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Self-Leveling Spring Tables vs. Powered Lift Tables: Choosing a Pallet Workstation


A self-leveling spring table with a rotating surface makes an ideal pallet-handling workstation. The table is designed to maintain a custom safe working height — even when the level of the work rises or falls, as it must when the operator is building or unpacking a pallet. This constant adjustment to a comfortable elevation protects staff from risky motions like bending, stretching, and adopting awkward postures.

But spring tables aren’t the only ergonomic approach to building and unloading pallets. Some pallet tables achieve the same self-leveling function with pneumatic airbags. And hydraulic scissor lifts allow workers to constantly readjust work height as they go. So which option makes the best pallet workstation?

Here’s what you need to know about the differences between spring tables and powered self-leveling pallet positioners:

  • Spring-powered pallet positioners are unique in that they don’t require an external power source. Instead, the mechanical springs hold the tabletop at the chosen elevation. This feature alone makes spring tables ideal for shipping/recieving areas with limited access to electricity and/or air supply.
  • Pneumatic self-leveling turntables have certain benefits, as well. They can be designed with a narrower footprint than their mechanical counterparts, since airbags don’t require as much space as a trio of heavy-duty springs. And some pneumatic self-leveling tables provide smoother, more dampened action than a spring table without a dampener. (Solus Group only sells spring tables with built-in dampeners that provide bounce-free operation, so this consideration doesn’t apply to our product lines.)
  • Pneumatic skid positioners must have access to shop air or a compressor. This might limit their application compared to spring tables. Note that pneumatic-powered Pallet Carousel & Skid Positioners from Solus Group don’t require constant attachment to shop air. Once the bag is filled, they can move anywhere.
  • Hydraulic Lift Tables with a turntable attachment can keep pallets at a comfortable height even as workers move through layers of product. They can’t be considered “self-leveling,” though. It’s easy enough to adjust elevation, thanks to foot pedals, but operators would have to make those adjustments with each change in working height, which could slow down the task.

For working with pallets, choose either model of the Pallet Carousel & Skid Positioner. These units are available in either spring-powered or pneumatic designs, and they both maintain a constant level of work throughout the palletizing process.

But the ergonomic benefits of Pallet Carousel & Skid Positioners don’t stop with self-leveling. They also feature a slim base that allows workers to get as close as possible to their work, further reducing strain. Sealed ball bearings make rotation steady and controlled, without requiring overexertion.

Facilities that regularly rely on shop air often choose pneumatic Pallet Carousel & Skid Positioners for pallet-building needs. But for other applications, a spring table is the best choice for safe, ergonomic work with pallets.

Learn more about Pallet Carousel & Skid Positioners at Solus Group. You can find information on the pneumatic model here, and the spring table version here