Let’s face it—change is hard. As creatures of habit, we take comfort in the routine. Change can quickly jolt us from our comfort zone, manifesting uncertainty that can derail positive momentum. However, when embraced correctly, change can propel progress and potential to new heights.

In a manufacturing plant, logistics facility, or distribution center, implementing new technologies, like autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or automated guided vehicles (AGVs), brings on changes to workflows, processes, and procedures. It is important that the human workforce feels comfortable and confident working alongside and collaborating with the automation technology as they adjust to their new processes.

Facility managers should aim to minimize the discomforts of change to gain acceptance from the human workers and maximize the value of the automation investment. Further, managers need to ensure that operators remain confident throughout the entire automation journey. The most effective way is through one word: understanding. With structural support and enablement, offering education, training, and information, you can empower employees to achieve greater levels of success.

There are several benefits to developing a knowledgeable workforce. Here are three advantages you can gain by ensuring your employees have the information they need to drive results.

1. Increase Adoption and Knowledge to Accelerate Your Industrial Automation Success

To effectively achieve your automation goals, employees must utilize the automation technologies correctly. With their day-to-day workflows changing, it’s normal for employees to initially resist new processes. People like to do things the way they are used to doing them.

To overcome this, empower your employees to understand, use, embrace, maintain, and manage the technology. When facilities provide quick and easy access to the right information, training, resources, and reinforcement to help the employees get up and running, the rate of adoption and overall support for the technology accelerates.

Provide information that is relevant to the employee’s application, and ensure that they can easily understand why the technology was implemented, how to properly use and maintain the technology, and how it can positively benefit them in their role. Confidence can create a sense of ownership and establish trust. Ensure that operators have access to the information they need, when they need it, with straight-forward, centralized resources and support.

People want to be part of a successful, winning team. Leverage an AMR vendor who provides services, such as on-site training, self-led educational resources, on-demand knowledge portals, and continued support to help employees become more skilled, involved, and focused. Developing a confident, knowledgeable team will fast-track your automation success for a faster return on investment.

2. Elevate Productivity and Evolve to Grow
As your workforce begins using the AMR technology effectively, you will quickly see major improvements in your performance metrics, including reduced costs, improved safety, boosted throughput, and improved worker productivity. But it doesn’t have to stop there.
Employees can become material handling automation experts by sharpening their skills and expanding their knowledge to safely operate, maintain, and manage their AMR fleet. After learning how to use the technologies, then they can identify, recommend, and put automation solutions into action based on their new skillset and first-hand knowledge of your business priorities and goals.

For example, employees can learn how to utilize AMR fleet analytics software, like Fleet Geek®, applying their competency in the mobile robot fleet and leveraging actionable insights from the software platform to continue advancing. When companies establish an environment where teaching and learning are embraced, facilities will continuously improve, driving safety, efficiency, and growth even further.

3. Empower Teams for Operational Agility
When teams have the ability to access the information they need, when they need it, and at a pace and format that complements individual learning styles, knowledge becomes a support system for both employee development and operational agility.

Levels of expertise will vary across a material handling facility, which is why it’s important to provide a wide range of educational resources. For example, new employees can easily be brought up to speed with introductory, on-demand training courses. More experienced employees who are already collaborating with mobile robots can quickly find and implement a solution when faced with a new challenge, ensuring that production doesn’t get disrupted. Advanced users can discover new ways to optimize workflows by accessing on-demand, interactive learning modules specifically focused on interpreting fleet data.

Other team members may prefer to self-serve to find answers to their questions. A knowledge base, like Seegrid Help Center, offers immediate responses to a variety of questions, sourced from the combined expertise of Seegrid engineers, service, and support teams. With the ability to access a centralized resource center of information, your team can tap into automation expert tips, tricks, and best practices that are accurate and easy-to-understand—around the clock. When teams have the flexibility to access resources, they, in turn, become a more agile team that is armed to overcome any operational hurdles.

Create a Winning Automation Team for Fast-Tracked Success
Seegrid understands that automation is paramount to productivity and growth, and that success with technology initiatives comes from building a confident workforce. Knowing that humans play a huge factor in enabling success with mobile automation technology, we offer a number of ways to ensure our customers have teams that are confident and capable from day one. During deployment, our implementation specialists work alongside your employees, providing them with the information, hands-on training, and support they need to feel comfortable and confident working alongside the robots and managing their AMR fleet.

Once up and running, your teams have access to Seegrid Learning, an extensive selection of courses and materials that provide customers with critical knowledge about the use, performance, and maintenance of Seegrid Palion AMRs to streamline adoption and ensure ongoing optimal fleet management. Seegrid customers have 24/7 access to our robust online training portal—a user-friendly centralized library that contains Seegrid Learning courses, materials, and resources to help you and your company benefit quickly from the use of your Seegrid mobile automation solutions.

We know questions come up, so we’re ready to help in many ways. In addition to our dedicated support team—committed to rapid responses to inbound inquiries—Seegrid also offers customers self-service assistance through Seegrid Help Center. Seegrid Help Center enables self-service access to timely, relevant, and expertly sourced information on the use, maintenance, and management of Seegrid Palion AMRs and Fleet Central enterprise software solutions. The user-friendly, online knowledge base is available 24/7, and helps customers quickly identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues to optimize your entire team’s ability to move material safely and efficiently with Seegrid mobile automation solutions.

Power your facility with a confident, knowledgeable workforce by partnering with an AMR provider that offers the right resources and tools. Educational support can facilitate employee adoption of the technology, create a skilled workforce of automation experts to drive continuous improvement, and help you create operational agility to achieve both short-term and long-term goals. Ensure that your workforce is confident in using and maintaining the automation technology to maximize your investment and streamline for even stronger performance in the future.

Did you know that in 2018,  produced core components for the Optics and Photonics Industry? Have you been hearing about the photonics industry and are looking to learn more? We are here with this short guide to share more about what is photonics and the strong elements of the photonics industry.

Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of photonics and photonics products.

What Is Photonics?

In lamest terms, this is a physics branch that deals with the properties of photons. The entire market is made up of separate markets that are all based on different light technologies.

These are currently some of the strongest segments in the photonics world:

1. Laser Diodes

These are semiconductor devices that have the ability to convert electrical energy into light. The laser diode market includes optically pumped semiconductor laser and also injection laser diode. The injection laser diodes hold the biggest share of this market.

Most of the applications being used are for laser printers, laser scanning, range finding, medical use, welding, barcode readers, laser pointers, and vehicle headlights just to name a few. The leading part of the entire laser market is industrial applications. Even though laser systems have been running in factories way before manufacturing was connected through the internet and controlled online, they are now at the heart of connected manufacturing.

You can check out  to learn more about the photonics conference coming up in the near future. If you attend the conference in person you can learn about current happenings in the industry and learn even more about what the future holds.

2. Night Vision

Most people associate night vision with military binoculars but nowadays night vision is being used in a lot more places. Night vision is found in surveillance and security equipment, fire fighting applications, and the automotive industry.

This type of tech includes image intensification, thermal imaging, and sensor fusion technology. With image intensification, visibility increases from near-wave to long-wave infrared. When it comes to sensor fusion technology, this produces an electronic format of an image that it transmits to a central system.

In this central system, it can be used for identification or for gathering data. The market for night vision goggles are expected to grow by 2025 because of the lower costs lately and the ease of night vision use.

3. Brain Imaging

Brain imaging needs have been on the rise because brain cancer rates and brain injuries have been on the rise. Also, our older population has seen an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Brain imaging systems are also used in diagnostics and in surgeries.

The leading technologies in the brain imaging market include fMRI, PET, and fNIR. fMRI or Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast in their imaging process.

PET or Positron Emission Tomography injects a radioactive isotope that flows to all the areas of the brain that are going through heavy use. When the isotopes begin to decay a positron is released and then it collides with an electron which sends gamma rays in opposite directions and a PET scanner determines the origin.

fNIR is also known as Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. This is an imaging method that solely relies on BOLD contrast just like fMRI. fNIR is more affordable and also more portable than fMRI. The main difference is that it is limited in the depth where it can measure cortical activity.

4. Integrated Circuits

Photonic integrated circuits are any device that has two or more photonic features. The market for this is in high demand at the moment because the demand for communications systems for the internet has grown so much.

These integrated circuits are used in quantum computing, biomedical devices, optical communication, and lasers. The current challenge is how complex the design might be and also the power consumption needs.

Right now some of the key players in this market include Intel, Avago Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, Luxtera, Agilent, and Te Connectivity.

5. Sensors

There are photonic sensors that help convert light into an electrical signal. This is being used in scintillation detection, lidar, spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, and biological fluorescence detection. It is also popular in industries involving solar and wind, optical networks, and machine vision.

The use of photonic sensors will continue to increase over the next few years because of the need for speed, artificial intelligence, and also a high need for connectivity. Key players in the sensors world include Sony Corporation, Omron, Hamamatsu, and Prime Photonics.

6. Non-Destructive Testing Equipment

This is the process of inspecting, evaluating, and testing components, assemblies, or materials for any differences in characteristics but without destroying the use of the part or of the system. The main challenge currently is that there are not many skilled professionals in this niche and automated test equipment is currently pretty expensive.

Non-destructive testing is used in the energy, power, transportation, and automotive industries. With the increasing number of power plants the energy and power market continues to lead the non-destructive testing world.

Key companies in this market are Sonatest, Olympus Corporation, Zetec, and Mistras Group.

Feeling Like a Photonics Pro?

We hope that now that we went over photonics, you are feeling a lot more knowledgeable about the industry. This is definitely a huge and growing market because light-based technologies play a critical role in almost every aspect of our current modern lives.

Did our blog post come in handy today? Please keep browsing the rest of this section for our latest tips and tricks.

Winter is coming—is your business ready? Many facilities find that their power bills increase in winter, cutting into profits.

If you’re dreading another winter of high energy bills, it’s not too late to make a few changes. You don’t need to accept high power bills, as there are more ways than you might think to save energy in your workplace.

To learn more, keep reading to find three creative ways to save energy in the winter months—your accountant will thank you!

1. Upgrade Your Equipment

If you’re looking for ways to save energy, it helps to upgrade your equipment. Older machinery is never as efficient as newer models, so an investment in new equipment can save your company in the long-term.

Consider items like your HVAC system, motors, and electrical equipment. Regularly servicing your gear helps too, such as checking compressed air systems for leaks.

When it comes to leaks, they’re most often caused by missing seals or damaged tubing—an easy an affordable fix.

Or, if you can’t afford to upgrade, insulating big items like generators and compressors can help prevent energy from escaping. You can find blanket insulation and shields from a company like .

2. Convince Employees to Be More Energy-Efficient

Your staff are your first line of defense when it comes to saving energy. It can help to get them in the habit of switching off lights, conserving energy, and getting them involved.

This is especially true in winter, when short days and cold temperatures can mean lots of electricity used for lighting and heating. Encourage staff to come up with new ways to save energy and convince them of the benefits of conservation.

They can help by turning off lights when leaving a room, turning off unused equipment, and conducting a mass save energy audit, looking for places where the company can improve.

3. Swap Out Your Lighting

One of the simplest ways to improve your facility’s energy consumption is by swapping out your lighting.

Energy-efficient lightbulbs, such as LEDs and CFLs, use 25%-80% than the traditional style of an incandescent bulb. Plus, they also last longer.

If you have more efficient lighting, your company will use less energy and you can enjoy lower power bills.

You can also think about motion sensor lights, which turn off automatically when no one is in the room.

Your Facility Can Save Energy With These Top Tips

Your facility, whether large or small, can benefit from these helpful tips to help save energy in the winter months. Lower power bills mean more profits or more money to invest back into the company, helping you grow and expand.

Get started today by trying to implement a few of the above ideas into your business—it’s sure to result in lower power bills!

Was this useful? If so, please keep reading for more great ideas and content.

Before it was the hydraulic powerhouse it is today, Enerpac was already making waves.

Back in 1910, the original company was tasked with creating water pumps for Ford’s iconic “Model T” car. In the 1920s, it catapulted into the technology space with the invention of hydraulic jacks. Thirty years later, Enerpac added an industrial products division.

Today, it’s an industry leader in the hydraulic tools space, delivering solutions for thousands of applications across nearly every industry.

As a certified Enerpac reseller, we’re proud to carry these products in our online and brick-and-mortar stores. Today, we’re spotlighting and showcasing some of the brand’s hottest solutions for 2020 and beyond.

High-Pressure Hydraulic Cylinders

Enerpac’s high-pressure hydraulic cylinders are heralded as some of the best in the business, and for good reason. These tools have the capacity to deliver intense force with ease, allowing you to push, pull, lift, or hold your equipment as effectively as possible.

Enerpac categorizes these cylinders by their purpose and function. In addition, each category has its own unique force capacity and stroke length. Your options are as follows:

• General-purpose cylinders
• Lightweight aluminum cylinders
• High-tonnage construction cylinders
• Hollow plunger cylinders
• Spread cylinders
• Universal long-stroke and high-cycle cylinders

When you work with our team, we’ll help you choose the perfect hydraulic cylinder for your application. While Enerpac offers a variety of configurations and sizes, there’s one that’s just right for the job.

Specialty Lifting Ģ����Ƶ

When you need lifting equipment, you can’t afford to waste time and resources on a pint-sized tool. Rather, you need robust machinery that can get the job done the first time.

This is where Enerpac’s specialty lifting products come in.

Designed to be both rugged and sleek, these tools are user-friendly and a cinch to maintain. When you shop with us, you can choose from any of the following:

• Aluminum and steel hand jacks
• Spread cylinders
• Industrial bottle jacks
• Hydraulic machine lifts

In addition, we also carry the brand’s trademark POW’R-RISER® Lifting Jacks. Featuring either a pneumatic or electric pump, each lifting jack also includes the following:

• Three-position handle
• Four inches of ground clearance
• Fully-enclosed frame

Hydraulic Presses

Almost every industrial manufacturer has a need for some sort of hydraulic press. Yet, they aren’t all created equal.

The welded frames on Enerpac’s presses make them as durable and long-lasting as possible. In addition, each press comes equipped with the brand’s Roll-Frame feature. This allows the frame to roll on four steel roller bearings while hydraulic clamp cylinders secure it into position.

Hydraulic and Mechanical Pullers

From presses to pullers, Enerpac does it all. Designed as either mechanical or hydraulic, these pullers are made of high-strength steel alloys and can easily remove the following shaft-mounted components, among others:

• Bearings
• Sleeves
• Gears
• Sprockets
• Wheels

If you’re used to hammering, prying, or heating your components in an effort to remove them, these pullers are a much quicker, effective alternative.

Hydraulic Pumps

Did you know there are more than 1,000 configurations available for Enerpac hydraulic pumps? Since those early days with the Model T, the company has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the most flexible and agile pump manufacturers in the industry.

These hydraulic pumps can be customized to fit a variety of power options, including:

• Manual pumps
• Air hydraulic pumps
• Electric pumps
• Gasoline pumps

Mechanical and Hydraulic Industrial Tools

When you need quick access to a mechanical or hydraulic tool, it pays to have everything in on spot. That’s the premise behind many of the sets that Enerpac provides.

Yet, these aren’t the only Enerpac industrial tools we carry. In addition to tool sets, we also carry a wide variety of resources, including:

• Machine lifts
• Maintenance sets
• Hole punches
• Load skates
• Cable cutters
• Bolting tools

Workholding Tools

Successful manufacturing hinges on precision. That’s why you need an expert workholding tool to keep your hard work in place. Delivering impressive clamping and positioning force, Enerpac solutions aren’t going anywhere.

For that reason, they’re a go-to favorite for professionals in the automobile manufacturing realm. In addition to hydraulic cylinders, you can also find hydraulic pumps and valves, along with accessories and service parts.

One of the best parts? Enerpac’s workholding tools are innovative and future-focused, incorporating technology . Once you hydraulically actuate the tool to clamp your workpiece, this revolutionary clamp maintains the clamping force, using a trademarked mechanical locking system rather than hydraulic pressure.

System Components and Accessories

You might not think too often about the internal components of your Enerpac resources, nor the accessories they require to remain operable.

However, you’ll notice immediately when one wears out and needs replacing. Thankfully, the brand makes it as easy as possible to find what you need. Whether that’s a high-pressure hydraulic hose, hydraulic pressure gauge, hydraulic valve, or any other piece, you can rest assured you’re getting the best in the business.

To keep all of these components operating as smoothly and successfully as possible, we also carry Enerpac !

On the accessories side, we carry a variety of Enerpac tools to help you keep your machines clean and safe. The short list includes:

• Adapters
• Extensions
• Connectors
• Couplings
• O-rings
• Valve plugs

In addition, we also carry repair kits, service kits, and replacement kits to help you take proactive control of your machinery!

Shop Our Full Selection of Enerpac Ģ����Ƶ Today

There’s a reason that Enerpac has become synonymous with top-quality hydraulic solutions. The company takes no shortcuts when designing their rugged, high-performing tools.

When you’re ready to take your manufacturing environment to the next level, we’d love to help. We offer a range of Enerpac products, as well as other, similar solutions.

Feel free to shop our site to find the resource you need today. Then, contact us with any questions and let’s connect!

Introduction:

As recently as a few years ago it seemed that labor savings was the driving factor in leading manufacturers to investigate automation.  Return on investment was largely calculated by the number of people that the automation would replace.  And if that ROI was less than a few years, automation projects were often greenlit.  More recently however, we started seeing that labor scarcity was quickly becoming more of a motivating factor for manufacturers to consider automation.  The lack of available workers was preventing some manufacturers from scaling production or keeping up with ever changing customer demand.  The COVID-19 outbreak has shone a bright light on some of the dreadfully out-of-date, manual manufacturing practices that will prevent so many companies from recovering quickly when restrictions are lifted.

Help Wanted:

Suppose a large, distribution warehouse opens down the road from a manufacturer.  They need to hire 500 workers to get up and running quickly. To fill those jobs are offering higher pay, full benefits and paid vacation because business is booming.  If you were working at the manufacturer doing tedious, repetitive work would you remain at that job?  Or would you go to the new, bright, clean warehouse down?  True, the work may not be any less mundane.  But you are compensated better and there is a perceived “cool” factor to your employment there.

This is happening to manufacturers all over America.  And not just those located in rural areas where labor is scarce but also in major metropolitan areas as factory workers are looking for better opportunities.  This situation leaves the manufacturers in a constant cycle of hiring and training only to have the best employees leave to better work elsewhere.

This has been the reality for most manufacturers for the last few years.  A 2018 study by Deloitte revealed that 2.4 million manufacturing positions will go unfilled between 2018-2028 as a result of the skills gap.  When you couple the added complexity of manufacturing while adhering to social distancing guidelines, manufacturers are left with an almost impossible task of growing their businesses while relying heavily on humans to perform the work.

Role of Automation:

Today’s automation and robotic technologies are still limited in their ability.  There are simply many, many tasks that people are better suited to perform.  Manufacturers need to focus their human talent on those jobs or tasks that require critical thinking, complex manipulation or a personal touch.

Amazon’s e-commerce fulfillment centers are a terrific example of a how a company has leveraged technology to perform trivial tasks and the result has been explosive sales and employment growth.  According to reports they have deployed over 200,000 robots in their distribution centers while adding over 300,000 jobs to meet demand.  Mobile robots move across their distribution center like an army of ants operating in concert bringing goods to employees that verify the products and place them into boxes for fulfil orders.

Here are the most common applications manufacturers are automating today.  The tasks are broken down by the technology that enables the automation and is followed by the benefit to the manufacturer.

Machine Vision:

• Product Inspection – Preventing defective product from reaching customers
• Packaging Inspection – Ensuring product quality, quantity and accuracy prior to shipment
• Barcode reading – Providing tracking and traceability information for compliance or recalls

Cobots & Robots:

• Machine Tending – Reducing repetitive loading and unloading of product into machines
• Packaging – Reducing labor cost associated with placing product in cases or cartons
• Palletizing – Reducing workplace injuries from repetitive handling of heavy boxes or cases

Autonomous Mobile Robots:

• Goods to line delivery – Enabling just in time delivery of goods to the line without human labor
• Intralogistics of raw materials and finished goods – Increased safety and lower labor cost by reducing fork truck traffic

Automation Trends:

If you haven’t been paying attention, in the last few years a lot of things have been changing for both automation providers and automation users alike.  Let’s take a quick look at some of the trends that are pointing towards the likelihood that further adoption of automation is on the horizon.

For Manufacturers:

1. Labor shortages
2. Increased reliance on overseas suppliers
3. Desired agilty to produce customized products and to scale production up and down quickly
4. Increase of low volume, high mix production
5. Increased expectations for product quality
6. Desire for manufacturing to occur as close to the customer as possible (onshoring)
7. Establishment of Industry 4.0 and IIoT initiatives to deliver real time data to the cloud

For Automation providers:

1. Increased technology capabilities while prices of those technologies has dropped
2. Advances in sensors, AI and machine learning that has opened new potential applications
3. Flexible COTS items with improved ease of use that allows automation deployments in weeks
4. Additive manufacturing allows quick prototyping that reduces project risk
5. The proliferation of Robots-as-a-service (RaaS) and other finance models that reduce upfront investment
6. Open communication standards that unlock machine to machine connectivity eliminating islands of information

Complications for automation adoption post-COVID-19:

In recent weeks, essential manufacturers have experienced significant workforce backlash as a result of potentially dangerous work environments as a result of a lack of safety supplies and manufacturing processes that are designed around close human interaction.

Without significant changes to the configuration of production lines, manufacturers will be facing a significant challenge to produce enough goods to meet demand while satisfying safety concerns of their employees.

Worker safety, combined with the strong headwinds of labor scarcity leads us to believe that COVID-19 will be an accelerant to increased adoption of automation technologies.  Now is the time for everyone in the supply chain to evaluate and test new technologies that could eventually roll out company wide and fundamentally change how goods are produced and delivered.  Even retailers like Walmart and Kroger have been testing robots in limited fashion for years and have plans to scale deployment in the coming years.

There will be a tidal wave of automation companies bringing robots and other technologies to market that will be designed to automating tasks that we hadn’t needed until the COVID-19 outbreak.  For example, disinfecting areas of the plant floor where workers congregate.

In addition to new technology offerings, there will be many new applications for existing automation technologies.  Could we seem more robots deployed in less industrial settings like retail and fast food.  We suspect we will as they struggle with the same challenges of attracting low wage workers while abiding by social distancing guidelines.

Summary:

Work from home mandates, increased e-commerce activity and home delivery requests as a results of the COVID-19 pandemic calls for a critical review of all facets of manufacturing.  Most notably it draws attention to the areas of robotics, supply chain and digital transformation.  Automation will not solve all problems for manufacturers and other companies that seek to thrive in a post-COVID-19 world.  We do not believe that widespread adoption of automation is the answer for all companies but do expect to see a steady replacement of monotonous, manual tasks with automation in the coming years where employers can redeploy skilled employees to tasks better suited for humans.  Additional workers will be needed to manage and maintain the automation once it is deployed.

Automation technology will continue to drop in price and will become simpler to apply and simpler to support.  So companies that wait for better, cheaper technology may find themselves years behind their competitors that are figuring out how to leverage automation today.

Author: Mark Proud
Proud Automation – Division of the Ģ����Ƶ

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Industry insiders  the vacuum lifter and handling market to grow by 8 percent annually over the next four years. Driving this trend is a steady demand for window glazing and solar panels, as well as a rise in global constructions.

Are you a company looking to add vacuum lifting technology to your production line? You’re certain to enjoy this increased investment in innovation.

Ģ����Ƶ guarantees that the Gast range of products it stocks will meet all your vacuum lifting requirements. From vacuum pumps and air motors to tank systems and compressors.

Read on to learn why Gast is the right choice for those researching how to choose vacuum lifting equipment.

1. Want Long-Lasting Vacuum Lifting Gear? Go Gast

Vacuum lifting is a versatile way for manufacturing or distribution businesses to lift objects. Contemporary vacuum lifting technologies offer a solution for a wide range of companies in the industrial sector to move items from A to B.

What is vacuum lifting?

Vacuum lifting (also called vacuum handling) works through the elimination of atmospheric pressure. A trained human operator or a robotic arm lowers a crane fitted with a pump and suction cups over the object they want to lift. The pump sucks in the air between the suction cups and the lifted item.

The machine holds this air in a chamber in the crane. The steady pressure created between the suction cup and the object enables the crane operator to lift the item. There’s no need for hooks, ties, or any other securing devices.

Examples of Vacuum Lifting in Practice

There’s a winning strategy for creating cost-effective vacuum lifting equipment. You need to build a crane with the right cups, pump, and other mechanisms like rotate-tilt or G-Force. These all need to be light- or heavy-duty enough to suit the materials or items you need to lift.

Some of the best vacuum lifting application examples include:

• Pick and place in food, electronics, and parts manufacturing
• Clamping in woodworking or metal machinery
• Stacking goods on pallets post-manufacturing
• Picking and packing in the mailing and distribution industries
• Loading and unloading of ships, trains, and trucks
• Paper transport in the printing industry

What Does Gast Offer for Vacuum Lifting?

Ģ����Ƶ stocks a wide range of Gast air compressors and vacuum pumps. Rotary vane and rocking piston vacuum pumps–the ever-popular workhorses of the machinery sector. Vacuum components for automation like diaphragms and vacuum generators.

Gast is ISO 9001 certified and committed to creating only the very best in vacuum pumps, motors, and more. They have been refining their QC processes since 1983, putting them among an elite group of US manufacturers in their sector. All Gast products come with a  and are quality assured.

2. Focus on Innovation and Quality Over Quantity

The COVID-19 outbreak has  in the American manufacturing sector.

Broken supply chains, unsustainable outsourcing. Loss of valuable skilled workforce to the overseas market. The list goes on.

Companies across the USA are realizing something. They need to invest in local production and innovation if they want to stay afloat.

Since the dawn of the 20th century, Gast has been at the top of the compressor system engineering field. They haven’t slowed down in the 21st century either. Gast improves existing products and releases new ones in response to technological advances.

Their state-of-the-art  has two anechoic chambers. It also has accurate vibration and sound measurement instruments. Gast conducts rigorous in-factory testing with their more than willing customers.

The Gast design team champions innovation in product development. They also understand what the American industrial sector needs to get their products to market. Or from port to warehouse to door.

And if they don’t have a product that fits your needs, they will find a way to create it according to your unique requirements. Silent, energy-saving, automatable, powerful lift, less equipment, low danger. These are just some of the benefits of using a vacuum lifting system.

Advanced testing systems. The collection of real-time data from customers using their products. Gast gathers valuable information to refine their vacuum pumps and other lifting accessories.

The benefit to companies? Faster production lines, smoother pick and drop processes, safer factories, and higher profits.

3. Design and Manufactured on American Soil

Gast has been manufacturing and designing machinery Stateside since as far back as 1921. It’s an American company with an entrepreneurial “Made in America” backstory to boot.

The company was so important to the history of manufacturing in the USA that Gast marketing paraphernalia is even collected by Smithsonian Libraries. They house a prized stockpile of vintage 20th-century brochures  Gast-manufactured equipment.

The company was once helmed by generations of the Gast family but in 1998, IDEX  Gast. Warren Gast, who was the President at the time, stayed with the company for two years after the IDEX takeover. He ensured that all the family values and dedication to the craftsmanship the company had worked hard to build over the decades would continue to be upheld.

Gast is now part of a group of seven-thousand employees and over forty companies and benefits from all that collective R&D and manufacturing knowledge. Gast passes this insight onto loyal customers in the form of products that work well for American businesses. Today, most manufacturing of Gasts products and all of the design development work  Michigan, where Gast has had its headquarters for a century.

Over half a million loyal customers across the world and leading multinationals like ExxonMobil can’t be wrong. When you buy Gast products you’re supporting a proudly Made in America brand.

4. Safety First: Gast Ģ����Ƶ Reduce Injury

Vacuum lifting has many safety benefits over traditional lifting equipment, including manual lifting.

Workers don’t need to attach hooks. Designers can make the movements of the machines more ergonomic. And manless robotics operation of vacuum lifting equipment is on the rise.

As reported by OSHA, vacuum lifting even  workers from exposure to life-threatening silica dust.

Noise and vibration exposure are two of the most serious issues affecting workers in today’s manufacturing and distribution industries.

Across the world, occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) causes as much as  of the cases of severe hearing loss in adults. A reported 1.3 billion people have some level of hearing loss due to exposure to unsafe levels in their workplaces. It’s for this very reason that Gast has worked hard to create vacuum pumps and compressors with limited noise outputs.

�ճ�𾱰��� technology reduces Sones by an astonishing 40 percent and db[A] by 25 percent. It’s simple to install and does not affect pump performance. Ditch the mufflers, cabinets, and foam insulation while keeping your workers protected.

The vibration of machinery is an overlooked issue in the manufacturing and industrial sector. Continual exposure to vibration can damage small capillaries in the hands and arms and make it difficult for workers to control tools and machinery. They can lose feeling in their extremities and develop chronic conditions like ��(�ᴡ�ճ�).

Gast addresses this health hazard by ensuring all of its vacuum pumps and other vacuum lifting equipment are low vibration. Their rotary vane vacuum pumps feature pulse-free air delivery and their vacuum generators have no moving parts. Some of Gast’s vacuum pumps are mountable in any position on a lifting machine, allowing engineers to build user ergonomics into the system.

5. Quality Customer Support: Before and After Purchase

Ģ����Ƶ knows they’re not the only vacuum pump and vacuum lifting accessories provider in the USA. That’s why dedication to the customer is their number one priority.

Gast offers customer service through its carefully approved network of distributors. In the USA, that’s Ģ����Ƶ. From taking online orders and quotes to conducting on-site authorized repair work, Ģ����Ƶ has you covered when it comes to making the most of your Gast product purchase.

Through its close relationship with Gast, the company prides itself on providing clients with everything they need to make an informed decision. Lengthy product details and variations are available on their website alongside download sheets with everything from technical specifications to installation and maintenance advice. Ģ����Ƶ lists its products under brand or type for easy browsing.

Are you having trouble with your vacuum lifting equipment? Call the capable support team at RC Group and they’ll offer expert advice backed by over sixty years in the industry.

If you need on-site service, their incomparable field service team has the problem sorted out in no time. From completing scheduled maintenance to installing your new machinery and troubleshooting a system. RC Group certifies all its service people under its National Fluid Power Society program.

They’ll even work out machinery that’s out of production or not part of their stable!

Look to Ģ����Ƶ for your Vacuum Lifting Solutions

Because Gast products are resistant to corrosion and come in oilless or lubricated versions, they are less prone to damage over the long-term. More durable products result in less injury due to machinery wear-and-tear. Gast works hard to create the best vacuum lifting equipment products that save you money and time and ensure you look after your employees.

Are you looking to add Gast products to your production line or distribution system? Drop a line to GR Group today. Their experienced customer service representatives are ready to help you with your vacuum lifting application and machinery build-out questions.

This is why vacuum pumps are used in various industries. They’re essential equipment for production of electronics such as CRT and semiconductors. The , pharmaceuticals, and other businesses have processes that require this machine.

However, there are as many types of pumps as there are uses for them. With advances in technology, more options become available. How do you choose which industrial vacuum pumps are right for you?

Read on to learn more.

What to Look for in a Vacuum Pump

What will you be using the machine for? This is the first question you ask yourself when choosing a vacuum pump. The application or process will determine what type of vacuum pump you’ll need.

Chemical Compatibility

You’ll want the liquids or gases to play nicely with your vacuum pump. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a broken pump, a contaminated product, or both.

For example, if you’re handling corrosive media, you’d want a pump that is corrosion-resistant. The purchase cost will be higher, but you can guarantee your pump to last longer.

Traditional rotary vane pumps use oil for a tight seal. The oil also serves as lubricant and coolant.

But if the application produces vapors that can react with the oil, it will damage your pump. This is the reason why cold traps or condensers are used in this setup. The condenser will trap the vapors to protect the pump.

Vacuum Level

How much suction does the process need? This is usually expressed in inches of Mercury (inHg) or bar. Vacuum pumps will have different ranges of suctioning power depending on the type.

A laboratory working with filtration will require a modest vacuum. But functions like evaporation  will demand deeper vacuum levels.

Flow Rate

The flow rate or pumping speed is another important consideration. Some operations deal with a lot of volume that needs to be pumped out within a specific time frame. If you’re dealing with time-sensitive volatile compounds, you’ll need faster pumps.

Installation and Maintenance

You should review the specifications of the vacuum pump you’ll purchase. What type of connections does it have and are they appropriate for your application? Does it require specific tubings or hose?

Also, assess the need for ancillary equipment. Those should be compatible with your pump.

As for maintenance, the things to consider are the frequency and level of expertise required. How does the maintenance schedule affect your production? Will your workers be able to handle the maintenance?

Costs

This includes not only the purchasing price but also the operating and maintenance costs. You’ll have to strike the correct balance between the quality and your budget.

Types of Industrial Vacuum Pumps

Let’s take a look at the most common types of industrial pumps. They have different features that make them suited for particular applications.

They all operate under the principle of positive displacement. Think of how a syringe sucks blood. By increasing the volume of the chamber (pulling on the plunger), you generate a partial vacuum.

Rotary Vane

The rotary vane is the simplest and the most common vacuum pump.

Sliding vanes are placed in a rotor that rotates inside a circular housing. The center of the housing and the rotor are offset which creates an eccentricity. As centrifugal forces cause the vanes to extend to the cylindrical wall, spaces with different volumes are created. The volume displacement generates the vacuum effect.

This device has been around since 1874 invented by Charles Barnes of New Brunswick. It is a tried and tested technology that has undergone numerous innovations. New models have lower power demand, quieter, and able to operate at low temperatures.

As previously mentioned, traditional rotary vane pumps use oil for operation. There are now models which are 100% oil-less, dispensing the need for cold traps. This further expands the applications that they can be used for.

A rotary vane is a great introductory pump with a low upfront cost. It is also small and compact which is advantageous in some setups.

They’re capable of deeper vacuum levels making them suitable for freeze-drying processes. They’re also used in packaging, plastics, and other challenging operations.

Diaphragm

Diaphragm pumps use the pulsing action of a diaphragm (rubber, Teflon) to open and close valves on either side of the diaphragm. This motion creates the displacement needed for pump flow.

These are dry pumps and oil isn’t needed for proper function. While they are pricier than conventional rotary vanes, you’ll save money from lower maintenance costs. Cold traps and condensers are also not required.

The valves are also made of corrosion-resistant material. This makes them a good choice for handling chemicals and solvents. They can handle almost any type of sample and are a good choice for evaporation processes.

Piston

A piston pump is a reciprocating pump that uses pistons driven by a motor through a crankshaft. This motion is similar to that used in internal combustion engines.

Piston pumps are generally used as hydraulic pumps. They can provide power to heavy machinery, a good example is the big oil pump. But they can also be used in smaller machines such as insecticide sprayers.

Variations of this pump type make them useful in high-tech industrial applications. Axial pumps have multiple piston pumps in a circular array. These can be modified to produce variable speeds decreasing the torque needed. This translates to higher efficiency, increased productivity, and lower acquisition costs for the motor.

Rotary Screw

The rotary screw or screw pump can be attributed to the Greek scientist Archimedes. The rotating screw action inside a pipe will cause the medium to flow in one direction.

Rotary screw pumps utilize two screws that turn in opposite directions. This produces the compression action for volume flow.

Rotary screws can give you a high-performance level, quiet operation, and low maintenance. They’re also usually equipped with a monitoring system, process controller, and variable speed drives.

Screw pumps can provide high flow rates even for viscous substances. This makes them ideal for fuel transfer and other industrial applications.

Are you Pumped Up?

Knowing what to look for in industrial vacuum pumps should power up your purchasing decision. Study the right qualities of a vacuum pump that your application needs.

If you have more questions, we’re happy to help. Contact us���ٴǻ岹��!