In the constantly evolving manufacturing industry, companies always seek innovative solutions to enhance efficiency, productivity, and safety. Implementing industrial manipulators is one of the best ways to achieve those distinct yet related goals. Lift-assist devices are particularly helpful, simplifying operations that are physically taxing, repetitive, and sometimes dangerous when completed manually.

Many companies find these systems revolutionize how they lift, move, and maneuver large, heavy, or otherwise difficult-to-manage items. The result is faster, safer operations and employees who appreciate that their company understands their challenges and wants to address them.

Industrial manipulators are truly must-have solutions for any manufacturer seeking to stay competitive in a field where a company’s ability to leverage industrial automation directly affects its success. Still, these systems are an investment and subject to scrutiny by company owners and decision-makers, like all expenses. An executive might say, “I see what this impressive technology can do, but is it worth the cost?”

The answer that people arrive at after doing their homework is, yes, lift-assist devices are well worth the price. Not only do they benefit companies as soon as they are installed and activated, but they also represent an investment in the future. Let’s explore why.

More Than Brute Strength: The Versatility of Lift-Assist Devices

Industrial manipulators are sophisticated mechanical devices designed to handle, lift, move, and position objects of varying sizes and weights within a workspace. These versatile machines come in various configurations, each tailored to specific applications and load capacities. From articulated arms and vacuum lifters to hoists and cranes, manipulators leverage advanced engineering principles and cutting-edge technology to enable precise and controlled movement of objects, minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries.

However, industrial manipulators aren’t simply designed to power through tasks with brute strength. They incorporate intelligent features, such as intuitive control functions, advanced sensors, and other technologies that help them meet task requirements while enabling operators to avoid common manual labor injuries, from lacerations to broken bones.

What’s more, lift-assist devices, material handlers, and other industrial manipulators continue to evolve and offer even better functionality. As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow and expand, it will surely have an even greater impact on these solutions, enabling innovative capabilities that take productivity and safety to new levels.

Worker Safety: The Foundation of a Thriving Business

One of the most compelling reasons to invest in new lifting equipment is the substantial improvement in workplace safety it brings. Traditional manual handling of heavy or awkward objects poses significant risks to workers, leading to many types of injuries, including:

• Sprains and strains
• Back injuries
• Lacerations
• Head injuries

These incidents, which can even be fatal in some cases, affect the individuals involved and result in substantial costs for companies regarding medical expenses, workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and potential legal liabilities.

Most people in a manufacturing environment have experienced — or at least witnessed — a situation where the effort required to lift and move an item is at (or beyond) the limit of the person tasked with the activity. Then, all it takes is a momentary distraction, a slippery floor, a late-in-their-shift loss of strength, or some other unexpected variable, and the employee drops the item or ends up on the ground with it. In that scenario, property damage and personal injuries are likely.

Industrial manipulators address safety concerns by taking the physical burden of lifting off human workers. By automating repetitive and strenuous tasks, lift-assist systems drastically reduce the risk of injuries, promoting a safer and healthier working environment. This, in turn, fosters a more positive workplace culture, improves employee morale, and enhances a company’s reputation as a responsible employer. Ultimately, a safer workplace translates to a more engaged and productive workforce, benefiting the company’s bottom line.

Efficiency and Productivity: Enabling Operational Excellence

While they must always come after safety on a company’s priority list, efficiency and productivity are critical to a manufacturer. If either measure falls below expectations for too long, an organization will struggle to meet its business obligations. That situation is problematic at a minimum and can even put the company’s future at risk.

Lift assist devices and other industrial manipulators can be instrumental in driving efficiency and productivity. Manual handling of materials has multiple negative characteristics, including that it can be:

• Time-consuming
• Labor-intensive
• Dangerous
• Prone to errors
• A production restriction that increases operational costs

Lift-assist devices streamline material handling, enabling faster cycle times, reducing bottlenecks, and optimizing workflow. Remarkably, they deliver all those benefits while simultaneously making operations safer. In addition, manipulators’ precise control and positioning capabilities ensure accuracy and consistency, minimizing the need for rework and improving overall product quality.

Manipulators can also be seamlessly integrated into automated production lines, interacting with other machinery and systems to create a cohesive and efficient manufacturing process. This integration minimizes downtime, maximizes throughput, and ensures smooth operations. By harnessing the power of manipulators, companies can achieve a significant competitive advantage by meeting customer demands promptly, efficiently, and with consistently high-quality products.

Cost Savings and Long-Term Benefits: A Wise Investment for the Future

As with implementing any mission-critical system, the initial investment in new lifting equipment might seem substantial. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the upfront costs.

The reduction in workplace injuries alone can translate into significant savings. It’s not unheard of for the legal fees, downtime, and other costs from an industrial accident to be several tens of thousands of dollars or more — and that’s without considering the potentially significant cost of reputation damage, lost business opportunities, etc.

It’s vital to understand that the descriptor “long-term” means what it says in this context! Lift-assist devices and other manipulators are designed for durability and longevity, requiring minimal maintenance and repairs. Combine those characteristics with versatility that allows them to adapt to changing production needs, and the result is a valuable asset that will benefit a company for many years (or even decades) to come. What’s more, manipulators are becoming more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly as technology advances, further enhancing their value to manufacturers and ensuring a solid return on investment.

Environmental Impact: A Greener Workplace and Healthier Planet

No conversation about “investing in the future” is complete without addressing the future of our planet. In an era of increasing environmental awareness, industrial manipulators can play a significant role in creating a more sustainable workplace. Automating tasks and optimizing processes can help reduce waste, minimize energy consumption, and lower the environmental impact of manufacturing operations.

For example, manipulators can precisely dispense materials, minimizing overspray and reducing the amount of hazardous chemicals released into the environment. They can also help optimize packaging processes, reducing the amount of packaging material used and minimizing waste. Additionally, industrial automation solutions can contribute to a more resource-efficient production cycle by improving efficiency and reducing the need for rework.

Dalmec: Your Lift-Assist Solution “Investment Advisor”

We aren’t investment advisors in the traditional sense, of course! However, when you buy lift-assist systems or other industrial manipulators from Dalmec, you get more than a product — you get a tailored solution.

One of the essential advantages of industrial manipulators is their adaptability. They can be customized with various end effectors, such as grippers, clamps, and vacuum cups, to handle a wide range of materials and shapes. Manufacturers can also integrate lift-assist devices with other automation systems to create seamless and efficient workflows.

Our team leverages this flexibility by designing operational solutions for your specific needs. This productive collaboration ensures optimal performance. By integrating manipulators into existing processes, your company can reach new levels of efficiency, productivity, and safety.

Valuing the Human Element: Industrial Manipulators Are Designed to Assist Not Replace

The rise of automation technologies like industrial manipulators has understandably raised concerns about job displacement. However, business owners and their employees must know that these solutions are designed to augment human capabilities, not replace them.

Manipulators assist with dangerous, repetitive, and physically demanding tasks but do not operate autonomously. Human involvement and decision-making are still essential to the successful completion of tasks. In fact, industrial manipulators can help workers finish their work more quickly, freeing them to use their skills and experience on more complex and creative aspects of their jobs.

In addition, implementing automation technologies like lift-assist devices creates new job opportunities in areas such as programming and maintaining these systems. By embracing industrial manipulators, companies can create a more skilled and adaptable workforce better equipped to meet future challenges.

Final Thoughts

Lift-assist devices and other industrial manipulators deliver an array of benefits, and these advantages can be essential to a manufacturer’s success. From increasing productivity to improving safety, these systems help companies achieve peak performance.

A system from Dalmec, carefully customized to your needs, is a solution you can count on to work effectively and reliably for many years. Consequently, while you’ll begin seeing benefits immediately, you’ve also invested in your company’s future.

Contact us today to learn how lift-assist devices can help your company achieve its productivity and safety goals and give you a competitive edge.