Stone Handling Equipment: A Complete Guide to the Tools Every Fabricator Needs

In the industry, stone handling is a tricky business. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the idea, handling materials requires precision, skill, and careful planning. And one thing’s for sure: you can’t do it by yourself. Having the right tools is essential for handling stone safely and efficiently.

In fact, the entire industry relies on handling equipment throughout the entire process—from the shop, transport, to the jobsite. Without the proper, specialized tools, the process can result in decreased productivity, damaged materials, and more importantly injuries to yourself and other workers.

With that in mind, what are these “specialized” tools? Although there are many different types of tools, there are actually few main categories of handling equipment that every fabricator and installer should know.

Suction Cups and Vacuum Lifters

Suction cups and vacuum lifters both serve a similar purpose: they are specialized handling tools for lifting, moving and installing small slab materials (typically one-person transport). They’re used for a variety of materials, not just stone, they can be used for other materials such as granite or glass.

Manual Suction Cups 

Suction cups are still used for lifting, moving, and placement of stone slabs, but they usually are hand-operated, using a suction grip in order to get a strong hold.

• Manual suction cups are more ideal for smaller and lighter tasks. 

• They offer high portability, making transport more efficient.

Powered Vacuum Lifters

While they’re still used for lifting, short-transport, and placement (like manual suction cups), powered vacuum lifters on the other hand are electric and usually crane-mounted.

• Powered vacuum lifters are essential for moving larger, heavier slabs, as they offer higher weight capacity, increased safety.

• The cost is significantly higher than manual suction cups.

An example of a non-marking vacuum cup is the Stealth Grip™, which provides a strong hold on surfaces. But whatever cup or lifter you choose, always research its carrying capacity, features, reliability to ensure it suits your needs.

Carry Clamps and Slab Lifters

Carry clamps and slab lifters are needed for very specific handling stages. They are specialized for lifting, positioning, and transporting large, heavy slabs (stone, granite, quartz, etc.). They are usually used in lifting slabs off trucks, moving slabs vertically in the shop, etc.

Carry Clamps

Carry clamps are primarily for manual transport, and also need two to safely transport materials (unlike suction cups).

• Larger slabs need two-people and the tight grip, so carry clamps are essential.

• An example of a carry clamp is the Aqua-Jaw™ Carry Vise™, the only all-weather clamp to grip wet slabs with a capacity up to 800 lb per pair. Meanwhile, a suction cup is only designed for lightweight transport, and not made for carrying wet materials.

Slab Lifters

While slab lifters are designed for transporting large, heavy slabs, they are made to be used with heavy-duty machinery (cranes/forklifts).

• Slab lifters are needed in large slab transport, especially in vertical lifting during loading/unloading/positioning.

• Slab lifters have a very high weight capacity since they take slabs higher up than carry clamps.

Features to Look For 

• Weight Rating

• Grip Type

• Adjustability

• Wet Surface Performance

Storage Racks

Storage racks aren’t usually the first to come to mind in equipment, however they are still important for safe stone handling. The proper storage is essential for preventing cracks, organizing your inventory, and even in-shop safety.

A-Frames

• A-frames are sturdy, A-shaped racks designed to support heavy stone and other slabs on two sides.

• A-frames are one of the most reliable rack choices, and better suited for display as well as reliability. Omni Cubed’s EZ Haul™ Half A-Frame Cart is an example of an A-frame rack (although it also doubles as a transport cart). 

Bundle Racks

• While an A-frame is meant for two slabs, bundle racks are designed for storing (as the name suggests) bundles of racks in dense storage.

• Bundle racks are the better choice for maximized warehouse storage.

Remnant Racks

• Meanwhile, remnant racks are designed for storing small, leftover pieces of materials.

Things to Consider

• Capacity

• Footprint

• Mobility

Transport Carts and Dollies

Carts and dollies are just about one of the most important tools of transportation. While small trips around one room with a slab can be made with cups or clamps, transporting over long distances needs a cart/dolly to reduce effort and strain on materials and workers. Carts/dollies make for safe and efficient transport, whether it's within the shop or going to a jobsite.

Different Styles

There are a few different styles of carts and dollies:

• Slab Dollies/Trolleys

• A-Frame Transport Carts

• Installation/Pro-Carts, such as the Pro-Cart AT2, which is designed for rough terrain (gravel, stairs, etc.) with a 1,000 lb capacity, collapsible uprights, and adjustable wheelbase

• Lifting/Tilt Carts

• Shop/Rack Carts

• There are many different specialty carts as well

Features that Matter

As well as cart-type, there are important things to look out for when looking at a cart:

• Weight Capacity (high enough capacity is vital)

• Construction (high quality materials)

• Terrain Handling (a cart needs to travel and be able to handle some obstacles)

• Protective features (like padding)

Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Shop

But out of all those equipment-types, how do you know what tool you really need? Choosing the right equipment for your shop’s needs doesn’t have to be complicated. Finding the right tool means knowing what jobs you’re going to be handling. 

For instance, if you mainly handle lighter stone installations, these materials may be better suited for you: suction cups (maybe vacuum lifters), A smaller cart/dolly, remnant racks (for any small excess stone materials), etc.

But if you’re going to be handling heavy-duty jobs (such as countertop installations), you’re going to need more heavy-duty tools. Such as: carry clamps/slab lifters, A-frames, carts with high weight capacities, etc.

Whatever the task, Omni Cubed offers many fabrication solutions for all these categories (all Omni Cubed’s solutions are American-made with a 5 years warranty). Just be sure that whatever equipment choice you make, investing in the right handling equipment is vital to prevent damages, injuries, and callbacks.