For many Wood's Powr-Grip customers, working in the wet is unavoidable: Installations have to be done in every kind of weather, and stone working normally involves wet conditions. Powr-Grip makes hand cups and vacuum lifters specially designed to deal with these conditions. There are two main aspects of wet working conditions:

1. The resistance of the product to water damage, and
2. Slippage that could occur when lifting loads with wet surfaces.

1. Water Resistance

The N4000

An economical vacuum cup for use with flat load surfaces. All the components are rust-resistant, to withstand wet working conditions.

The N4300

Combines Powr-Grip's ABS plunger and durable metal handle. The result is an ideal vacuum cup for handling stone products: The ABS plunger does not rust in wet conditions, and the metal handle resists grit and contaminates that are common in stone working facilities.

Vacuum Lifters

When it comes to below-the-hook vacuum lifters, no product on the market today is designed to be completely water-tight. Submerging a vacuum lifter or using it in heavy rain may damage its components. However, the exterior surfaces of Powr-Grip vacuum lifters can tolerate exposure to mist. In addition, most Powr-Grip vacuum lifters can attach to wet load surfaces without causing damage to the vacuum system. Since wet conditions are typical of stone working, Powr-Grip provides dual air filters as a standard feature on all AC lifters designed for handling stone, for added water resistance.

2. Slippage

The second issue is slippage can occur when lifting wet loads. Moisture can reduce the effective lifting capacity of the vacuum cup or lifter. However, users can take steps to counteract this effect:

• Keep the contact surfaces of the load and vacuum pads clean and dry, whenever possible.
• Replace vacuum pads that show signs of wear, stiffness or glaze.
• Vacuum pads that have surface contamination must be thoroughly cleaned.
• Replace all vacuum pads on a regular basis (preferably after no more than two years) to ensure that slip resistance is not compromised.

Whenever you are confronted with wet working conditions, Powr-Grip offers vacuum cups and vacuum lifters that can help you get the job done. Our selection of water-resistant products includes something for almost every application. With proper maintenance and attention to circumstances, a wet environment should not prevent you from using Powr-Grip products in your workplace. If you have questions about the slip resistance of your Powr-Grip product, please contact us for more information.