The new Shuttle Vertical Lift Module (VLM) from Remstar International Inc. (www.remstar.com) provides ergonomic benefits that can help welding companies improve the comfort, safety and productivity of operators in automated storage and retrieval operations. The unit is an enclosed system of vertically arranged trays, an extraction platform and a series of computerized controls that delivers stored items to an ergonomically positioned work counter for retrieval. It reduces or eliminates wasted walking, bending, and stretching, said the company. The height of the tray can be adjusted to accommodate individual operators. This design helps companies meet the social responsibility guidelines established by the federal government for sustainable buildings.

The Remstar Shuttle VLM allows for the integration of hoists, lifts and vacuum grippers into the workstation to facilitate safe handling of odd-shaped and heavy items. Additional access openings can be added before or after installation and can be located to meet specific user requirements. The modular design of the Shuttle VLM allows it to be configured to meet varying ceiling heights. Depending on useable building interior heights, more than 85 percent of a conventional storage system's occupied floor space can be recovered.