Skillet Conveyor Lift Table

(10001) Skillet conveyor lift table systems seem to be the most efficient way know to assemble vehicles today. These systems came into being at the start of the 1990’s and are becoming widely used to assemble cars and trucks around the world.  The skillet platform is a tubular frame which is welded together and they are typically about 12 x 20 feet (300 x 500 mm) and they are about 4” tall (100 mm) with a scissor lift table placed in the center.

They have (6 qty) marine grade plywood panels placed around the lift table. The skillet conveyor is powered by friction drive rollers at one end.  Each skillet platform pushes against the next to create an assembly line which moves at a max speed of about 20 feet per minute.  You can think of it like a train that is being pushed by the caboose.

Skillet conveyor lift table

Details of Skillet Lift Tables

As the skillet lift table moves along the assembly line, an operator assembles component parts to a vehicle while standing on the plywood panel decking.  In some cases, skillet lift tables are programmable to automatically raise and lower to the desired working height at each workstation for the operator to perform the task.  This provides an operator with the correct ergonomic window and most efficient work height for assembling.  This system is the preferred method used today for assembly line manufacturing, it maximizing the efficiency and safety, which reflects to the bottom line costs.

The skillet lift tables are typically electrically driven and include a number of safety features such as fully redundant anti-fall device, safety bellows skirting and motor braking system.  The skillet lift tables are typically build robust with a safety factor that is much higher than a typical scissor lift table.  The lifts usually have a vertical travel of about 48” (1200 mm) and a capacity rating at 3000 pounds (1360 Kg) for cars and up to 10,000 pounds (4536 Kg) for trucks.