Publication Date: November 3, 2026
Official Website: www.hero-lift.com
1. Introduction: Overcoming High-Frequency Material Handling Challenges
In fast-paced production lines, warehouses, and cleanrooms, manual handling of heavy bags, cartons, and chemical drums poses major risks of musculoskeletal strain, operational downtime, and product damage. Plant operators repeatedly lift loads ranging from 30 kg to 270 kg throughout a single shift, making ergonomic, high-speed lifting equipment an operational necessity.
As a specialized manufacturer of ergonomic vacuum handling solutions, Shanghai Herolift Automation Equipment Co., Ltd. (HEROLIFT) engineered the VEL Series Vacuum Easy Lifter. Designed to transform heavy lifting into effortless push-pull motion, the VEL series is widely used across food & beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, packaging, and tire manufacturing industries worldwide.
2. Core Working Principle & Technical Advantages of VEL Tube Lifters
The VEL series utilizes vacuum technology to both grip and lift the load using a single, intuitive operator control handle:
- One-Handed & Two-Handed Precision Control: Operators can easily guide, lift, lower, and release goods with minimal physical effort, significantly boosting shift productivity and reducing workforce fatigue.
- Versatile Suction Attachments: Easily interchangeable pad configurations adapt one lifter body to porous sacks, sealed cartons, wooden boards, plastic totes, and metal drums. Drum-specific configurations are covered on the vacuum tube lifter for drum handling page.
- Smooth Ergonomic Stroke: Smooth vertical response prevents abrupt jerks, protecting fragile contents inside corrugated boxes or pharmaceutical raw material sacks.
- Safety & Reliability: Built-in quick-response check valves prevent immediate drops during power interruptions, giving operators ample time to lower the load safely.
3. Model Sizing & Technical Specifications
When selecting a VEL series vacuum tube lifter, it is crucial to understand that the model number represents the tube diameter in millimeters, not the rated load capacity in kilograms.
Below are the rated capacities for the most common VEL configurations. Diameter and capacity do not scale in a fixed ratio, so always size by rated capacity rather than by tube size:
| Model Code | Lifting Tube Diameter (mm) | Rated Capacity (kg) | Typical Industrial Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| VEL120 | 120 mm | 40 kg | Small cartons, 25 kg raw material bags, small drums |
| VEL160 | 160 mm | 60 kg | Standard corrugated boxes, milk powder sacks |
| VEL200 | 200 mm | 100 kg | Heavy sacks, mid-sized drums, rubber blocks |
| VEL230 | 230 mm | 120 kg | Heavy chemical bags, 100 kg drums, large timber boards |
| VEL250 | 250 mm | 180 kg | Heavy sacks, drums, and bagged raw materials |
| VEL300 | 300 mm | 270 kg | Heavy steel/rubber coils, 200 L chemical drums, large panels |
Critical sizing rule: the model number shows tube diameter, not load capacity — a VEL230 lifts 120 kg, not 230 kg. For loads between 120 kg and 180 kg choose the VEL250; for loads up to 270 kg choose the VEL300. For lighter workstation bench tasks (20–65 kg), evaluate the compact VCL Series compact vacuum lifter.
Both the VEL and VCL ranges are available as mobile tube lifters with manual travel for workstations that are not tied to a fixed rail.
4. Industry Application Scenarios & Custom Configurations
HEROLIFT offers specialized material choices and customized attachments for the VEL series to suit strict factory environments:
- Food & Pharmaceutical Cleanrooms: Available in full 304 or 316L stainless steel construction paired with food-grade silicone seals/pads, ideal for handling 25–50 kg sugar, flour, and API raw material bags. See the vacuum bag lifter range for sack-handling configurations.
- Chemical & Hazardous Zones: Compatible with custom CNEX certified explosion-proof configurations (Ex c III 80°C Db / Ex c II T6 Gb) driven strictly by compressed air. Selection criteria for these zones are set out in our guide to explosion-proof vacuum tube lifters for hazardous chemical and dust environments.
- Tire & Rubber Manufacturing: Equipped with heavy-duty disc pads engineered to overcome layer adhesion separation forces (50–80 kg peak force) when picking uncured rubber blocks.
- Logistics & Warehousing: Paired with aluminum jib cranes or articulated arm systems for high-speed carton palletizing and container truck loading/unloading. Dedicated carton configurations are listed under vacuum tube lifters for box handling.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can the VEL230 model lift a 230 kg workpiece?
A: No. The number “230” in VEL230 refers to the 230 mm lifting tube diameter, not the load capacity. The rated capacity of VEL230 is 120 kg. If your application requires handling loads between 120 kg and 180 kg, select the VEL250; for loads up to 270 kg, select the VEL300.
Q: How do I handle woven bags that do not have an airtight inner plastic liner?
A: Woven bags without an inner liner suffer from air leakage through the fabric weave, making standard vacuum suction pads unsuitable. For non-lined porous woven bags, we supply specialized mechanical hook grippers or pneumatic clamping heads. Sack, carton, and drum configurations are compared on the multi-purpose vacuum tube lifter page.
Q: Are VEL vacuum tube lifters suitable for food and pharmaceutical cleanrooms?
A: Yes. For cleanroom and sanitary environments, we provide VEL models with SS316 or SS304 stainless steel columns, feet, and metal components, along with food-grade silicone seals. Material compliance certificates can be provided upon request.
Q: Can one VEL tube lifter handle both cartons and drums?
A: Yes. The VEL series features quick-change couplings, allowing operators to swap suction attachments between rectangular carton pads, sack pads, and drum grippers in under a minute.
Related Reading
- Vacuum coil lifter buyer’s guide: CL series for steel and aluminum coils
- How to choose explosion-proof vacuum tube lifters for hazardous environments
For technical drawings, air consumption parameters, or custom quote proposals for VEL series tube lifters, contact HEROLIFT engineering experts today at www.hero-lift.com/contact-us.
Post time: Nov-03-2026