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Case Studies
- A Sugary Sweet Lifting Solution for Peeps & Company Retail Store
- Bayside Harley’s Product Showcase and PFlow Bring in the Riders
- Books Arrive in Underground Archive with the Help of a PFlow Conveyor
- Creative Design Highlights Vertical Conveyor at Laminated Glass Plant
- Custom Designed Hydraulic VRCs Help Maximize Space at Tyson Foods
- Custom Designed PFlow F Series Assists with Funeral Services
- Custom PFlow Lift Helps Create 9,600 SF of Storage within Existing Building
- Everything is Bigger In Texas – Including the PFlow M Series VRC!
- For Moving Fragile Cargo, Boeing Called PFlow Industries
- FuelCell Energy Loads Components with the Help of PFlow Material Lifts
- Georgia Pacific Moves Finished Product with the PFlow M Series
- Global Logistics Leader Doubles Productivity with PFlow Lifts
- Gravity Makes the Wine, PFlow Vertical Lift Takes Care of the Rest
- Historic Pritzlaff Building Repurposed Into Popular Event Venue with Assist from PFlow Hydraulic VRCs
- Liberated By Upward Mobility
- Manufacturing Plant Replaces 10-ton, 200′ Hoist with PFlow Vertical Lift
- Merged Controls of PFlow Lift and Laundry Cart Washer Regulate the Flow of the Entire System
- Milwaukee Waterfront Deli and PFlow Deliver
- Moving at the Speed of Fashion
- Moving-Floor Assembly Line Streamlines Implement Production
- PFlow and Parking Vault are Solving Major Parking Needs
- PFlow Automated System Provides Continuous 2-Way Pallet Flow
- PFlow Corners the Market for 'Big,' Heavy-Duty Material Lifts
- PFlow Designs Lift for Underground Parking at a Lake Tahoe Home
- PFlow F Series Helps Retailer Utilize Difficult-to-Access Space
- PFlow Galvanizing Provides a Protective Coat for Juice Plant Lift
- PFlow Heliport Lift Helps Offshore Oil Platform
- PFlow Helps Repurpose Restaurant into Government Service Facility
- PFlow Hydraulically Powers the Upward Expansion at Alcom Electronicos Reynosa Facility
- PFlow Lift Integrates Perfectly with 10-Story Power Plant Tower
- PFlow Moving Concourse Helps 'Big Bertha' March Into College Stadium
- PFlow Navigates Uncharted Territory with Vertical Lift at Naval Drydock
- PFlow Pallet Elevator is the Vertical Lift Solution for Nutrilite Warehouse
- PFlow Provides Steady Travel for Lockheed Martin Missile Plant
- PFlow Retrofits 2 Lifts in Single Shaft to Keep Hospital Supplies Moving
- PFlow Screw Lift Provides a Safe and Controlled Movement of Satellites
- PFlow System is an Integral Part of the Paper Production Line
- PFlow VRC Keeps the Pipeline Full for Large Pharmaceutical Distributor
- PFlow VRCs Help Keep the Beer Crisp and Chilled at NFL Stadium
- PFlow VRCs Installed in Concrete Shaft Ways of Seattle Tunnel Project
- PFlow VRCs Provide Vertical Logistics at High Rise Audi Dealership
- Stage Lifts Spirits – and Nascar Vehicle
- Tower Above the Competition with a PFlow Vehicle Display System
- Unique Lift System Enables Installation and Servicing of Telescope Mirrors
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Preventive Maintenance
- 21 Series Hydraulic Lift - Preventive Maintenance Checklist
- B Series Box Lift - Preventive Maintenance Checklist
- D Series Hydraulic Lift - Preventive Maintenance Checklist
- DB Series Package Handling Lift - Preventive Maintenance Checklist
- F Series 4-Post Mechanical Lift - Preventive Maintenance List
- M and MQ Series Mechanical Lifts - Preventive Maintenance Checklist
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Service Bulletins
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Installation Manuals
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- Articles coming soon
- 21 Series - Hydraulic VRC - 2-Post Cantilever - Installation Manual
- 21 Series - Hydraulic VRC - 2-Post Straddle - Installation Manual
- B Series - Box Lift - Owner's, Installation, and Maintenance Manual
- D Series - Hydraulic VRC - Installation Manual
- DB Series - Package Handling Lift - Owner's, Installation, and Maintenance Manual
- F Series - Mechanical VRC - 4-Post Installation Manual
- M Series - Mechanical VRC - 2-Post Cantilever - Installation Manual
- M Series - Mechanical VRC- 2-Post Straddle- Installation Manual
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Owner's Product Manuals
- 21 Series - Hydraulic VRC - Owner's Manual
- B Series - Box Lift - Owner's, Installation, and Maintenance Manual
- D Series - Hydraulic VRC - Owner's Manual
- DB Series - Package Handling Lift - Owner's, Installation, and Maintenance Manual
- F Series - Mechanical VRC - Owner's Manual with Eurodrive
- F Series - Mechanical VRC - Owner's Manual with NORD Motordrive
- M Series - Mechanical VRC - Owner's Manual with Eurodrive
- M Series -Mechanical VRC - Owner's Manual with Nord Motordrive
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Dimensional Schematics
- 21 Series CSI Spec - No Quick Connect
- 21 Series CSI Spec - Quick Connect
- 21 Series Hydraulic Lift - Cantilever Style - Dimensional Schematic
- 21 Series Hydraulic Lift - Straddle Style - Dimensional Schematic
- 21 Series, Cantilever, CAD Drawing
- 21 Series, Straddle, CAD Drawing
- B Series Box Lift - Dimensional Schematic
- Bi-Panel Swing Gate Dimensions
- Bi-Panel Vertical Gate Dimensions
- D Series CAD Drawing
- D Series CSI Spec - No Quick Connect
- D Series CSI Spec - Quick Connect
- D Series Hydraulic Lift- Dimensions Schematic
- DB Series CAD Drawing
- DB1 Series Package Handling Lift - Dimensional Schematic
- DB2 Series Package Handling Lift - Dimensional Schematic
- F Series 4-Post Mechanical Lift - Dimensions Schematic
- F Series CAD Drawing
- F Series CSI Spec
- M Series 2-Post Mechanical Lift - Cantilever Style - Dimensions Schematic
- M Series 2-Post Mechanical Lift - Straddle Style - Dimensional Schematic
- M Series CSI Spec
- M Series, Cantilever, CAD Drawing
- M Series, Straddle, CAD Drawing
- Single Panel Vertical Gate Dimensions
- Single Sliding Gate Dimension
- Single Swing Gate Dimensions
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Applications
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Videos
PFlow F Series Helps Retailer Utilize Difficult-to-Access Space
Sherman’s is a family-owned appliance, electronics, furniture and mattress store based in Peoria, IL with additional stores in Peru and Normal.
Founded in 1976, its business has grown steadily and now serves customers within a 90 miles radius from the Peoria flagship location.
Until recently Sherman’s Distribution Center, service and parts operations were spread over a network of small warehouses in the Peoria store and other rented locations as business required.
The model was very inefficient and involved a constant shuffling of products from one space to the other.
Peoria, Illinois
Appliance Store Warehouse
- F Series 4-Post Mechanical Lift
- Lifts Loads up to 10,000 lbs
- 34’ Vertical Rise
- 2 Levels of Vertical Rise
- 18 FPM Travel Speed
During a search for an economical building to consolidate all support operations, owner Paul Sherman found a vacant building in nearby Peoria Heights that was built in the 1960s as a Pabst Brewing Co. bottling plant. The building had been used as a furniture company warehouse for over twenty years after Pabst closed the plant in the 1980s.
In Order to Expand, Sometimes You Need to Consolidate
The building was a very odd design by today’s standards; with two 50,000 sq. ft. levels, each with 30 sq. ft. ceilings stacked on top of each other. Pabst had equipment on both levels, with bottles moving up and down on a conveyor routed through a hole in the second floor. The furniture company had left the second floor unused, dismantled the conveyor and just left the hole.
Despite the significant renovations required to transform the building into the complete warehouse, service center and logistical operation that Sherman envisioned, the location was good, the price was right, and sitting on eight acres, there was plenty of room for parking and future expansion.
“When we purchased the building the second level was basically free, it wasn’t priced into the deal because very few people can use 50,000 square feet that is 30 feet up,” said Sherman. “You can’t ship and receive out of it; it’s really very difficult to use.”
As the Sherman’s team planned the building renovation the biggest challenge was finding a means to efficiently move products to and from the second floor.
“The first floor is fine for our receiving, prep and storage. But it doesn’t leave room for processing returns, service, office space and a whole lot of things like that,” said Sherman.
Consulting with the Local Distributor
In designing the warehouse upgrade and specifying the appropriate equipment, Sherman’s consulted with a local material handling distributor who they have worked with in the past. The distributor did some extensive research and eventually, it was determined that an F Series (4-post), 10,000-lbs capacity vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) from PFlow Industries was the ideal solution to access the second floor.
VRCs are also referred to as vertical lifts or material lifts. They typically are used in industrial or commercial settings where materials weighing anywhere from 100 lbs. to 100 tons need to be moved between two or more levels. VRCs have their own national safety code (ASME B20.1), and are specifically exempt from the national elevator code. People are not allowed to be transported on VRCs. The Sherman’s staff travels to and from the second floor via a staircase.
“We considered a few options, including fixing an old freight elevator, but a PFlow rep did a site visit and came back with some ideas that were better than anything else we had considered,” said the project manager from the local distributor. “This is our first collaboration with PFlow. They really have some great engineers. Plus the cost of the new VRC was less than the cost of overhauling the freight elevator.”
PFlow F Series – For the Most Demanding Applications
The F Series VRC is the PFlow model used for the most demanding lifting applications. It was necessary for the Sherman’s warehouse because of the size of the lift carriage and weight capacity required to handle large appliances and furniture.
For maximum stability the F Series features sturdy metal posts running the full vertical height at each of the lift’s four corners. Due to the absence of any intermediate floors along the Sherman lift’s 34’ vertical travel distance, and its position away from any lateral bracing points, highly secure bracing in the ground floor pit and on the under- and top-sides of the second floor was also required.
The Sherman’s lift has a useable carriage of 7’ 7” W x 10’ 5” L x 13’ 0” H and travels at a speed of 18 feet per minute. It was installed in the existing second floor opening that Pabst originally used with only minor trimming, a location that fortunately was in the perfect spot for Sherman’s work flow. It is used continuously, up to 18 hours per day, seven days a week.
A Full Service Support Center
“The PFlow VRC was one of the most important infrastructure investments we made, it allows us to efficiently access the second floor, and house all key support operations in one place,” said Sherman.
In addition to housing the returns and servicing operation, with multiple appliance stations complete with water, gas and 220V electricity, the second floor contains the entire parts operation and administrative offices.
“Any returns that come in simply get on the lift and zip upstairs,” said Sherman. “Now we have this huge space where we can process, clean and service the returns out of the way of our prep space on the first floor.”
The new warehouse is a hub of activity almost every day of the year. Between 100 and 150 orders are prepped for next day delivery seven days a week; eight service trucks are stocked and routed for in-home service; and 75+ employees across multiple shifts report for duty.
“The collaboration between the local distributor and PFlow really helped us identify the best lifting solution for our needs. I am only going to buy one of these in my life, so I want to get it right,” Sherman summarized. “We love the lift. It is a great example of turning hard-to-use space into very productive space, without having to spend $300,000 for a new elevator.”