Powertug – Electric Tug

Vessel & Trolley Mover

Safely and easily move pharmaceutical vessels, beverage vessels, biotech vessels, chemical vessels, food vessels, process tanks, mixing vessels, Textile ‘A’ frames and pressure vessels with the PowerTug.

Moving and positioning gases and liquids contained in pressure vessels, process tanks, chromatography columns and reaction vessels is difficult to do accurately. Often used in the pharmaceutical, food, biotech and chemical industries, the manufacturing process usually involves moving tanks & vessels in confined areas so, they are typically fitted with all-swivel castors.

Vessels & trolleys in these industries are commonly made from Stainless Steel and contain high-value chemicals and drugs. They usually weigh at least 1,000Kg when fully loaded and so require a powered tug to move safely. Often these vessels are operating in a clean room environment and so any vessel mover needs to be manufactured to a clean room standard and suitable for regular wash down procedures according to FDA Standards and Guidance. Where volatile liquids and gases are present, any powered mover will need to be manufactured according to ATEX standards.

Accurately moving and positioning these vessels can be difficult since each castor turns independently so there is a tendency for the load to ‘wander’ or ‘crab’ when being moved, particularly if the floor is uneven, on a slope or, has a camber – as is often the case when there are drains are in the floor to collect wash down residue.

The PowerTug load mover is a battery powered electric tow tug that has a telescopic front leg (or legs) with a fixed castor (or castors) at the end. When coupled to the vessel, this configuration overcomes the ‘wandering’ or ‘crabbing’ effect of the swivel castors and the vessel can be safely moved and positioned with great precision, irrespective of the floor surface.

The PowerTug also has an electrically powered up/down carriage which enables quick & easy connection to the vessel and, in so doing, transfers some of the weight from the vessel to the PowerTug’s driven wheel, thus creating additional traction or tractive effort.

Applications