Heuchelheim (17 December 2020) – Food manufacturer Dr. Schär has equipped its Ebsdorfergrund site with a vacuum lifter from Best Handling Technology.
When specialised companies with the highest product standards invest in their machine park, that investment is usually also top quality. Only the best available systems can establish and sustain competitive quality long term. For almost 40 years Dr. Schär from South Tyrol has applied strict quality rules producing gluten-free and dietetic foods to improve life for people with special nutritional needs—so there are no compromises when buying new machines and components.
Customisable handling technology
It was consistent for the company to choose a handling partner committed not only to easing work for as many people as possible but also to product quality. For delivery of a modern vacuum lifter to Ebsdorfergrund, the Hessian company Best Handling Technology was selected.
The very fast ezzFAST vacuum lifter supports loading and unloading sacks of baking mixes
The ezzFAST vacuum lifting device is rated for loads up to 35 kg and was installed on a wall-mounted slewing jib ezzLINKeco on a T-beam in the bakery composition area. An aluminium jib covers a 400 cm radius to pick sacks of baking mix lying down, rotate them while suspended, and set them upright on a scale. From an engineering view this “simple” task was demanding: sacks must be picked horizontally, rotated on the jib, and placed upright for weighing; then opened and partly emptied before the partly empty sack is lifted again to a pallet for interim storage—requiring a technically sophisticated solution.
Crane system, vacuum lifter, and gripper are individually adapted
Engineers met the requirement with a jointed sack gripper that rotates sacks through 90° to stand them upright. For cartons the system also has a quick-change coupling so end effectors can be swapped quickly with minimal staffing.
“We are pleased we could offer Dr. Schär the ideal combination for ergonomic handling of different containers in composition and expect to grow our share in this segment,” commented Best Handling Managing Director Winfried Kaiser after commissioning in autumn 2020.
The main challenge was not the handling task itself but on-site conditions: there was no room for the column of a originally planned column slewing jib, so the support structure had to be redesigned. The wall slewing jib was finally mounted to a sloping double-T beam; a substructure for alignment was also part of the scope.
Uwe Brandt, health and safety specialist at Ebsdorfergrund, was satisfied with the solution:
For Dr. Schär our employees are our most valuable asset. To preserve two equivalent jobs for years to come we looked for lifting equipment that reflects our pillars—responsibility, progress, and closeness. To meet our responsibility to staff we wanted an innovative design adapted to local conditions. Best Handling Technology presented a tailored solution that meets all requirements. In advance our staff could share all wishes for the new system and test it at the supplier. That dynamic process produced a solution accepted in daily work.
The order again confirms Best Handling Technology’s perspective: innovative products and highest quality in systems and services succeed long term in a competitive market. For Dr. Schär, the partnership offers employees and customers lasting best working conditions and exceptional product quality.
With the new handling system including vacuum lifter, two jobs in bakery composition can be sustained.