Vacuum Lifting: How It Works

Vacuum lift tube technology differs from conventional vacuum gripping tools by combining lifting and gripping in one simple, safe system requiring no special interlocks or special safety devices. Vacuum, or the presence of lower than ambient air pressure, creates a powerful holding force against porous or nonporous surfaces. The larger the contact area and the greater the vacuum pressure, the higher the holding force. Properly designed vacuum tools can be used to lift or hold many tons. Vacuum is powerful when correctly applied. Flow is equally important. Vacuum without a high flow rate when applied to porous surfaces such as cardboard is not a very powerful force. But as flow and surface area increases the force increases. With proper design, vacuum can be used to hold or lift almost anything.