contacts, particularly if a damp

environment prevails.
Good-quality coatings should
also be applied to the internal
cabinet surfaces of heat pumps
and air conditioners.
A detailed understanding of
water treatment requirements
in a building, based upon
water quality, equipment
design, construction materials
and operational practices, is
essential to ensure cooling
plant reliability.
Effective water treatment
servicing and monitoring
programs designed to minimise
corrosion, deposition, and
microbial problems can
have a positive impact on
system performance which is
important for cost-effective
operation of H VAC plant.

structures they are designing.

Good industry practices
recommended

In order to mitigate
corrosion in building services,
good industry practices are
recommended.
Externally located air
conditioning condenser units
with copper or aluminium
fins should be washed
regularly with fresh water to
ensure that deposited salts
and grime are removed from
metal surfaces susceptible to
atmospheric corrosion.
If metal surfaces are not
well-protected with good
paint coatings, then additional
protection against corrosion
should be applied to metal
surfaces, for example, using
aerosol-applied corrosion
prevention compounds.
Consideration should be
given to coating fln-fan
condensers with a good coating
to insulate any dissimilar metal

Les Boulton, Les Boulton &

Associates Ltd, Materials and
Corrosion Consultants, Auckland
Go to www.demm.co.nz/
enquiry quote: D1S0532

BTRRTRLIGn
L

VACUUM LIFERS/JIB CRANES

A complete range of lifting units
for every application.
> Steel/Aluminium Sheet > Cartons, boxes and sacks Finished Product

SOLUTIONS FOR ALL YOUR LIFTING RFQUIREMFNTS

Vacuum lifters-Jib Cranes-Electric Hoists-Spring balancers

Tel 09 263 7725 FAX 09 262 0970

10 Oak Rd, Manukau City 2241 Email sales@stratalign.co.nz
34

ENGINEERING&
MANUFACTURING May 2012

Effective, intelligent
and safe vacuum lifting
Stratalign Limited are New Zealand sales and service agents
for two brands of European Vacuum lifters. Vaculex Vacuum
Systems from Sweden and Fezer Vacuum Lifters from
Germany are both among the world leaders in their fields.
Vacuum is increasingly being recognised as the ideal method of
lifting almost any item in a safe, gentle and effective manner.
Steel sheets, timber panels, glass, bags/sacks, cartons, drums,
and every other conceivable item, airtight or porous, can be
moved around the production area single handedly with ease.
The wide range of vacuum and mechanical gripping tools offers
application-oriented systems and individual handling solutions
for different goods. Because no up/down buttons are required
for the balance function, the user has prefect control of the
handling process without any physical effort. This increases
productivity and also helps to maintain employee's health.
As a solution to a long standing challenge, Cabtec Ltd
purchased a Fezer vacuum lifter from Stratalign, for processing
sheets of board through a CNC machine. Prior to the purchase,
the process had required manual handling, which in today's
environment, is not a sustainable option. More than one option
for this solution was investigated by Cabtec with the decision
being a vacuum lifter as the winning choice. Cabtec's Peter
Burgess recalls, "Vacuum lifter options were then investigated
and an approach was made to Stratalign. Cabtec selected
Stratalign as the winning supplier, based on their ability to
provide the technical and professional advice, along with what
Cabtec considered, a 'top quality product for a competitive
price'. This great investment has served Cabtec well and
we would recommend these very good quality lifters to any
prospective buyer. The 'ease of operation' is facilitated by the
very smooth running bearings and movement points, integral to
this structurally sound piece of kit." Peter continues, "From the
day the order was placed, the Stratalign team kept us updated
with progress, to the day the machine was installed. The
installation process was organised in such a way, by Stratalign,
that it caused absolute minimal disruption to a very busy
working environment during normal working hours."
Fezer's range of units is broad. The VacuPowerlift tube lifters
come with 5-150kg capacity and are suitable for steel, plastic,
glass, sacks, cartoons, andfinishedproduct. VacuBoy lifters
were designed for the horizontal transport, swiveling, and
turning over of loads up to 2000kg, e.g. steel sheets/plates,
aluminium sheets, glass. The VacuGiant is capable of horizontal
transport up to 40 tonnes and swiveling up to 15 tonnes. The
VacuCoil lifter handles paper and steel coils. The lifter series
VacuPoro and VacuWood are suitable for porous workpieces
and planks and gluelam beams respectively.
Vaculex's tube lifters are designed for lifts between five
and 200kg. Since the suction foot is always dimensioned in
accordance with the vacuum lift tube, the user does not risk
dropping lifted items that are too heavy. If the weight is too
much, the tube lift will simply not lift the article. This reduces
the risk of personal injury and damaged goods.
Go to www.demm.co.nz/enquiry quote: D120534

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