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STU – Simple Tipping Unit

The simple tipping unit (STU) can be mounted on a drum lifter or box handler. Image: Battery powered lifter that is tipping a blue drum forward.

STU – Simple Tipping Unit:
A Manual Tipping Tool for Drum Lifters or Box Handlers

Worker pouring a white liquid, probably milk, from a white plastic drum. Text says: Don't underestimate manual tipping. A small task with potentially big consequences.

Working in a warehouse, manufacturing plant, or any hands-on industrial setting means your workers probably have to muscle a heavy drum or bulky box to get the contents out. Manual tipping might look like no big deal on the surface, but it’s actually a common source of workplace injuries, especially to the lower back, shoulders, and wrists.

It’s not just the weight – it’s the awkward lifting angles, the unsteady loads, and the unpredictable movements that can turn a simple task into a safety hazard. In fact, even strong, experienced workers can strain themselves just from one poorly-executed tip.

So how do you keep efficiency up without risking injury or fatigue? That’s where the tipping tool for our box and drum lifter solutions comes in.

The Simple Tipping Unit (STU) is a straightforward yet effective mechanism designed to take the strain off your workers’ body while keeping them in full control. When combined with a Manual Clamp (MC) – a tool that grips the load by squeezing its sides – the STU enables workers to easily tip a load forward. This motion is facilitated either by gripping the load directly by hand or by using a handle located on the side of the STU.

So whether your workers are transferring ingredients into a mixing hopper or loading raw materials into a production chute, a minilift with the Simple Tipping Unit will give them leverage and precision – two things that their backs will be grateful for.

An image collage showcasing the key components that enable a roll, box, or drum lifter to tip loads forward. Images featuring an electric mini-lift, a clamping tool, and a tipping unit.

Modular Magic: Build Your Perfect Lifter, Just Like LEGO®!

Think of LEGO®. It’s clever, right? You can put things together in almost any configuration that suits you, and from those individual pieces, a bigger, more complete creation comes together. This is the genius behind modular principles. Our lifting solutions are built on the same concept. You can combine a lift with various tools, and together they form a seamless solution, tailored to do something very specific.

The Simple Tipping Unit:
Tip, Tilt, and Go – Effortless Lifting at Your Fingertips!

An electric minilift with a simple tipping unit (STU) tilting a green plastic box in a pharmaceutical warehouse environment.

With this flexibility in mind, we bring you the Simple Tipping Unit (STU), which is no exception. Depending on your industry, you can choose a lift with components that are perfectly suited to your needs. In most cases, the lifter itself will be electrically operated, meaning the vertical lifting of the load is controlled via a remote.

When we’ve found the right lifting machine for your industry, we’ll proceed to find the right combination of tools to ensure the optimal solution for your unique task.

For this particular application, the solution consists of a Manual Clamp (MC) – which uses a latch and a pair of grippers to securely hold the load – paired with the Simple Tipping Unit. This setup allows for the manual forward tipping of the load.

Such a movement is typically ideal for tasks like emptying drums, crates or boxes, or even repositioning items like rolls or filters. Thus the lifter is quickly turned into a box, roll and drum lifter – all in one solution.

We offer two variants of the STU: one without a handle, where you simply tip the load by pushing it manually, and one with a handle, allowing you to rotate and tilt the load more easily.

Touch and Go – Effortless Tipping and Emptying of Drums
(The STU without Handle)

The Simple Tipping Unit transforms a mini-lift into both a drum lifter and a drum tipper. Shown here: a sequence of images demonstrating the process of tipping a drum forward to empty its contents.

Filter Tipping Made Easy with One Smooth Move
(The STU without Handle)

Photos of a worker repositioning a roll using an electric lift equipped with a manual tipping mechanism.

Reposition Rolls with Perfect Manual Control
(The STU without Handle)

Photos of a worker repositioning a roll using an electric lift equipped with a manual tipping mechanism.

Crate (Box) Tipping Made Simple – From Full to Empty in a Snap
(The STU with Handle)

A series of photos showing a worker operating a minilift with a manual tipping mechanism. The worker is turning a crate forward manually via a handle.

When Should I Choose the Simple Tipping Unit?

The Simple Tipping Unit is an excellent solution for handling lighter loads, typically around 80 kg. It’s particularly effective for loads that are well-centered – meaning the weight is evenly distributed around the central axis (where the grippers are). This balance ensures that the load remains stable and prevents tipping or swaying during the operation.

Additionally, the Simple Tipping Unit is a very lightweight solution, making it easy to maneuver and position with minimal effort.

Last but not least, it’s a cost-effective option, providing great value for those looking for an efficient, budget-friendly solution.

If you need a solution for handling heavier loads and perhaps off-centre loads, we recommend checking out our Electric Tipping Unit and Manual Tipping Unit.

How Exactly Does the Simple Tipping Unit Work?

Illustration of the individual components that make up the tipping tool and manual clamp of the lifter.

The Simple Tipping Unit (STU) is always used in conjunction with a clamping tool that secures the load. Once clamped, the STU enables the load to be tipped forward.

The STU is available in two versions: with or without a handle.

The STU with Handle:

To tip the load, pull out the plunger and turn the handle. The plunger, when engaged, prevents the load from moving further.

To keep the plunger in the retracted position, turn the knob after pulling it out. To re-engage the plunger, simply turn the knob once again.

The STU without Handle:

In some designs, the handle and plunger may be omitted. In these cases, the load can be tipped manually by grasping it and rotating it by hand.

Important Usage Note:

Always grip the load at its center of mass to ensure smooth tipping and to prevent sudden, uncontrolled rotation.

Features

  • Different grippers are available and can be customzised to fit a large range of different loads.
  • Easily customizable; dimensions  can be modified to customer specifications.
  • Rugged construction for industrial use. With its all-stainless steel construction, the STU is built to last and for use in demanding industrial environments.

Images of the Simple Tipping Unit (STU):
A Box or Drum Lifter Tool that Tips Loads Forward

This manually controlled lifting solution, the simple tipping unit (STU), is very versatile as it can be equipped with different grippers for handling different kinds of loads. From the back, picture 1.
This forward tipping lifter tool, the simple tipping unit (STU), is ideal for handling loads that need emptying or reorientation. From the front, picture 1.
Typically used as a box or drum lifting device, the simple tipping unit (STU) is easily customisable to fit specific load and environment requirements. From the back, picture 2.
The simple tipping unit (STU). When mounted on a box handler or drum lifter, a container may be manually tipped forward e.g. to empty a load. From the front, picture 2.
This manually controlled lifting solution, the simple tipping unit (STU), is very versatile as it can be equipped with different grippers for handling different kinds of loads. From the back, picture 1.
This forward tipping lifter tool, the simple tipping unit (STU), is ideal for handling loads that need emptying or reorientation. From the front, picture 1.
Typically used as a box or drum lifting device, the simple tipping unit (STU) is easily customisable to fit specific load and environment requirements. From the back, picture 2.
The simple tipping unit (STU). When mounted on a box handler or drum lifter, a container may be manually tipped forward e.g. to empty a load. From the front, picture 2.

Other Manual Manipulators

Manual rotation unit (MRU) for rotating heavy loads. This flexible rotation tool combined with either drum, roll or cylinder handling equipment allows for safe manual turning of loads via a handle.

MRU – Manual Rotation Unit

This manual tipping unit (MTU) with a clamp mounted on roll or drum lifts allows for safe forward tipping of loads. The motion is carried our via a handle.

MTU – Manual Tipping Unit

An easily customisable material handling crane for lifting and positioning loads. When combined with a swing tool, the rail crane arm (RCA) can move laterally.

RCA – Rail Crane Arm

The manual roll manipulator (MRM) tool may turn and grip rolls up to 400 kg. This roll handling equipment is both a strong and economic choice.

MRM – Manual Roll Manipulator

The swing unit (SU) designed to be mounted on material handling cranes or roll lifting equipment, allows for swinging a load into position.The swing unit (SU) designed to be mounted on material handling cranes or roll lifting equipment, allows for swinging a load into position.

SU – Swing Unit

The V-Block (VB) roll lifter tool for industrial lifters is designed to lift loads, typically rolls, and place them onto e.g. mandrels.

VB – V-Block

Go to our Manual Manipulators page for more information on this categoriy of lifting tools.

Go to our main Tools page for an overview of the different categories of tools that we offer.

Go to our Products page to find out how our products may help you in your line of industry and your work situation.

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