Kennedy Wire Rope Supplies Caldwell Vacuum Lifter

A 7,000-lb. capacity powered vacuum lifter has been provided by Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling for use below-the-hook of a 30t capacity overhead crane to handle laser cut plate steel.

The end user presented a requirement for damage-free lifting of various skeletons, which were precision laser cut items. The Model F lifter was manufactured by The Caldwell Group Inc. and delivered with a 330 UniVac Powerpack. Such power packs can be added at the end of the manufacturing process; the frame below the power pack is sized for the material and then the pack gets plugged into the top, which includes the lifting eye.

Rockford, Illinois-based Caldwell provides a variety of electric, mechanical, shop air and battery powered vacuum lifters for handling non-ferrous material that doesn’t work with magnets. In this instance, five crossarms and 10 pads were added to handle longer, wider, and heavier materials than standard models. Special rectangle pads were preferred to standard round alternatives. Certain pads can be disengaged for smaller lifts when all are not necessary.

The 7,000-lb. capacity powered vacuum lifter handles laser cut plate steel.

Cameron Frederick, account manager at Kennedy Wire Rope, said: “We supply many standard and customized products from the Caldwell portfolio; in the case of vacuum lifters, they most frequently fall into the latter category. In other words, from the pad layout to power configuration, every detail is engineered around the application so the equipment performs exactly as it should. We considered lifting magnets, and a mechanical vacuum solution, but ultimately the powered version was the best option.”

Hugo Gutierrez, technical sales representative at Caldwell, said: “Cameron and the team were great to work with on this project; we collaborated to create a vacuum lifter that met the criteria of the end user. For example, we added a transformer to achieve both 115V and 460V power. Another interesting feature was X-style parking stands, so the pads don’t have to sit on the floor when the unit is not in service. The high capacity requested required us to include a turnbuckle sling connecting the main beam to the powerpack to avoid deflection.”

The custom powered vacuum lifter has 10 rectangle pads instead of the round pads on standard models.

Gutierrez added: “If you’re considering vacuum lifting, the first step is to understand a customer’s specific application. From there, we can walk through configuration options, functionality features, and motor preferences to ensure the right fit.”

Kennedy delivered training to operatives and will oversee maintenance requirements as they arise. Caldwell’s wider product offering includes a full line of below-the-hook lifters, construction lifters, mill duty lifters, Renfroe clamps, and RUD lifting points. Many of these products are provided to the point of use by Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling.