Handling Specialty Provides Skillet Lifts to Automotive Assembly Plant
Sixty-seven mechanically actuated scissor lifts integral part of retooled assembly line
Grimsby, ON — Handling Specialty Manufacturing, a manufacturer of custom engineered material handling equipment, recently provided sixty-seven (67) skillet lifts to a "Big Three" automaker as part of a major plant retooling project. The skillet lifts are an integral part of the assembly line in the plant.
Since their peak in manufacturing in the 80s, demand for skillet systems has continued at a steady pace over the years. Conveyor propelled skillet platforms allow workers to travel with the car during assembly. Scissor lifts incorporated in the skillet platforms support each vehicle during assembly and enable workers to adjust the height of the vehicle to suit their ergonomic needs.
Based on systems pioneered in Europe, Handling Specialty's history with the skillet system in North America began in 1989 with the first installation of its kind at a Tennessee auto plant. In that case, Handling Specialty's mechanical skillet lifts used scissor geometry with four integrated and modified parabolic cams in combination with an electro-mechanical ball screw drive to provide level and constant speed lifting.
In the mid-1990's, the current generation of mechanical skillet lifts was introduced. These lifts are actuated by a central screw (CSA) rather than having actuation from the base of the lift. Additional improvements were also added to meet customers' demands for skillet systems for various types andsizes of vehicles. These changes included the ability to support vehicles with different wheel-bases and wheel gauges,better load distribution and increased mounting flexibility. Safety was, and always will be, a significant design consideration. Handling Specialty's skillet lifts incorporate anti-fall protection, over-travel limits, and full circumference bellows skirting. Skillet lifts can be built to meet a wide range of weight capacities, however they typically handle loads between 500 to 7,000 lbs.
Some of the features of Handling Specialty's skillet lifts include:
Minimal power requirements
Minimum deflection
Constant speed over a full range of travel
100% repeatability during load and unload
Ease of maintenance
Ease of use
Secondary anti-fall protectionÂ
The benefits of skillet lifts include:Â
Safety | SAFD/SAFDII anti-fall protection, plus over-travel limits and full perimeter bellow skirting |
Accurate | Screw actuation results in repeatable, accurate vertical positioning |
Clean | No hydraulic fluid leakage |
Consistency | Uniform power consumption throughout the full range of travel |
Compact Design | Flexible design allows lifts to be used for compact vehicles to full-sized SUVs and trucks |
Level Lifting | Electro-mechanical actuation coupled with scissor geometry results in accurate, level positioning |
Production Proven | Since 1989, Handling Specialty has provided more than 1,500 skillet lifts to the North American auto industry |
To learn more about Handling Specialty's skillet lifts, or other custom engineered material handling solutions, please contact:
Mary Haurilak
Marketing
Tel: 905.945.9661 ext 264
Email: mhaurilak@handling.com
Or visit our website at www.handling.com
About Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd.:
Handling Specialty is one of the world's most pre-eminent custom designers and manufacturers of material handling solutions since 1963. The company's reputation is one of a competent problem-solver because it has built a strong history of providing unique, custom-engineered solutions. This ability to solve problems has allowed Handling Specialty to achieve success in many sectors including transportation, automotive, aerospace, entertainment and metal processing industries.Â