacks in the manufacturing and goods receiving area.

At Jopen Brewery in the Netherlands, hundreds of boxes with beer bottles are loaded on pallets every day. One box weighs 13,5kg and one pallet contains 60 boxes, which equals a total weight of 810kg per pallet. Large and heavy beer kegs are also picked from conveyors, turned 90 degrees and placed on pallets. One keg weighs 26,5kg, and every pallet contains 20 kegs. Using TAWI lifting solutions, these processes are both time efficient and ergonomic, effectively increasing employee health and wellbeing.

Optimized work flow with TAWI lifters

Lifting the filled beer kegs is very strenuous if done by hand, especially since they need to be turned 90 degrees before being placed on the pallet. Using TAWI vacuum lifter, the kegs are handled effortlessly by one single employee. With integrated turning function the kegs are easily tilted 90 degrees with one quick movement.

Effortless handling of boxes and kegs all day, every day

The employees use TAWI lifters on every shift, every day. “The equipment is easy to use and loading boxes and kegs on pallets is both fast and ergonomic using the vacuum lifters”, Matthijs van der Geest, Jopen Brewery.

LG Collection has more than 40 years experience of manufacturing wooden panels, laminated panels, sink hobs and mash panels in various materials. Every day the production employees lift and transport large and heavy sheets. About 10 years ago LG Collection made a decision to invest in a lifting system from TAWI. The decision derived from complaints amongst some employees, experiencing back and shoulder pain due to repetitive and heavy lifting.

Investing in TAWI lifting solutions

When one TAWI system was up and running the ergonomic health benefits instantly became clear. As a result, more of the employees started asking for lifting aids to avoid pain and physical tiredness. Today LG Collection have 20 different systems from TAWI in various stages of their production process, packaging and logistics.

Fewer sick days and greater workforce flexibility

With TAWI lifters everyone can lift large and heavy sheets and the employees can keep an even pace throughout the whole day without straining their bodies. “The amount of sick leaves have been minimized” says Björn Skoglund, production leader at LG Collection.

As a manufacturer of bakery ingredients, Bakels Aromatic mix raw produce according to recipes by emptying sacks with ingredients into mixing tanks. The various mixes are used for bread, confetti and confectionary products and distributed to various segments in more than 120 countries.

Every day, hundreds of sacks filled with bakery ingredients are lifted from pallets, transported to mixing tanks and emptied. To keep a consistent and optimal production flow Bakels Aromatic need lifting aids to save employee’s backs, arms and shoulders.

TAWI ergonomic vacuum lifters

It’s been several years since Bakels Aromatic decided to try a vacuum lifter from TAWI to help employees lift and empty heavy sacks. Since then the vacuum lifters have become a natural part of the production process and today the production site in Gothenburg has six TAWI vacuum systems at various work stations around their facility. The lifters are used all day, every day.

Production efficiency and workforce flexibility

With TAWI vacuum lifters the employees can handle several pallets of heavy sacks without straining their bodies or losing speed. “The lifters are necessary for us in our daily work, both to increase efficiency in the production and to improve the ergonomic health of the employees”, Jonas Eriksson, Production manager.

At DLG Vet, we need to lift sacks and heavy objects in the storehouse. Manual lifting operations were a normal part of the daily routine at work, and it was a tough challenge for the employees to handle in the long term.

We reached out to TAWI

We wanted a user-friendly solution that could ease the heavy lifting operations and we contacted TAWI.

A solution that fits our needs

Now that we have a vacuum lifter, we would not want to do without it – and hopefully we do not have to. The investment made a huge improvement in relation to our employees and the daily workflow. We all use the vacuum lifter, when needed, and it has given us a greater freedom and flexibility to do our jobs.