Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Solution Provided By: RonI | Lift-O-Flex
Customer Challenge
A California food and beverage manufacturer, needed a safe and reliable way to handle 55-gallon steel and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) drums filled with a sap-like liquid weighing up to 550 lbs. Operators were required to move the drums from pallets or the floor and then dump their contents into hoppers positioned 57” above floor level.
The customer raised several concerns during evaluation:
- The weight of the drums created significant safety risks for operators.
- Questions around efficiency — how long would it take to perform each lift and dump cycle with powered equipment?
- Leg clearance issues — ensuring the lifter could clear the hopper edge to safely tilt and pour.
Their goals were to:
- Eliminate unsafe manual handling of heavy, liquid-filled drums
- Provide an ergonomic, operator-friendly solution that was not time-consuming
- Ensure lifter legs could safely access pallets and clear hopper edges
- Deliver a stainless steel solution suitable for food production environments
Our Solution
RonI provided a LIFT-O-FLEX® 19500S Ergonomic Lifter with a Squeeze-O-Turn™ end-effector to securely grip, lift, and rotate heavy drums of sap-like liquid for safe unloading into hoppers. The stainless steel/anodized design ensured compliance with food-grade requirements while delivering long-term durability and smooth operation.
Key Features of the Solution:
- Drum Handling Capacity: Up to 550 lbs for steel and HDPE drums with rings
- Squeeze-O-Turn™ End-Effector: Provides a firm grip with drum retainers and controlled rotation for liquid pouring
- Effective Lift Height: Nearly 70” to easily reach and dump into hoppers
- Clearance Design: Long legs designed to access pallets and clear hopper edges
- Construction: Stainless steel/anodized aluminum, food-grade suitable
- Controls: Adjustable ergonomic handle with variable speed lift control
- Mobility: Swivel casters with directional locks for easy maneuverability in tight production areas
- Battery Powered: 24V DC system with onboard charger for reliable, daily operation
- Noise Level: <70dB(A) for a quieter facility
To further improve pallet access, workstation pallets were recommended, ensuring lifter leg clearance when retrieving drums directly from shipper pallets.
Results & Benefits
- Improved Operator Safety: Removed manual lifting and rotation of 550 lb liquid-filled drums
- Efficiency Gains: Powered controls allowed operators to quickly move, tilt, and pour drums without adding significant time to production cycles
- Confident Hopper Access: Lifter legs and tilt range ensured safe clearance over hopper edges
- Food-Grade Compliance: Stainless steel construction aligned with the customers' processing environment
- Operator-Friendly Use: Ergonomic handles and quiet operation reduced fatigue
Why It Worked
The LIFT-O-FLEX® 19500S with Squeeze-O-Turn™ directly addressed the customers biggest concerns — weight, efficiency, and hopper clearance. By tailoring the system to their workflow, RonI delivered an ergonomic, clean, and efficient solution that allowed operators to handle heavy sap-filled drums with confidence. The result was a safer, faster, and more consistent drum-handling process for the production line.