What are Some of the Top Industries in Wisconsin?
Since 1934, Lange Lift has been manufacturing high quality hydraulic lift tables, scissor lifts, and custom lift products for material handling in a wide array of industries across the world. Of course a good number of those industries are located right here in Wisconsin. But what are those industries? Obviously, there are some biggies that have remained a staple in the state for decades, but what about up and coming industries?
Here are 5 of the top industries in Wisconsin, many of which use ergonomic lifts and custom lift products with exceptional functionality and longevity.
Agriculture
According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, agriculture contributes $104.8 billion annually to our state’s economy. And Wisconsin isn’t just the Dairy State, it ranks as one of the top states for producing processed vegetables. Snap beans, carrots, cucumbers, green peas and potatoes are all harvested in great quantities. And who can drive by Tomah without realizing Wisconsin is right up there for cranberry production as well? Same goes for Door County and cherries.
Electronics Manufacturing
Though Foxconn is only creating 1500 jobs rather than the original 13,000 job creation numbers originally projected, they are expected to break ground on a million-square-foot Generation 6 fab that produces smaller LCDs.
Energy, Power and Control Companies
According to the Milwaukee 7, a cooperative economic development platform for the seven counties in and around the Milwaukee Area,”this industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the state.”
Water
Did you know Milwaukee is only one of five cities to be named a United Nations Global Compact Innovating City? Forbes magazine also dubbed Milwaukee “The Capital of Water.” Our location near Lake Michigan give us an abundance of this natural resource being tapped to create energy.
Manufacturing
From Harleys to gasoline engines, you only need to be on a Wisconsin freeway when factory shifts change to know how big a role manufacturing continues to play in the state economy.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it come to manufacturing material handling. We are known worldwide as the go-to source for high quality, field functional custom material handling lifting solutions. Contact us today with any questions and we can recommend the perfect solution for you!
Do you want your spray booth to catch fire and explode? Certainly no one wants that. In order to be confident that the area is safe, inspections will be necessary. Keep reading to learn how you can ensure that your safety booth is working safely.
Spray Booths
Spray booths are controlled environments where material washing, painting, and finishing take place. They are also called paint booths or finishing booths. Spray booths are often connected to a conveyor and actually a safety precaution in and of themselves. They reduce paint overspray and keep the work environment safe for everyone. However, they are also subject to explosion.
Paint/Finishing Sprays
You can use a spray gun to apply paint and other finishing sprays, either automatically or manually . They are usually applied using compressed air, but the materials they spray are very flammable. The booth prevents coworkers from being exposed to this air. Just the spark of a lighter could cause serious problems if the space were to be contaminated.
Dust Collection Systems
Dust collection systems are also a concern for safety managers. These systems filter and clean the air inside the spray booth. Too much dust in the air can compromise the paint job and ruin a product. The main causes of fires include static electricity or welding/cutting metal too close to the booth. It’s important to go over these areas, clean filters regularly, and get anything with fire away from the booth.
For specific information from OSHA on spray finishing using flammable or combustible gas, click here.
Need Some Assistance?
Does your spray booth need a lift table? Are you struggling to find one that meets all of OSHA’s complicated requirements? Check out our Air Powered Lift Tables. They’re ideal for flammable and combustible environments where electric currents are prohibited. Air valves raise and lower tables with the push of a button. Check them out on langelift.com.
Pneumatic Lift Tables: What You Need to Know
Currently, there are different types of lift tables on the market. Choosing one that is right for you is about weighing the pros and cons to each.
Although there are other options, we will specifically be looking at air lift tables and how a pneumatic lift table can benefit you.
Save Some Green
The most successful companies know where to cut corners. They also know where to spend and on what.
You can’t always cut everything back to the bare minimum, but you can look at where your power is going.
A good amount of electricity (read: money) is used for powering shop tools. There aren’t too many ways around this, but if you can use air-powered tools—like a pneumatic lift table—you may just save yourself a bit of money.
Pneumatic Lift Tables Are Low Risk
Because these machines run completely off of air, there is no chance of a hydraulic leak. This also means that in work environments that need to be very clean and neat, you have no risk of impurities from the machine.
Overall, there is very little maintenance to be done. And, if something does go wrong or there is an air leak in a valve, it’s relatively easy to fix.
User-Friendly
More than user-friendly, pneumatic air lift tables are safer than many types of lifts on the market. And, because they are easy to use, people are more apt to utilize them. This fact alone could dramatically reduce missed work days and workman’s compensation payments.
To give you an idea of how important proper lifting in the workplace is, 36% of injuries were back and shoulder related. And an overwhelming number of these had to do with overexertion and repetitive trauma.
Is a Pneumatic Lift Right for You?
Overall, when considering lift tables, you absolutely have to make a decision that works for you and your crew. Pneumatic air lift tables are popular for many reasons, including:
- These tables are quite mobile.
- They can save you a bit of money by not having to plug into a power source. This also means that moving the lift table around the shop is possible.
- The lack of hydraulic fluid increases worker satisfaction, as this fluid has been known to irritate people’s skin. This sometimes results in workers having to leave work to tend to their burn-like rashes.
- There aren’t any worries about combustion or dealing with electric currents.
If you’re considering an air lift table for your shop, check a few of these out. There are many to choose from to fit your specific needs. Weights range from 1,000-5,000 lbs, and the sizes of the tables can be adjusted or completely modified.
If you have other questions, please feel free to contact us—we’re happy to help you find the right lift table for your needs.
5 Questions to Ask Before Purchasing a Small Lift Table
Are you in the market for a small lift table? If you are, you’re probably deciding which lift you should buy.
Small lift tables take up minimal space but you’ll want to make sure the table you choose has the capacity you need. Some small tables can lift more than 1000 pounds, while others cannot.
If you’re having trouble finding a lift table that can perform the way you need it to, you may need to go with a custom lift table.
Whatever you’re looking for in a lift, there are several things you should consider before purchasing. Read on for five questions you should ask yourself before making a decision.
1. What Type of Small Lift Table Suits My Needs?
Several types of lift tables exist, and you’ll want to determine which is best for you. To do this you’ll need to consider how the table will operate.
If you’ll be working in an environment without access to power outlets, look into battery-powered lifts. Choose the power options and other functions that work for what you need.
2. How Much Weight Do I Need Lifted?
Weight requirements should always be considered when looking at small lift tables. Think of what you’ll be lifting. Whether its goods or people, you’ll need to have the right weight-lifting power.
If you aren’t sure of the weight you’ll be lifting, at least make sure the lift platform is large enough to meet your size requirements.
3. What Do I Need the Lift Table For?
When comparing lifts, consider the intended purpose of your purchase. If you only need to lift small parts from time to time, your needs will be very different from someone lifting constantly.
As you look at various lifts, ask yourself if they are feasible or if you need something else (you can always contact our expert team for help!). And, if you’ll be working in a freezer, make sure the lift has the correct fluids to work properly in that environment.
4. What Safety Features Are Required?
If you’ll be using your lift table in an industrial area, make sure you know what safety features are required in your workplace.
If you’ll be using the lift in your own workspace, consider what features you want in place. Lift tables help prevent common workplace injuries on their own, but additional safety features are never a bad idea.
5. Does the Lift Have the Working Capacity I Need?
This question is especially important if you’re wanting to purchase a small lift table. Determine what your needs are, then compare tables against those requirements.
If the lift will be used for large amounts of time each day, make sure it has the ability and power to do so without wearing down too quickly. And if you need the lift to be portable, make sure you choose one that offers that capability.
Focus On Your Needs
Whatever your needs are, keeping these questions in mind will help you choose the right lift table for your shop. Take all aspects of use and ability into consideration before making a purchase.
While many lifts will be tempting because of low prices, don’t react too quickly. Doing so may land you with a lift that doesn’t meet your needs.
To discuss your specific lift table needs, contact us today.
Electric, Battery, Or Manual: Which Air Lift Table Do You Need?
Every year, nearly 3 million workplace injuries occur in the United States. Helping your business avoid these injuries not only keeps your employees happy and healthy, but can also save you thousands of dollars worth of lawsuits, worker compensation, lost work time, and more.
Avoiding workplace injuries starts with choosing the right equipment to get the job done. One such piece of equipment that will help ensure safety in the workplace is the air lift table. These tables allow workers to easily and safely lift or work on heavy materials. This makes them particularly ideal for any business that deals with construction, as this typically requires plenty of very heavy building materials.
In this article, we’ll help you decide what air lift table is right for your business.
Types Available
There are many benefits to these tables. For instance, they allow you to quickly and easily adjust the height of your work surface. This makes it easy for your workers to adjust the table to their specific height. That way they can work on the table at a height that is safe for them, to avoid stretching or bending and potentially injuring themselves.
There are three main types of tables. If you’re not sure whether your business needs an electric, battery-powered, or manual air lift table, keep reading. We’re breaking down each option’s pros and cons to help you choose the right one for your business.
Electric Lift Table
Electric lift tables are ideal for businesses that require very precise raising and lowering speeds.
Your employees can very easily raise the table with a simple click of a button. This makes it possible to adjust a table to the exact height needed in just a short amount of time.
One drawback to choosing an electric air lift table is that it must be stationary. Electric lift tables have to be plugged into a power source. You won’t be able to move them around very much within your business, at least not without unplugging them from the power source. They also aren’t great for using on a mobile work site, unless you have a generator there that you can plug into.
Battery-Powered Lift Table
If your business operates on job sites where power or generators are at a premium, a battery-powered table might be the perfect solution.
Like an electric lift table, a battery-powered lift table can be quickly and easily adjusted to each worker’s height. But because it runs on an individual battery, you won’t have to worry about finding a power source or dealing with a long power cord.
Manual Lift Table
There was a time when manual lift tables were the only option for businesses that needed workspaces designed for working with heavy materials. Luckily, that’s no longer true.
If your business doesn’t have access to a power source on site, and you don’t want to deal with batteries, then a manual lift table may be the right choice. Your employees will have to manually adjust the height of the table, which can be more time-consuming and physically demanding than it is with the other two models.
Choosing the Right Air Lift Table for Your Business
Now that you know the difference between manual, battery-powered, and electric lift tables, it’s time to choose the right one for your business.
If you’re still unsure, contact us today, and we’ll help you find the solutions that you need to keep your employees safe and get the job done right!
How to Use Your Lange Lift Table: Battery and Air Lift Tables
Lange Lift offers a complete line of lift tables built for any application. In our last post, we covered the operation of our manual lift tables and electric lift tables. Read on to see operation procedures for Lange Lift battery lift tables and air lift tables.
Lange Battery Lift Tables
Lange battery lift tables enable improved ergonomics and easy adjustment anywhere, with an onboard 12V deep cycle battery, DC Motor, and battery charger. Charging the unit is easy, just plug it into a 120V AC outlet with an industrial grade extension cord, and the unit will be fully charged and ready in 8-10 hours. Easy to read indicator lamps on the battery charger will alert you to its status, and charging will cease when the unit is fully charged. For maximum life, it’s important to not operate the lift table while it is charging.
To lift your Lange battery lift table, simply push and hold down the lift button until the deck has reached its maximum raised height of 45″ from the top of the deck to the floor. The built in bleeding mechanism ensures that over raising will not damage the table and allow it to settle at 45″. To lower, push and hold down the lower button. The lift table will lower until the deck has reached its minimum lowered height of 27″, or until the button is released. A lift table under load will lower more quickly than an empty lift table, so be sure to exercise caution. Adjust the onboard flow control by hand to adjust lowering speeds, and always use proper safety precautions required by your environment.
Deck rotation is accomplished as with any Lange Lift table, by loosening the lock handle under the deck and rotating the deck 360º degrees in either direction at any height. Tightening the lock handle will lock it in place, although some movement is intended to protect the bearing. Do not over-tighten the lock handle, and position the lock handle arm towards the floor to prevent possible damage.
On a flat surface that is free of debris, you can lock your lift table to the floor. Use your foot to push down on the large pedal until it locks. To release, press up on the small pedal until the large pedal snaps up.
Lange Air Lift Tables
Lange air lift tables allow ease of operation without requiring an electrical source. To power your Lange air lift table, connect the lift to an air source with a recommended air output of 80 PSI @ 50 CFM. To lift the deck, tilt back and hold down the air valve pedal until the deck has reached its maximum raised height. To lower, tilt forward and hold down the air valve pedal. Adjust the onboard flow control by hand to adjust lowering speeds, and always use proper safety precautions required by your environment.
Deck rotation and floor locking are accomplished in the same manner as all Lange lift tables. These simple controls, consistent across all types of Lange lift tables, ensure ease of use by everyone in the facility, keeping workers free from injury and enhancing their ability to do their best work.
Contact us today to learn more
Since 1934, Lange Lift has been manufacturing high quality hydraulic lift tables, scissor lifts, and custom lift products for material handling in a wide array of industries across the world. Contact us today to learn more about what our great products can do for your business.