Steel, stainless steel and aluminum sheets of 1250x2500mm and larger weigh from 30kg to over 1 tonne. Magnets do not work on stainless steel or aluminum, while chains and hooks scratch the surface and take time to rig. Loading laser cutters, plasma cutters and press brakes is therefore labor-intensive and accident-prone.

FullSharp vacuum lifters pick metal sheets from the top surface with multiple suction pads, so one operator can take sheets one by one from the stack, place them on the machine bed and unload cut parts. Pneumatic, electric and battery-powered models are available, with loads from 80kg to 2000kg.

Metal sheet handling equipment in operation

FullSharp equipment for lifting metal sheets

  • FS-BL battery-powered vacuum lifter: runs on batteries, hangs from a crane or forklift, lifts stainless and steel sheets of 300 to 1000kg with no air hose needed. See FS-BL battery-powered vacuum lifter.
  • FS-WDL mechanical vacuum lifter: needs no electricity or compressed air, generates vacuum as it lifts, 80 to 2000kg, suited to sheet stores and forklifts. See vacuum lifters for metal sheets.
  • Pneumatic vacuum handle: long handle for lifting round steel plates and small sheets under 100kg into press brakes and punch presses. See vacuum tube lifters.
  • Pneumatic jib crane and overhead rail: structure carrying the vacuum lifter, 3 to 5m radius covering the laser cutter and sheet rack. See Pneumatic jib crane.

Benefits of metal sheet handling equipment

Handles stainless and aluminum

Vacuum lifting does not rely on magnetism and works on any metal sheet with a sealed surface, including painted and film-coated sheets.

No surface scratches

Rubber suction pads hold the sheet from the top, with no hooks, chains or edge clamps, so mirror-finish stainless sheets stay intact.

Separates one sheet at a time

Only the top sheet is lifted, without dragging the sheet below as magnets do, so the machine gets exactly the right number of blanks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can corrugated or perforated sheets be lifted?

Corrugated sheets use small suction pads placed on the ridges. Perforated sheets can only be lifted when the open area is small and require a test with an actual sample.

How does the mechanical vacuum lifter work during a power outage?

The FS-WDL generates vacuum with a spring and piston mechanism as the crane lifts. It uses no electricity, so a power outage has no effect.

What crane is needed to lift a 2 tonne sheet?

A crane or hoist rated at 2.5 tonnes or more. FullSharp supplies the complete package of vacuum lifter, spreader beam and hoist.

Metal sheet handling consultation

Every plant differs in load, part size, handling frequency and working space. FullSharp carries out a site survey, recommends suitable equipment, load-tests it before handover and trains your operators. The equipment is built at the FullSharp factory in Taiwan, with spare parts and warranty service available in Vietnam.