Question 1

Vacuum lifters: what are they and how do they work?

Accepted Answer

A vacuum lifter—also referred to as a suction lifter, vacuum lifting device, or vacuum lifting equipment—is a below-the-hook attachment designed for lifting and handling various materials, including glass, sandwich panels, sheet metal, stone slabs, PVC, and wood. To operate, it must be suspended from a lifting hoist, such as a crane or a forklift.To ensure a secure grip, a vacuum lifter utilizes negative pressure (vacuum) to adhere firmly to the material’s surface, allowing for safe and efficient handling operations.A professional vacuum lifter consists of a robust main frame equipped with one or more suction pads. The core of the equipment is the vacuum circuit, which typically includes a pneumatic or electric vacuum pump,safety valves, vacuum gauge, vacuum reservoir, vacuum switch and an audiovisual alarm system.The vacuum is generated by the vacuum pump, which exhausts the air between the suction pads and the material’s surface, creating the pressure differential necessary to hold the load securely.

Question 2

Vacuum lifting devices: how to choose the right solution for your needs?

Accepted Answer

To select the most suitable vacuum lifter, it is essential to assess your specific operational requirements. Righetti offers a wide range of professional suction lifters designed to meet most handling needs. For non-standard or special applications, our Technical Department can customize the equipment or develop a bespoke project tailored to your exact specifications.To identify the most effective vacuum lifting solution, customers should ask themselves the following questions:What material needs to be lifted? What are the minimum and maximum dimensions of the load?What is the maximum weight (WLL - Working Load Limit) to be handled?What lifting mean will the vacuum lifter be attached to? (e.g., crane, jib crane, overhead crane, forklift, excavator, etc.).What power source is available? Is there an electric or pneumatic supply on the lifting mean, or is a battery-powered (self-contained) device preferable?How must the load be maneuvered? Is manual or powered tilting and/or rotation necessary?Are there any space or handling restrictions that I need to comply with? When requesting a quote, you can rely on our skilled team of technical sales staff to find the best vacuum lifting solution for your business.

Question 3

What materials can be handled with vacuum lifters?

Accepted Answer

Vacuum lifters are specialized lifting equipment primarily designed for handling flat, smooth, and non-porous materials.Despite this general rule, over the years Righetti has developed advanced vacuum lifting solutions for textured surfaces (e.g., bush-hammered stone slabs or chequer plates), curved surfaces (e.g., concave and convex glass), and even porous materials.Our extensive catalog includes specialized suction lifters for:Glass, window and door frames, sliding glass, curved glass, windshields, and glass canopies.Insulated metal panels with smooth, micro-ribbed, or trapezoidal profiles, as well as corrugated or peculiar designs.Sheets of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, iron, and other ferrous and non-ferrous metal.Metal components, such as curved sheets, tanks, tank bottoms,dished ends, gas cylinders, tubes, and coils.Stone, marble, granite, ceramic, natural stone, concrete, and paving slabs.Plastics, PVC, plexiglass, and polycarbonate.Wood panels, beams, doors, and timber boards.

Question 4

What is the maximum lifting capacity of a vacuum lifting equipment?

Accepted Answer

The maximum lifting capacity of a vacuum lifter is determined by the number and size of the suction pads, as well as the structural capacity of the lifter frame.Our range of vacuum lifters covers a wide spectrum of capacities, starting from 100kg up to several tons. Each application sector has specific requirements, which Righetti’s models are designed to meet.For example:Roofing & Cladding (Sandwich Panels): in the construction sector, the maximum lifting capacity typically reaches 500kg.Sheet Metal Handling: for metal sheets and plates, our lifters can handle loads up to 7,000kg.Marble & Stone: for lifting marble slabs and natural stone, we offer vacuum lifters with capacities up to 2,000kg.Glass & Glazing: for the installation of glass and window frames, our professional range includes glass lifters for loads up to 3,000kg. In addition to our standard catalog models, we design and manufacture custom lifting solutions with the specific lifting capacity (WLL) required by your project.

Question 5

What is required to use a vacuum lifter?

Accepted Answer

To operate a vacuum lifter, two main elements are required: lifting equipment and a power source connection.Since a vacuum lifter is a below-the-hook lifting attachment, it cannot lift the load independently; it must be suspended from a lifting hoist, such as jib cranes, overhead cranes, cranes, mini-cranes, truck-mounted cranes, telehandlers or excavators. The choice of the lifting equipment depends on the application.As for the power source, a connection to a compressor or the electric power supply is essential for the suction lifter to operate. Alternatively, you can opt for a battery-powered model to avoid the need for a constant connection to the power supply. Autonomous battery power is preferable in construction sites or for internal handling over long distances or where there is no connection to the mains power supply.

Question 6

What are the benefits of using a vacuum lifting device?

Accepted Answer

Using a vacuum lifter brings numerous benefits in terms of efficiency, safety, and cost savings. Whether for warehouse operations or on-site installations, investing in a vacuum lifting device is a strategic choice with long-term advantages.Faster material handling compared to manual methods.Precise load positioning for maximum accuracy.Reduced labor requirements for every task or project.Minimized operator fatigue and significantly lower risk of workplace injuries.Damage-free handling: no scratches, marks, or deformations on the lifted material.Enhanced corporate image and professionalism on the job site.Increased production capacity and throughput.Reduction in operational costs.Greater market competitiveness for your company.

Question 7

How safe is a vacuum lifter?

Accepted Answer

Righetti vacuum lifters are engineered to ensure maximum safety during load handling. All models are manufactured in compliance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the EN13155 standard. Consequently, Righetti vacuum lifting devices are equipped with sophisticated safety systems to prevent accidental load detachment and control systems to maintain a secure grip.

Our vacuum lifters are built with high-quality components and systems. The vacuum circuit includes:

A large vacuum reservoir.
Non-return valves.
High-quality vacuum hoses.
A vacuum gauge with a color-coded scale for immediate reading of the vacuum level and safety thresholds.
Vacuum level sensors connected to audiovisual alarms.
Dual-action load release systems to prevent accidental detachment.

Vacuum lifters intended for high-risk environments (such as construction sites) are equipped with a dual vacuum circuit to further enhance the safety level. Before delivery, every unit undergoes rigorous testing to guarantee component functionality and total reliability.

Question 8

If the power fails or the battery runs out, will the load fall?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not. A vacuum lifter must meet strict safety criteria, including a vacuum system that guarantees the load is held even in the event of a main power failure.This means that if the power is cut or the battery dies (on battery-powered models), causing the vacuum pump to stop, the lifter still has a capacious vacuum reservoir. The system is designed to keep the load safely attached for a specific amount of time, depending on the material. Furthermore, the vacuum level indicator and the alarm system immediately notify the operator of any potential danger.

Question 9

What are the main applications for vacuum lifters?

Accepted Answer

Vacuum lifters are used across a wide range of industrial sectors thanks to their ability to move loads safely, precisely, and without damage. Specifically, Righetti lifters are employed in:Building & Construction: For installing glass, window frames, and sandwich panels.Metalworking Industry: For loading and unloading sheet metal onto laser cutting or CNC machines.Glass Industry: For handling flat or curved glass panes, both in the factory and on-site.Stone Processing: For lifting and processing slabs of marble, granite, ceramic, and stone.Shipbuilding: For handling metal plates, glass, and flooring.Automotive: For manipulating windshields and body panels.

Question 10

Can suction lifters be used on cranes or overhead cranes?

Accepted Answer

Certainly! Vacuum lifters are a removable below-the-hook device that requires lifting equipment to operate.Indoors, jib cranes and overhead cranes are the most common lifting means for pneumatic and electric vacuum lifters.On the other hand, outdoors and on sites where lifters are used on cranes, mini-cranes, forklifts, or excavators, battery-powered models are preferred for greater autonomy and flexibility.

Question 11

Can vacuum lifting equipment be used in tight spaces?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Righetti vacuum lifters are designed to minimize overall dimensions and operate in confined spaces.

For example, many of our glass lifters feature a slim and compact design that allows them to work behind scaffolding. In specific cases, our Technical Department has developed specific models for low ceilings or confined environments, such as the lowered-height FS series for sheet metal or the SF series for marble slabs.

In the case of technically challenging workspaces, we recommend verifying the actual dimensions of the suction lifter with the sales department before confirming your order.

Question 12

How does the maintenance of a vacuum lifter work?

Accepted Answer

The maintenance of a vacuum lifter is essential to ensure long-term safety, performance, and regulatory compliance. The checks to be carried out by the operator are not complex, but it is important to perform them regularly, as indicated in the user manual. Upon delivery, the vacuum lifter is supplied complete with a user and maintenance manual.If one or more components need to be replaced, our warehouse is well equipped to supply spare parts quickly.In addition to daily and periodic checks, the customer is responsible for scheduling the annual inspection of the machine. Righetti offers an annual inspection service with the issue of the relevant inspection certificate.

Question 13

Does Righetti offer technical support and spare parts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Righetti Vacuum Lifters guarantees prompt and comprehensive technical assistance via email, phone, or WhatsApp.

As manufacturers, we maintain an extensive stock of original spare parts ready for immediate delivery in our large, well-stocked warehouse, even for models purchased many years ago.

Question 14

What kind of warranty is offered?

Accepted Answer

All Righetti vacuum lifters are CE marked and provided with a CE Declaration of Conformity. The machinery is covered by a 12-month warranty from the delivery date against manufacturing defects.

Question 15

Do vacuum lifters run on air?

Accepted Answer

To answer this question accurately, it is important to distinguish between the general principle of vacuum and the specific power source used to generate it.

Technically, all vacuum lifters "utilize air" in the sense that they create a vacuum (or negative pressure) inside the suction pads. It is the pressure differential between the low pressure inside the pad and the higher atmospheric pressure outside that generates the suction force, keeping the load securely in place.

However, this vacuum does not occur naturally; it must be generated by a vacuum pump or generator. To create this "absence of air," the generator requires a power source, which can be pneumatic, electric, or battery-powered.

In the case of compressed air vacuum lifters, two different concepts of "air" are involved: the vacuum generator uses compressed air (its power source) to exhaust the air from within the suction pads (creating the vacuum).

In summary:

All vacuum lifters "utilize air" (pressure differential) to create a vacuum.
Only pneumatic models use compressed air as the power source to operate the system.

Question 16

I have specific needs and cannot find a product that suits me; do you offer customized solutions?

Accepted Answer

Of course! Every project has its own specific requirements, and it may happen that the customer needs a solution that is not included in our standard catalog products.

For this reason, our sales team is available to understand your needs and propose a customized or tailor-made solution specifically designed by our Technical Department.

Contact us to find the right suction cup lifter for you.

Question 17

I need to work at an altitude above 1,000m above sea level. Can I still use your vacuum lifter?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to use our vacuum lifting equipment even at altitudes above 1000 meters above sea level, but the devices must be adjusted for this use and it will be necessary to adjust the maximum lifting capacity of the vacuum lifter.

As altitude increases, the maximum achievable vacuum level decreases, which also reduces the lifting capacity. Please inform our staff if you plan to work at high altitudes so we can provide an appropriately adjusted solution.

RIGHETTI VACUUM LIFTERS

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What you need to know about Righetti suction lifters