Industrial Manipulators and Lift Assist Devices,
Dalmec Australia
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- Industrial Manipulators and Lift Assist Devices, Dalmec Australia
WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL MANIPULATOR?
An industrial manipulator is a pneumatic lift-assist device that allows a single operator to handle heavy, awkward, or repetitive loads with virtually no physical effort. Powered entirely by compressed air, it holds any load in a continuously balanced state so the operator can guide the load through lifting, lowering, rotation, and precise placement without bearing its weight.
Unlike a crane or hoist that only moves loads vertically, a Dalmec manipulator provides full three-dimensional control. And unlike off-the-shelf lifting equipment, every Dalmec system is custom-engineered around the specific task, the load, the grip, the motion, and the workplace layout, making it a documented engineering control under Australia’s Work Health and Safety Act hierarchy of controls.
Over 650 Dalmec systems installed across Australian and New Zealand workplaces.
FAQ
How does a pneumatic industrial manipulator work?
Every Dalmec manipulator runs on compressed air only. The system continuously adjusts air pressure to counterbalance the exact weight of the load, keeping it suspended at whatever height the operator sets it. At that point the operator is no longer carrying anything. They are guiding. The
physical demand of lifting is removed from the task entirely, which means consistent performance across a full shift with no fatigue accumulation. Because there are no electrical motors or control electronics in the arm itself, Dalmec manipulators perform reliably in demanding conditions including wash-down areas, paint booths, dusty fabrication environments, and ATEX-rated hazardous zones where electrical components create risk.
What are the main benefits of using an industrial manipulator?
The primary benefit is a significant reduction in workplace injury risk. By removing the physical demand of manual handling, Dalmec manipulators help prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI), the leading categories of serious workers’ compensation claims in Australian workplaces. Beyond safety, they improve operational efficiency by allowing a single operator to handle loads that would otherwise require two people or a slower crane or hoist system. Consistent output, reduced fatigue, and improved operator retention are the downstream operational gains.
Can industrial manipulators be customised for specific tasks?
Yes. Unlike standard lifting equipment, the most effective industrial manipulators are bespoke. At Dalmec, we engineer custom gripping tools (end-effectors) tailored to the specific geometry of the product, whether it is a vehicle component, a roll of material, a heavy carton, or a chemical drum. This ensures the load is held securely and can be manoeuvred into the exact orientation required for the next stage of production or handling.
Do Dalmec manipulators comply with Australian workplace safety regulations?
Yes. All Dalmec installations in Australia are designed to meet and exceed applicable workplace safety requirements. Our systems are engineered as engineering controls, the highest level of control in the hierarchy of controls under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Model WHS Regulations (hazardous manual tasks). Each installation is documented to support a PCBU’s duty to eliminate or minimise manual handling risk so far as is reasonably practicable. Dalmec systems carry EC/CE certification to European Machinery Directive standards, and VLM holds Australian compliance certification for local installations.
Does Dalmec have nationwide installation and service support in Australia?
Yes. VLM, the exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor for Dalmec, has installed over 650 Dalmec manipulators in workplaces across every state and territory. Our experienced team coordinates site assessment, custom engineering, installation, commissioning, and after-sales service nationally. Whether your facility is in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, or regional Australia, we provide local support backed by Dalmec’s global engineering network.
How does a custom material handling solution improve overall productivity?
By replacing manual lifting with a Dalmec engineered manipulator or balancer, businesses reduce operator fatigue, prevent injuries, and maintain consistent production speeds across a full shift. Unlike a human operator whose output degrades with fatigue, a Dalmec system delivers the same handling performance at the start of the shift as the end. These improvements lead directly to higher throughput, fewer delays, reduced rework from handling errors, and measurable cost savings over the system’s 20+ year service life.
INDUSTRIAL MANIPULATOR OR CABLE BALANCER?
Industrial manipulator
An industrial manipulator is a machine with a rigid steel manipulator arm that allow complex pneumatic tilts and rotations — even when the product being moved is handled outside it’s barycenter.
An operator leads the manipulator, allowing for easy and precise movement of the manipulator to lift, lower and otherwise transport a product.
Industrial manipulators are frequently used when:
- A product is too heavy for a person to move manually
- A product must be moved to a location that is not easily or quickly accessible for a person to reach, like a very tall shelf
- When a worker will be put at risk for injury if they move a product manually
- When a person will quickly fatigue from moving products manually
- A high volume of product must be moved in a timely fashion
- The handiness for the manipulator to move products outside of its barycenter becomes more appreciated as you start working with heavier loads or products that are not regular- shaped, as other types of machines (including balancers with cables) are not so efficient if not with light or standard shaped products.
Cable Balancer
Cable balancers, are best for moving lighter objects that are in standard shapes.
Cable balancers use steel or nylon cables to move products up or down.
On cable balancers built by Dalmec, use a system of cables and pulleys wrap around pulleys paired with a pneumatic cylinder. As those cylinders stretch or withdraw, the cables wrap and move vertically up and down the product.
Some small manipulation of product can happen through the tooling even if the product’s barycenter does not coincide with its center of mass
WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL MANIPULATOR?
Manipulators and cable balancers are used in a wide range of industries across the globe to help companies move with efficiency and safety.
Some of the many industries that rely on these machines include:
WHICH TYPE OF MANIPULATOR SHOULD YOU USE IN YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT?
If you aren’t sure if a cable balancer or a manipulator would be right for your work environment, consider the following factors:
- The weight of the product you need to move
- The size and shape of the product you need to move
- The trajectory of the movement you need the machine to perform
- Lighter weight products (usually those less than 200 lbs) and standard shapes that only need to be moved up and down are good candidates for an arm with cables.
- Heavier products (up to 2,000 lbs), products with odd shapes and products that need to be moved and repositioned both horizontally and vertically are best suited for manipulators.