Interpack 2020: Hovmand with Ergonomics Consulting and Flex-Tools

Packaging rolls are taken from the pallet by the Käseerei Altenburger Land using a Hovmand lift, rotated, and directly inserted into the packaging machine.

Packaging rolls are taken from the pallet by the Käseerei Altenburger Land using a Hovmand lift, rotated, and directly inserted into the packaging machine.

The Flex double pin from Hovmand is adjustable to different film roll sizes thanks to its slide construction.

The Flex double pin from Hovmand is adjustable to different film roll sizes thanks to its slide construction.

The Virtual Engineering App from Hovmand assists with the digital configuration of mobile industrial lifting jacks.

Heavy lifting and regular one-sided movements endanger the health of employees in production, warehousing, and logistics. The consequences are overexertion and back pain, resulting in high rates of sick leave. Ergonomic solutions for safe load handling are showcased by the Danish company Hovmand at Interpack in Düsseldorf (Hall 11, Stand B15). Companies in the packaging industry can receive advice at the trade fair stand tailored to their ergonomic needs in the workplace.

At the international trade fair for packaging and processing technology, the Danish manufacturer Hovmand presents its mobile battery-powered load lifters made of stainless steel or aluminum. These ensure gentle handling processes and reduce health stress on the spine, joints, and muscles. With the help of an industrial lever lift, a single person can safely lift, transport, rotate, or tilt loads of up to 300 kg in compliance with current occupational safety regulations. For example, film rolls can be taken from the pallet, transported to the destination, and directly fed into the packaging machine. By using larger rolls, downtime at the packaging machine can be reduced, and stacking the rolls higher allows for more efficient storage. All these measures ensure smooth processes, reduce accident risks, and lower production downtime costs.

Analyze your own need for action in advance

Many occupational health and safety measures are already EU regulations but are not yet mandatory. However, this can change quickly. Therefore, Hovmand has developed a web-based “Ergonomics Check.” With its help, companies in manufacturing sectors can analyze the daily burden on their employees ahead of Interpack. The compact self-test is accessible via the company’s website and clarifies within a few minutes and nine questions whether and to what extent there is a need for action regarding ergonomics in the workplace. Experts at Hovmand’s trade fair stand will advise on the results of the ergonomics check and, if necessary, configure an individual lever solution.

Safe handling of rolls of different sizes

Also on display at Interpack are Hovmand’s newly developed flexible lifting devices: Flex forks and double prongs, rotatable forks, and a crane arm solution. Among the exhibits is an IMPACT 130 lift with Flex double prongs for transporting film rolls, which are lifted from underneath using this lifting device. “What’s special is the underlying slide construction — so the customer can easily and conveniently adjust the width during use to different roll sizes,” explains Managing Director Søren Hovmand. Usually, handling different roll sizes requires investing in an additional device. Thanks to the adjustable features of the Flex double prongs, these extra costs are eliminated.

Hovmand’s goal is to make its lifting devices as modular as possible: “This way, we avoid time-consuming and costly customizations and can offer a wide range of lift configurations for occupational health and safety that are tailored to specific requirements. Our customers thus receive more flexible and cost-effective solutions in series production,” says Søren Hovmand.

To assemble the right lever solution from over 100,000 configuration options, Hovmand has developed a Virtual Engineering app. Thanks to integrated environment scanning and the latest Apple ARKit™ technology, Hovmand’s sales team can configure the lifting aid on-site at the customer’s location and display it live in 3D within their workspace using the app.