With its wide range of services, Holzbauteam Lustenberger AG is one of the region's established timber construction and carpentry companies. Most of the production work is carried out at the headquarters in Grosswangen, from the manufacture of roof structures and timber elements for entire buildings to individual wood projects for new builds, conversions and renovations. The team comprises twelve employees, including the sawmill in nearby Steinhauserberg, three of whom are carpentry apprentices. To enable the small team to tackle large tasks efficiently, the company is always on the lookout for tools that improve working conditions and increase productivity.

One such improvement is the vacuum lifter, which was purchased in spring 2025 in combination with a wall-mounted slewing crane. The complete vacuum handling system was supplied by Swiss chain hoist and crane manufacturer GIS, based in nearby Schötz. Attached to a wooden wall in the workshop and equipped with a GPFU500 electric chain hoist, the slewing crane is used for lifting and transporting operations around the Striebig panel saw. Thanks to the smooth operation of its aluminium jib and the two continuously programmable lifting speeds of the chain hoist, goods weighing up to 500 kg can be moved and positioned with ease. The electric chain hoist is conveniently operated by radio control.

Flexibly usable vacuum lifter

However, the centrepiece of the investment is the GIS vacuum lifter of type GNK. This was specially developed for handling slightly air-permeable wooden panels with a maximum weight of 320 kg. The electromechanical tilting device moves the transported goods from a horizontal to a vertical position, ideal for loading the panel saw or for space-saving temporary storage of processed components. Both the vacuum generation and the tilting function can be conveniently controlled via the control unit on the device. The radio hand-held transmitter for the chain hoist or the indoor crane can also be attached to this unit. The plug connection for the power supply offers a great additional benefit. It allows the vacuum lifter to be disconnected from the electric chain hoist of the wall-mounted slewing crane and connected to the rope hoist of the indoor crane in just a few simple steps. This means that the suction lifter is available for transporting panels and goods throughout the entire production hall. If the situation requires it, the assembly team even takes the vacuum lifter with them to construction sites.

The Holzbauteam Lustenberger is very satisfied with the GIS vacuum handling system, as it represents a real improvement in their everyday work. The cumbersome transport of wooden panels using panel clamps is now a thing of the past. The vacuum lifter makes work easier and speeds up production processes. In addition, many tasks that previously required several people can now be carried out efficiently by a single person.