Innovative and cost effective solution

Since its acquisition of Hovair® Systems, Movetech UK has continued in-house design and manufacture of standard and bespoke air film movement solutions.

Movetech UK air film transporters are the ultimate solution for moving heavy loads. They are versatile enough to be used as basic materials handling equipment – moving loads from A to B or in production flow lines where build stages are required. Hovair® transporters provide innovative and cost effective solutions for manufacturing environments.

Applications include:

• The safe handling of nuclear material
• The production of large aero-engines and wings
• Moving electrical transformers
• Refurbishing railway locomotives
• Transporting steel or paper coils

Hovair® transporters allow loads to be moved in any direction, at any angle and can rotate on the spot like a turntable. They are ideal for hazardous environments as they are air powered and do not require an electrical supply. The air bearings are also an ideal alternative to wheels in clean environments, such as those required in a laboratory.

Hovair® transporters float heavy loads on a film of air. Options range from lightweight aluminium transporters with handlebars, to more sophisticated units using multi-circuit pneumatic systems and low air consumption/high torque drive units.

Typically the transporter is a structural steel low profile platform fitted with Hovair® air bearings and is designed to suit customer requirements.

Simple and economic

Since its acquisition of Hovair Systems, Movetech UK has continued in-house design and manufacture of standard and bespoke air film movement solutions. Movetech UK offers a range of steerable air powered tuggers to move air film supported platforms or wheeled trailers with ease and in complete safety.

Designed for one-man operation, they offer a simple and economic method of motorising any number of air pallets or wheeled bogies.

Hovair air powered tuggers are currently used in a wide variety of industries including:

• Aerospace – for moving components such as wings, fuselages, helicopter blades and aero-engines
• Nuclear – for moving flasks, shielding and waste containers
• Factories – for production line transportation, tooling relocation and product movement
• Glass – for loading autoclaves, moving sheets and packs
• Rail – for the refurbishment and production of coaches, light rail and trams
• Offshore – in oil rig applications, cable drums and containers

Hovair tuggers operate from a normal workshop air supply with a minimum of 5.5 Bar (80 psi) pressure and are capable of moving, in standard form, up to 120 tonnes on air and 25 tonnes on wheels or rails.

Available in a range of models to suit different applications and power requirements, Hovair tuggers are portable and easy to move between workstations using the rear trundle wheels, allowing them to be moved independently of the air supply. When used with air film equipment, all controls can be grouped at the tugger handlebar.

Innovative and cost effective solution

Since its acquisition of Hovair Systems, Movetech UK has continued in-house design and manufacture of standard and bespoke air film movement solutions.

Fitting Hovair lightweight air bearings (LA Bearings) under your machine, heavy laboratory equipment, office machinery or even theatre seating, quickly facilitates access, maintenance, re-positioning or any other requirement.

Hovair tuggers operate from a normal workshop air supply with a minimum of 5.5 Bar (80 psi) pressure and are capable of moving, in standard form, up to 120 tonnes on air and 25 tonnes on wheels or rails. Available in a range of models to suit different applications and power requirements, Hovair tuggers are portable and easy to move between workstations using the rear trundle wheels, allowing them to be moved independently of the air supply. When used with air film equipment, all controls can be grouped at the tugger handlebar.

A thin film of air under the bearings ensures virtually frictionless and omni-directional movement, minimal effort by the operator and no damage to your floors. The LA series of air bearings is durable and efficient, featuring: rolled edge galvanized steel construction, built-in damping chamber and a tough urethane diaphragm. All products within this range are designed for permanent installation.

Best performance is obtained on a smooth sealed surface such as epoxy, floated concrete, vinyl, linoleum, etc. Air supply is from standard workshop compressed air, 5-6 bar (70-90 PSI), although air bottles and/or receivers can be used for short term operation where this is not available.

Hovair LA bearings are usually used in sets of four or six and can be bought as complete sets, including individual flow control valves, manifold kit and mains on/off valve.

A set of four LA14 bearings, for example, is rated at 2,400kg, and typically requires around 12kg force to move such a load. The manifold is usually supplied in kit form in order for you to cut the hose to the correct lengths for your load.

Optional accessories include remote control boxes with ‘dead-man’ on/off trigger and quick exhaust, LA spacer blocks, allowing the bearing to be mounted underneath a flat face without the air inlet being obstructed. There are also quick-release hoses and fittings for when speed of fitting is important.