Industry: Manufacturing / Waste Management
Solution Provided By: RonI | Lift-O-Flex
Customer Challenge
A manufacturing facility was facing a recurring ergonomic and safety issue: employees needed to manually lift and dump heavy 20-gallon “Brute” drums filled with glass waste into a hopper standing approximately 60 inches tall. Each drum weighed up to 120 pounds and had to be picked up from either the floor or a pallet. This task posed a high risk for back injuries, required multiple team members, and was slowing down productivity on the shop floor.
The company needed a safer, more efficient material handling solution that could:
- Accommodate low-profile access under pallets
- Securely grip and lift heavy drums
- Allow controlled dumping into elevated hoppers
- Be operated by a single person
Our Solution
After reviewing the facility’s operational workflow and load handling needs, we proposed the LIFT-O-FLEX® 20500HS lifter equipped with a Lift-O-Turn™ end-effector. This configuration was tailored specifically to:
- Needed a solution to lift 120-lb Brute drums. The Lift-O-Turn tooling provided not only meets this requirement but is rated to handle Brute containers up to 55 gallons.
- Dump contents into a 60” tall hopper
- Offer pick-up flexibility from both floor and pallet positions
- Maintain maneuverability in tight workspace environments
To further streamline operations, we recommended an optional aluminum workstation pallet designed with a 6.5” clearance height, enabling the lifter’s low-profile legs to slide underneath effortlessly.
Outcome
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By implementing the LIFT-O-FLEX® 20500HS lifter, the facility:
- Improved workplace safety by eliminating manual lifting of heavy, unstable loads
- Increased efficiency by enabling a single operator to manage the entire dump process
- Reduced strain injuries and long-term physical wear on employees
- Maintained flexibility by allowing floor and pallet-based drum pickups
- Boosted morale through the use of smarter, safer tools
The tailored lifter design and end-effector allowed the company to confidently manage glass waste disposal without compromising speed or safety.
Feature Details
The 20500HS ergonomic lifter came equipped with:
- Lift-O-Turn™ End-Effector: Ideal for securely gripping and rotating drums for dumping
- Aluminum-Anodized Frame: Lightweight yet durable, with powder-coated protection
- Low-Profile Legs (34.6” length, 6.5” pallet clearance): Fits under workstation pallets
- DC-Powered Lift Column: Fully enclosed and anodized, with a lift speed of 5.2”/sec
- Adjustable Handle & Manual Brake: Designed for user comfort and controlled movement
- Battery & Electronics: 24V DC, single-speed hand control, and quiet operation (<70dB)
With a total weight of just 100 lbs (without the end-effector), the 20500HS offered both power and portability for mid-weight drum handling tasks.