Edition 70 (April-June, 2023)

Hegla• 2
A lifting device should never be oversized. Instead, it should
be chosen to handle the smaller panes that make up 85 to 90
per cent of everyday operations in a way that is user friendly
and offers maximum operating convenience, freedom of
movement and ergonomic support.
Pillar-guided lifting devices provide maximum stability of
movement, safety and ergonomics thanks to user-friendly
load control.
Chain-guided lifting devices, which may be mounted to a
slewing crane or lightweight craneway to make them suitable
for use in handling, offer additional flexibility.
supplement a processing system with
adapted vacuum lifting technology.
– The glass processing industry
has to handle increasingly heavy
and large panes, which is often a
challenge to machine operators.
What needs to be considered
when choosing a handling device
when it comes to safety and user
friendliness?
Operator safety is obviously the first
thing you need to consider when
choosing a vacuum lifter. It’s also nonnegotiable.
On top of that, ergonomic
functionality should confirm at
all times to employees that they
are entirely safe and flexible when
working with the handling device.
The German load handling
directive implementation law states
that heavy panes start at a weight of
15 to 20 kg. The handling devices for
these weights can usually be moved
manually in a lightweight craneway
and provide support. The load control
of the suction device has a key
influence on both ergonomics and
operator convenience.
The current trend is towards pillarguided
vacuum lifting equipment,
where a torsion-resistant aluminium
pillar ensures high motion stability,
"Traditional handling equipment
and operators will continue to
have their place in increasingly
digital and automated production
processes. There will certainly be an
increasing number of applications
in which robots could be used as an
alternative. However, glass weights
and formats are increasing and
becoming more varied at the same
time, so there are limits."
load control, positioning accuracy and
maximum employee protection.
– Where do you think the future
demands on handling equipment
with respect to increasingly
digital automated production are
heading?
First things first – traditional
handling equipment and operators
will continue to have their place in
increasingly digital and automated
production processes. There will
certainly be an increasing number
of applications in which robots could
be used as an alternative in order to
further boost automation.
However, glass weights and formats
are increasing and becoming more
varied at the same time, so there
are limits. We are also seeing more
transfer stations with shuttles and
self-driving systems between different
processing stations. But in existing
buildings, this is often unfeasible
due to space limitations. With this
in mind, I can foresee intermediate
steps of digitalisation. By scanning
laser markings or labels, the individual
panes and racks can be registered.
The handling device will then be
integrated into the communication
flow as a direct and decisive link,
contributing to an integrated overview
and dynamic, flexibly adaptable overall
processes.
–Carsten Koch
Email: carsten.koch@hegla.de
Website: www.hegla.com
Glass Bulletin | April - June, 2023 101