Australia’s manufacturing sector is experiencing a renaissance – driven by policy shifts like Future Made in Australia and growing demand for supply chain resilience. But with growth comes new pressure: labour shortages, rising WHS costs, and the need to scale production without compromising safety.
One solution gaining traction across food, chemical, defence, and industrial sectors? Industrial manipulators – precision-engineered lifting systems that reduce injury risk and increase throughput without adding headcount.
The Hidden Cost of Manual Lifting
Manual handling is the #1 cause of serious injury claims in Australia, responsible for over 84% of musculoskeletal injuries on the factory floor. These injuries lead to:
Lost-time incidents
Soaring insurance premiums
Missed production targets
Even loads under 20 kg – when lifted awkwardly, repeatedly, or without support – can trigger long-term strain. And it only takes one injury to cause weeks of disruption and tens of thousands in costs.
The fix? Remove the strain from the lift itself.
What Is a Manipulator – and Why Use One?
Industrial manipulators are pneumatic lift-assist arms that let one operator lift, rotate, tilt, or position heavy or fragile items with total control – and no strain.
Unlike forklifts or robotic arms, manipulators are purpose-built to integrate into tight workflows, handle complex shapes, and enable safe one-person lifts of loads up to 400 kg. You’ll find them installed on:
Food production lines (buckets, drums, packaging)
Chemical plants (hazardous pails, blending components)
Furniture and sheet metal factories (panels, frames, glass)
Defence and aerospace (parts and maintenance tooling)
Whether floor-mounted, overhead, or column-mounted, each system is custom-built for your layout, your load, and your safety standards.
How Manipulators Drive Australian Manufacturing Growth
Australia’s SME manufacturers need to grow without overloading their workforce. Manual lifting slows throughput, causes burnout, and adds liability.
Smart manufacturers use manipulators to:
Cut lifting injuries by up to 60%
Reduce two-person lifts to one
Improve WHS compliance
Boost efficiency in tight or irregular spaces
“One Dalmec manipulator helped us cut daily fatigue complaints to zero – and reclaim hours of production time each week.”
– Production Manager, Brisbane-based packaging plant
The results aren’t just safer people – they’re smarter, faster workflows.
Lift Safer, Waste Less, Operate Smarter
Manual handling isn’t just a safety risk – it’s a productivity bottleneck. Dropped parts, product damage, and strained backs all eat into margins.
With manipulators, you gain:
Smooth, damage-free transfers
Precise tilt or rotation for filling, stacking, or assembly
Fewer stoppages, fewer spills, better output
Many systems run entirely on compressed air – no electricity, minimal maintenance. It’s ergonomic lifting with sustainability baked in.
VLM & Dalmec: Built for Australian Industry
At VLM, we supply Dalmec industrial manipulators tailored to the exact lifting needs of Australian manufacturers. Our process includes:
On-site risk assessment and workflow review
Custom gripper/tooling design
Full install, training, and support
Every system is engineered to improve safety, speed, and compliance – without disrupting existing operations.
Ready to Make Lifting the Safest Part of Your Day?
If your team still lifts 16 kg+ by hand, it’s time to assess the risk – and fix it before the next injury hits.
Book a free Safe Handling Assessment.
Prefer to explore first? Ask us for a copy of our Workplace Handling Safety Checklist – a simple tool to benchmark your lifting risks and spot improvement opportunities.
Let’s build a safer, smarter and more efficient production floor – one lift at a time.