New dimension in vacuum lifting technology

Flexible Lifter, a world of possibilities

Roadwork and sewer replacement can be done significantly faster, safer and cheaper in the future. And these are just two of the many possibilities offered by the new Flexible Lifter of Bakker Hydraulic Products from Elst.

The Flexible Lifter is a lifting system, using vacuum suction power. For example, concrete slabs and large pipes can thus be moved quickly without straps or chains. The Lifter can be coupled to auto cranes, making the system quickly deployable anywhere. The new invention is the result of a collaboration between Bakker Hydraulic Products and the American company Vacuworx. Harm Bakker, director of the company in Elst: "We were at a trade fair in Munich, when I saw a lifting system that the Americans use for laying pipelines in America and Asia. We started talking to each other, because we saw much more potential for that way of working."

He explains that Bakker Hydraulic Products saw good possibilities for a machine that would combine the flexibility of a polyp grab with vacuum lifting technology. By using hydraulically adjustable arms and attaching the vacuum suction cups to them, the possibilities become many times greater. "For example, metal plates, stelcon plates, road sections, roadway separators and even parts of runways can be quickly removed or placed during repairs. But sewers can also be laid so easily: there is no need for someone to stand in the dug trench to release lifting straps or chains. That mode of operation allows people to work more safely and quickly. "You put the truck next to the trench and use this device to lift the sewer line quickly and accurately into the right place. From a health and safety perspective, a major improvement! Moreover, no electricity is needed, because the Lifter works on the hydraulics of the truck crane."

According to Bakker, much attention has been paid to safety. Not only does no one have to climb onto the truck for loading and unloading, but the system itself has been extensively tested. "If a leak were to occur in the vacuum system, the load would not fall out of the suction cups. There would still be enough spare capacity to hold the grip for another 10 to 15 minutes. That is more than enough to take action. An audible signal and a warning lamp in the event of a pressure failure are also provided in this regard."

A Belgian company will most likely purchase the first system with a lifting capacity of 4.5 tons. Six Flexible Lifters with a lifting capacity of 1,500 kilograms have now been sold to British companies. A total of four types, capable of lifting 1.5 tons, 3 tons, 4.5 tons and 6 tons respectively, are being developed for the time being. The new invention will be demonstrated at trade fairs at home and abroad this year. The Elster company, together with its Italian sister company Gusella - Bakker, looks after the European market, while its American partner Vacuworx serves American customers.