The conventional method for lifting pipe supplies is to strap or chain it to an excavator boom or crane to move joints of pipe. Vacuum lifting uses a powerful vacuum force to unload and position a variety of pipes used on underground construction projects. Vacuum lifting securely holds material, eliminating the need to strap or chain pipe to the lifting boom which prevents material or coating damage that can be caused by other lifting methods.

Vacuworx International Director of Sales and Marketing Shawn Lowman said “Any contractor utilising vacuum lifting versus traditional methods can expect numerous benefits. While the safety of personnel is the primary benefit, it is hard to ignore the efficiency and cost-savings.

“The Vacuworx system will typically replace what was once done with chains and manual labour or multiple machines such as forklifts, wheel loaders, excavators and their operators, doing the job faster with one machine and one operator,” Mr Lowman said.

Contractors are able to decrease load and unload cycles by seven to twelve times as the system requires fewer personnel.

“Vacuum lifting equipment has been routinely used on oil and gas projects for more than a decade, but the benefits of vacuum lifting extend well beyond moving steel pipe. Contractors in other industries are discovering that a growing number of applications are suited to the technology,” Mr Lowman said.

When installing concrete, PVC and ductile iron pipe, a vacuum lifting system can be used to load, unload, string, and join pipe together in the trench, an important safety feature, which translates to a much safer job site.

The MCS Mini

The introduction of the MC3 Mini in 2009 created a lot of new applications in vacuum lifting technology.

Mr Lowman said “The staple for the Mini has been steel pipe up to 12 inches outside diameter (OD) in 40 ft lengths and smaller, and joints of polypipe.

“Minis are being used on a lot of concrete culvert work with ODs as large as 30 inches, because concrete culvert pipes are short and weigh less than longer joints of steel pipe, we haven't found a limit on a size the mini can handle.”

The MCS Minis also are being used for concrete drop boxes and lids for drainage work. As weights increase, the larger RC10 models (22,000 lbs lifting capacity) may be put in service.

The MC3 Mini can be mounted on an excavator, backhoe, wheel loader, forklift, boom truck, or other types of equipment routinely used on construction job sites. For example, it can be pinned to an excavator; has fork pockets for forklifts and loaders; and is available with a picking eye for a crane or knuckle boom type truck.

“The vacuum unit is controlled from the host vehicle with a closed-frequency wireless remote. The host equipment must have the capacity to accommodate the approximate 800 lbs of the lifter, plus the weight of the material,” said Mr Lowman.

The MC3 lifting unit components include the main beam and reservoir; small displacement, one-cylinder gas engine vacuum pump; vacuum valve; hydraulic reservoir system; rotator; and vacuum pad.

All of the lifters are suitable for utility projects, but due to the weights of materials being lifted, the Mini is certainly the best fit in the water industry.

Vacuworx manufactures five vacuum lifting units ranging from the MC3 which can lift 6,600 lbs to the RC20 with a lifting capacity of 44,000 lbs.

Vacuworx can customise lifters to accommodate a variety of applications and lifting needs.