Material Handling Equipment Roundup
AKIC-PRO
Aardwolf
The Aardwolf Kitchen Installation Cart brings about a revolution in stone transportation and installation with its inventive design. Its functionality relies on an assortment of transfer bearings seamlessly integrated into the frame, facilitating smooth rolling of countertops into place, thereby reducing friction and strain. This feature not only boosts productivity, but also guarantees a safer installation process. The Aardwolf Kitchen Installation Cart is highly versatile, handling countertops up to 1,102 lbs. with ease. It simplifies installation by lowering, lifting and rolling large stone pieces directly onto cabinets. Its standout feature is the power lift, adjusting stone height from 36.6 to 48.4 inches for precise alignment and controlled tilting. Despite its strength, its portable aluminum frame weighs just 222 lbs., ensuring easy transport and storage.
Photo courtesy of Aardwolf
AL-Lifters
Aardwolf
Since 1995, Aardwolf has been among the leaders in the stone industry with groundbreaking innovations. Its invention of the lifting clamp revolutionized global stone handling, setting the standard for safety and efficiency. Aardwolf lifters are crafted with durable rubber that always wears evenly and will always stand the test of time. Available in both automatic and manual versions, each with a weight load limit of 2,646 lbs., models include: AL30AWJ (Grip range: .2”-1”), AL50 (Grip range: .4”-2”), AL60 (Grip range: .6”-2”) and AL75 (Grip range: 1”-3”). The automatic lifter enables an efficient one-person operation.
Photo courtesy of Aardwolf
Manzelli Topline
Vacuum Lifters
GranQuartz
Manzelli's Topline vacuum lifters boast an unparalleled track record of productivity, safety and longevity. At the core of this exceptional lifter lies a powerful venturi system, which generates suction in less time. Pneumatic cylinders quickly transition materials between flat and vertical orientation. Quick adjustment pins, sliding crossbars and individual pad shutoffs rapidly adapt to any lifting configuration.
Safety was prioritized in the design of the Topline. The unit includes a high-quality vacuum reserve tank for more consistent suction, a liquid-filled vacuum gauge for more accurate readings and a vacuum loss alarm designed to warn the user of vacuum failure.
To ensure a long service life, Topline uses corrosion-resistant steel and aluminum components throughout its design. (GranQuartz SKU 490510)
Photo courtesy of GranQuartz
Xtreme Material
Handling Equipment
GranQuartz
The Xtreme® family of material handling products excels in the most challenging environments, providing unparalleled durability and longevity. These exceptional products are fabricated in the EU, utilizing heavy gauge steel and employing high-quality welds. To ensure their longevity, each Xtreme product undergoes an extensive hot-dipped galvanization process, guaranteeing a corrosion-resistant finish that will stand the test of time.
Xtreme products designed for fabrication or the transportation of finished workpieces, offer outstanding material protection. To safeguard materials, non-marking rubber lining is applied to all surfaces that encounter the materials. Additionally, during transportation, adjustable uprights are employed to securely hold the workpieces, preventing any unwanted movement.
Whether utilized during fabrication, transportation or storage, Xtreme has a long-lasting product solution sure to deliver exceptional results. (GranQuartz SKU 630330)
Photo courtesy of GranQuartz
TR6K — Groves Heavy-Duty Transport Rack
Groves
Effortlessly transport entire jobs to the worksite with Groves Heavy-Duty TR6K Transport Rack. This versatile workhorse can support up to 6,000 lbs. (3,000 lbs. per side) and is fork-liftable. It also includes a built-in splash caddie inside the A-Frame for added storage and convenience. Rubber-covered uprights and locking hold-down bars ensure even and secure slab contact, while base supports are equipped with rubber pads featuring a thick, braided nylon jacket for additional protection. The optional cart requires no fasteners; simply set the A-Frame on self-centering, angled flanges and move with ease.
Photo courtesy of Groves
TR10 — Groves Heavy-Duty Transport Rack
Groves
Engineered to accommodate and move larger slabs, the Groves Heavy-Duty TR10 Transport Rack stands out as the strongest and most durable option on the market. Easily move up to 10,000 lbs. (5,000 lbs. per side) with effortless efficiency. Thanks to quick-release mounting pins and an optional caster kit (with a capacity of 4,000 lbs. per side), this rugged transport rack can transition from mobile to stationary in less than a minute. Additionally, four adjustable safety posts ensure easier and safer removal of unstrapped loads that may shift unexpectedly. Incorporated Bundle Rack was designed to store stone bundles and has a capacity of up to 9,000 lbs. between two posts (4,500 lbs. per post). The Bundle Rack features 2-inch square tube posts and rubber post caps to safely store and protect bundles and slabs, and to better organize your warehouse. It comes with a heavy-duty powder coat finish to provide years of use and to protect your investment. To customize the Bundle Rack for your warehouse or shop, packages come with 11-inch connector tubes for butting the bottom rails together for your desired storage rack length.
Photo courtesy of Groves
Weha Riba Cable
Slab Scissor Lifters
Miles Supply
Weha Riba Cable Slab Scissor Lifters are for granite, marble, engineered stone slabs, steel plates and concrete. The Weha Riba Series Cable Scissor Lifters are perfect for picking up any stone slab or steel plate from a horizontal position and lifting it to a vertical position (also transitions vertical to horizontal.) The two super strong steel wire cables, with roller bearings, stay tight. They can be used with forklift booms, jib cranes, overhead cranes, etc.
Reba lifters offer different weight capacities and lifting widths. Miles Supply carries the Riba-3; 3,081 lbs. load capacity, grip width of 0-11" and Riba-2’s capacity of 2,646 lbs. and 0-6" width grips because they are also good for monuments.
Photo courtesy of Miles Supply
The Vector 1100 OR (Off Road) and OMNI 1200
Quattrolifts
Quattrolifts has introduced two new machines for the stone industry that will assist with handling of stone, porcelain and marble. The Vector 1100 OR (Off Road) walk behind robotic lifter, will handle stone and marble panels up to 1,100 lbs. both in-shop and on-site. Some of the features that make this machine really useful include: speed controlled precise Powered Rotation to assist when installing panels on-site; front wheel drive with rough terrain wheels; dual vacuum system for greater safety and capacity to upgrade to foam edged vacuum cups.
For in the warehouse consider the OMNI 1200 which attaches to the front of a forklift. This allows the stone panels to be lifted off a pallet or A-frame. With the wireless remote control, operators can lift, transport and lay the stone and marble onto a table or processing machine.
Photo courtesy of Quattrolifts
Air-powered Tilter 1500 Model: PT1010TAIR
Wood’s Powr-GrIP
With its 1,500-pound load capacity, this Powr-Grip model meets the challenges of lifting and positioning stone slabs and more. Compressed-Air Power offers greater resistance to moisture, making it a better choice for handling stone. Powered 90° tilt capability provides operator with more ease in moving material between the rack and the cutting table. Individual pad shutoffs allows attachment of loads that have irregular shapes. Affordable and reliable, these lifters provide years of service with replaceable vacuum pads and parts. Manual tilt also available in MT1010AIR.
Photo courtesy of Wood’s Powr-Grip
Rod Sigman CTC, CCTS, CSMTT is the business development leader for MAPEI Corporation’s UltraCare® line of products for the care and maintenance of tile and stone products. Sigman has a proven track-record of success in the flooring industry, with experience in both training and education, as well as all support functions pertaining to national sales accounts and distribution. He has served on the technical committees of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI). He has successfully completed the Ceramic Tile Consultant Course, is a Certified Ceramic Tile Specialist (CCTS) and is also a Concrete Slab Moisture Testing (CSMT) Technician. Further, he was recognized by the Marble Institute of America (now the Natural Stone Institute) as a significant influence for the stone industry.
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