Vacuum Lifting Device VacuMaster for Lifting Rotor Blade Shells for Wind Turbines

During the production of rotor blades, molded parts must be transported between different stations. The molded parts weigh approximately 6 tons and measure 57 x 1.5 meters (length x width). The workpieces are extremely delicate and unstable because they are only between 10 and 40 mm thick. The molded parts are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

It was essential that the new processes be simplified and lean and require a low number of personnel. Therefore the customer chose a vacuum lifting device from Schmalz. With the vacuum lifting device VacuMaster, the demolding process as well as the transport and placement of the rotor blades is both productive and reliable. The lifting device is equipped with 44 suction cups, which grip the workpiece gently while conforming to its contours. The height of the suction cups can be adjusted by up to 1100 mm using a linear guide in order to align and position the workpiece. The crossbeams of the lifting device allow the suction cups to be adjusted to the width of the workpiece. Two redundant vacuum circuits ensure a secure hold throughout the entire handling process.

The customer is extremely satisfied with the vacuum lifting device because it ensures short processing times, high availability and a minimal error rate.