Pneumatic Air Balancers from Ingersoll Rand Zimmerman & Unified

Pneumatic air balancers use compressed air to lift and balance suspended loads, allowing an operator to raise, lower, float, and manually position the load with greater control than conventional powered lifting alone. They are used for repetitive material handling and positioning applications where controlled movement and accurate placement are important.

Ergonomic Partners offers Ingersoll Rand Zimmerman air balancers and Unified Industries pneumatic cable balancers in multiple capacities, travel ranges, and control configurations. Compare the product families and models below to determine which pneumatic balancing approach fits the load and required movement.

IR Air Balancer with Controls

IR Air Balancer

Pneumatic Balancer with Bar Stock Gripper Tool

What are the Benefits of an Air Balancer?

Air Balancers are a perfect combination of durability and usability. With the ability to float the load, precise manual movement and placement can be achieved without the need to jog the hoist. The ZA version of the Zimmerman air balancer is the most common balancer option. The standard Zimmerman ZA/ZAW balancer operates within a capacity range of 150 to 500 pounds. Pneumatic balancers come with a simple ergonomic pendant handle with a green lever for up and a red lever for down. This pendant design allows for high speed movement of multiple weights. With this handle design, the Ingersoll Rand balancer offers a float mode with 18 inches of travel after the load has been positioned.

Features Include:

Simple air piston design is extremely durable, even in harsh applications.
Maintenance-free design is also fast, producing speeds up to 200 feet per minute.
Lube-free design is rated for continuous duty.
Standard overload protection - As air pressure is used to lift the load, it also limits the overall capacity. This prevents the unit from exceeding the maximum rated capacity.
These air balancers require only 1/8 cfm per lift. (On average, this is 50 times less than what it would take to operate a true air hoist.)
The unit will maintain the load in the suspended position if the air source is ever lost, and a spring-loaded centrifugal brake automatically stops the rapid upward cable travel if the lift cable is cut or if the load drops.
Control Options:
- ZA CONTROL: Pendant or integrated up/down control.
- B CONTROL: No control package. Used when integrated with devices that already have controls.
- BA CONTROL: For balancing a single, constant load. Perfect for tool, weld gun, or fixture suspension where the load is never removed.
- EA CONTROL: Load balancing for 3 loads - High Load, Low Load, and No Load. Used primarily with Load/no load applications.
Suspension kits are available for virtually all enclosed track manufacturers, as well as I-beam, Patented/Hardened track, and Hook mounted configurations
Available in 5 standard capacities: 150 lbs. (68 kg), 200 lbs. (90 kg), 325 lbs. (147 kg), 350 lbs. (160 kg), and 500 lbs. (225 kg).

Standard Zimmerman Air Balancers
Model No.	Capacity	Vertical Travel	Net Wt.
ZAW-015080	150 lbs.	80 in.	50 lbs.
ZAW-020120	200 lbs.	120 in.	62 lbs.
ZAW-032080S	325 lbs.	80 in.	62 lbs.
ZAW-035080	350 lbs.	80 in.	62 lbs.
ZAW-050080	500 lbs.	80 in.	110 lbs.

Unified Industries Pneumatic Cable Balancers

Unified Industries is a subsidiary of Columbus McKinnon that offers high-quality products with state-of-the-art motion technology for optimal performance. Their systems aim to prioritize safety and productivity and are engineered with ergonomics in mind.

The Unified pneumatic cable balancers are a perfect solution for transferring loads when you need more precision than a pneumatic hoist offers. They offer easy to adjust up and down speeds, with a “float” mode that gives you more accuracy for finishing the job.

Features and Benefits:

Load Safety - Check valve in case of loss of air supply.
Energy Efficient - Only a fraction of CFM per cycle when compared to a pneumatic hoist.
Longer Service Life - Robust precision mechanical design and powder-coated housing ensure trouble-free extended life.
Non-lubricated air assures a clean environment.
All non-reeved balancers come equipped with a 9-meter cable.

Unified Single Balancers
Model No.	Controls	Capacity	Vertical Travel	Net Wt.
UBB-220-118	No Controls	220 lbs.	118 in.	94 lbs.
UBB-331-079	No Controls	331 lbs.	79 in.	105 lbs.
UBB-485-079	No Controls	485 lbs.	79 in.	110 lbs.
UAB-220-118	Controls & Pendant Kit	220 lbs.	118 in.	94 lbs.
UAB-331-079	Controls & Pendant Kit	331 lbs.	79 in.	105 lbs.
UAB-485-079	Controls & Pendant Kit	485 lbs.	79 in.	110 lbs.
UZB-220-118	Zero Gravity Controls	220 lbs.	118 in.	94 lbs.
UZB-331-079	Zero Gravity Controls	331 lbs.	79 in.	105 lbs.
UZB-485-079	Zero Gravity Controls	485 lbs.	79 in.	110 lbs.

Unified Reeved Balancers
Model No.	Controls	Capacity	Vertical Travel	Net Wt.
UBB-440-59R	No Controls	440 lbs.	59 in.	104 lbs.
UBB-662-39R	No Controls	662 lbs.	39 in.	99 lbs.
UBB-970-39R	No Controls	970 lbs.	39 in.	124 lbs.
UAB-440-59R	Controls & Pendant Kit	440 lbs.	59 in.	104 lbs.
UAB-662-39R	Controls & Pendant Kit	662 lbs.	39 in.	99 lbs.
UAB-970-39R	Controls & Pendant Kit	970 lbs.	39 in.	124 lbs.
UZB-440-59R	Zero Gravity Controls	440 lbs.	59 in.	104 lbs.
UZB-662-39R	Zero Gravity Controls	662 lbs.	39 in.	99 lbs.
UZB-970-39R	Zero Gravity Controls	970 lbs.	39 in.	124 lbs.

Unified Tandem Balancers
Model No.	Controls	Capacity	Vertical Travel	Net Wt.
UBB-440-118T	No Controls	440 lbs.	118 in.	203 lbs.
UBB-662-79T	No Controls	662 lbs.	79 in.	198 lbs.
UBB-970-79T	No Controls	970 lbs.	79 in.	243 lbs.
UAB-440-118T	Controls & Pendant Kit	440 lbs.	118 in.	203 lbs.
UAB-662-79T	Controls & Pendant Kit	662 lbs.	79 in.	198 lbs.
UAB-970-79T	Controls & Pendant Kit	970 lbs.	79 in.	243 lbs.
UZB-440-118T	Zero Gravity Controls	440 lbs.	118 in.	203 lbs.
UZB-662-79T	Zero Gravity Controls	662 lbs.	79 in.	198 lbs.
UZB-970-79T	Zero Gravity Controls	970 lbs.	79 in.	243 lbs.

Ergonomic Partners is a distributor of Zimmerman Air Balancers and Unified Pneumatic Cable Balancers. We serve clients from coast to coast, Canada, and Mexico, and are especially focused in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma.