Vacuum Lift System Assists in Pet Food Operation
A large pet food manufacturer was preparing to bring new bag lines into production at its facility. These lines required workers to manually dump 40-pound bags of ingredients into mixers at waist height, a task that raised immediate safety concerns. The company already had a strong relationship with Riekes Equipment through previous service support, so when they realized this new process could pose long-term ergonomic risks, they reached out to the Riekes Team for help.
INITIAL CHALLENGE
The job of lifting and dumping heavy bags of ingredients by hand wasn’t just uncomfortable, it posed health risks. Operators had to bend, lift and twist repeatedly. Over time, this kind of repetitive strain could lead to fatigue, shoulder pain and even back problems. It also increased the risk of on-the-job injuries, which could lead to lost time and medical costs.
The company recognized that as these new bag lines ramped up, they would only increase the strain on their workforce. They didn’t want to rely on temporary fixes. They needed a better process that would reduce manual handling, lower the chance of injuries and keep operations running without delays. The solution had to work within the existing space and deliver measurable improvements in both safety and efficiency.
OUR SOLUTION
To solve this, Riekes designed and installed a ceiling-mounted crane system that could handle the bags of ingredients with ease. Instead of using traditional hooks, Riekes equipped one of the hoists with a vacuum lift powerful enough to lift the 40-pound bags directly off pallets and onto a platform. From there, workers could safely open and pour the contents into the mixers without having to lift a single bag by hand.
This wasn’t a one-size-fits-all setup. Riekes worked closely with the customer to make sure the system fit their exact needs. We coordinated with a local fabricator to build custom brackets that helped integrate the crane system into the manufacturing space. Riekes also picked up sample pallets of the actual bags of ingredients and sent them to the vendor for testing, making sure the vacuum lifters were tuned specifically for their needs. Because Riekes handled everything from system design to parts and installation, the customer didn’t have to coordinate between multiple vendors or deal with delays.
THE RESULTS
The finished system transformed the way heavy ingredients were handled. Workers no longer had to lift, carry or dump bags by hand, which immediately reduced the risk of injury. The process became faster, smoother and more ergonomic. Instead of focusing on lifting heavy materials, workers focused on getting the job done efficiently and safely.
The crane and vacuum lifters were easy to learn, simple to operate and built to last. The improvement in safety helped reduce the chance of costly downtime from injuries, and the boost in speed helped increase productivity during busy shifts. By partnering with Riekes, the company didn’t just get equipment, they got a complete, customized solution designed for their exact workflow. Riekes delivered a system that worked from day one and helped the customer protect their people while improving performance.