This vacuum lifting beam has been designed for lifting plates and sheets from 2 metres x 1 metre x 0.8mm up to 2.6 metres x 2 metres weighing 200Kgs. The lifter is powered by a battery system allowing it to be used on various cranes. A large number of lifts can be made before the battery needs recharging, which is indicated by a warning lamp. Safe lifting and further lifts can be made even after the low voltage warning.