In heavy industry, or in any kind of factory environment, roll handling can be a hazardous activity leading to injuries and compensation claims. When operators try to manoeuvre heavy rolls without the right equipment, it can often lead to disastrous consequences. Due to their cylindrical shape, rolls are generally bulky and difficult to lift and move.
This is why, in an industrial environment (for example when operating aerospace handling systems) it is important to have the appropriate roll handling equipment.
Roll handling equipment comes in a range of shapes and sizes, to accommodate all sizes of rolls. For example, in your factory you might need to lift and move rolls of paper or plastic that are just slightly too big to be manipulated by hand. In this instance, you can purchase a relatively inexpensive hand-operated model that could enable you to work with rolls of up to 1,000lbs. Or if you need something bigger (for example if you are in a heavy industry like aerospace manufacture), you may need to manoeuvre steel rolls that might weigh 10,000lbs or more. In this case, there are various roll handling systems that use more complex hydraulics, but are still flexible enough to move and place the roll into the appropriate location.
The good thing about the smaller devices is that they generally do not need any kind of fork lifts or overhead gantry-type equipment to move the rolls. They can operate in small spaces, lifting, turning and placing rolls onto cantilevered shafts, platforms, or any other location.
So if you operate an industrial environment where any kind of roll needs to be handled, make sure you fully investigate the options for different types of roll handling equipment, not only to prevent roll edge damage, but also before the worst happens and you are faced with a claim for a serious back injury from one of your operators.
