Handling Plates Safely: Which Attachment Fits Your Plate?
- Zeilhofer HHT
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
If you move plates every day, you know the weak points in the process: large formats bend, sensitive surfaces get pressure marks, the weight strains employees, and every new plate size means retooling. Whether sheet metal, glass, plastic panels, wood-based boards or mixed assembly plates: safe and economical handling is not decided by the manipulator alone, but by the right handling attachment.
This article is aimed at everyone who handles flat components and shows which attachment is suitable for which plate and what matters when making the choice.
Why the attachment decides between success and scrap
A plate is not a simple component. It is large, often heavy and rarely dimensionally stable. If it is held in the wrong place or with the wrong attachment, it bends, slips or gets damaged. With sensitive surfaces such as painted sheet metal, glass or visible parts, the wrong attachment alone leads to costly scrap.
The handling attachment is therefore the actual interface between the plate and the handling system. It determines whether the load is distributed evenly, whether the surface stays protected and whether the operator can work ergonomically and safely.
The right attachment by plate type
Which attachment is the right one depends above all on material, surface and format.
Suction attachments are the first choice for large, smooth plates. Sheet metal, glass, plastic panels, wood-based boards or assembly plates are picked up flat and gently via suction pads, without pressure marks on edges or surface. Adjustable suction attachments cover several formats with a single system. Monitored vacuum technology ensures the necessary process reliability. Our article What is a suction attachment? explains the basics.
Magnetic attachments are suitable for ferromagnetic plates made of steel or iron, especially when the surface is insensitive or suction is impeded by perforations, oil or rough surfaces. Depending on the application, permanent or electromagnets are used.
Gripping attachments come into play where plates have to be gripped at the edges, tilted or positioned precisely, for example with thick, very heavy or irregularly shaped plates that cannot be cleanly suctioned.
In practice, the combination of surface, weight, format and process step decides. We analyse exactly these factors before construction so that the attachment fits the plate precisely.
What to consider when choosing
Before deciding on an attachment, it is worth looking at a few key points:
weight of the plate and matching load capacity class
surface condition and sensitivity
largest and smallest format to be handled
centre of gravity and risk of bending
required movements such as lifting, tilting or turning
cycle time in the process
The more precisely these requirements are known, the more precisely the attachment can be designed and the safer and more economical the handling will later run.
In terms of load capacity, the range extends depending on the system from the Hebelift ZH up to 100 kg, the ZH90 Flex-Arm up to 200 kg and the manipulator up to 800 kg, through to the ZH90 lifting axis up to 1,200 kg. The attachment is designed to match the respective load capacity class.
One system for many formats
Companies with high variant diversity in particular face the question of whether a separate attachment is needed for each plate size. It is not. An adjustable suction attachment picks up different formats with just one handling system, shortens setup times and saves investment costs. Our practical example Manipulator with suction attachment: flexible handling of assembly plates up to 100 kg shows what this looks like in concrete terms.
Everything from a single source
A major advantage is that manipulator, control and handling attachment are developed together. This creates fewer interfaces, simplifies commissioning and allows the entire system to be implemented as a CE-compliant complete solution. Customers receive not a single part, but a coordinated overall system, from component analysis to commissioning.
Developed for a wide range of industries
Plates are handled in almost every industry. Zeilhofer supplies 18 industries, including mechanical engineering, metalworking, control cabinet and plant construction, automotive and supplier industry, glass and window industry as well as the wood industry. In each of these applications, the attachment is precisely tailored to the respective plate and process.
Frequently asked questions about plate handling
Which attachment is suitable for handling plates?
For large, smooth plates such as sheet metal, glass or plastic, suction attachments are the first choice. Ferromagnetic plates can be handled with magnetic attachments, thick or irregular plates with gripping attachments. The choice depends on material, surface and format.
How are sensitive plates handled without damage?
Via suction attachments with flatly distributed suction pads, the load is picked up evenly, without pressure marks on edges or surface. Monitored vacuum technology additionally ensures safety with sensitive surfaces such as painted sheet metal or glass.
Does every plate size need its own attachment?
No. An adjustable suction attachment can pick up different formats with just one handling system. This shortens setup times and lowers investment costs compared to several individual attachments.
Up to what weight can plates be handled with a manipulator?
Depending on the system, from the Hebelift ZH up to 100 kg to the ZH90 lifting axis up to 1,200 kg. The attachment is designed to match the respective load capacity class.
Handle your plates safely and ergonomically?
You move sheet metal, glass, plastic or assembly plates and are looking for the right attachment? Our design engineers are happy to advise you and design your solution individually, Made in Germany, from a single source.
For more depth on individual topics, see our guides on handling technology.
