WHAT’S NEW
WHAT’S NEW A1A SOFTWARE DEBUTS 3D LIFT VISION SIMULATOR FOR 3D LIFT PLAN
A1A Software LLC, introduces the industry’s first VR Simulator for lift plan- ning. 3D Lift Vision enables users to execute a 3D Lift Plan in VR Mode using a virtual reality headset and controls. “Each simulation is as unique as the lift plan that it is based on,” said
Tawnia Weiss, President of A1A Software. “There is no better way to visualize the outcome of a lift than to allow the crane operator and other team mem- bers to simulate it in a virtual environment,” she said. There is no limit to the number of people who can engage in 3D Lift
Vision, which allows the entire crane and rigging crew to see and practice a lift in the virtual environment, including the crane operator, riggers, signal person, and tagline holders. “3D Lift Vision extends the ability of 3D Lift Plan to be used as a
communication and risk mitigation tool,” said Weiss. Crane rental sales teams can use it to demonstrate to the customer where cranes and personnel will be placed, as well as their ability to make the lift according to the proposed lift plan. For risk mitigation, the operator and entire crane and rigging crew can practice the lift before arriving on site, allowing them to assess equipment and personnel placement, whether anything has changed in the job site environment that will impact the lift, and for the operator to practice the load’s travel route. It also improves communication with lift directors, safety directors, and other contractors or trades. Because the simulations are based on 3D Lift Plans, employers can use
3D Lift Vision to evaluate and qualify operators for the crane and application. It’s also a great training tool for operators who need to practice. 3D Lift Vision is an add-on license to 3D Lift Plan subscriptions. Each
license comes with one headset. The hardware is compact, portable, and wireless, making it easy to deploy anywhere. Communication through the headset allows individuals in different locations to simultaneously engage in the same 3D Lift Vision simulation.y
WHAT’S NEW CALDWELL VERTICAL CLAMP FOR LIFTING, TURNING CURVED LOADS
Rockford, Illinois-based The Caldwell Group Inc. has launched a vertical and turning clamp designed for lifting and turning single curved plate or pipe from horizontal to vertical and vice versa. The model TLC (turning, locking, curved
surface), which lifts and turns from zero to 90 degrees, incorporates a vertical lifting clamp featuring a ‘lock open’ and ‘lock closed’ feature, facilitating attachment and removal from the load. A specially designed cam jaw is made to safely lift curved surfaces and flat plate. The product was first unveiled at the As-
sociated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) Product Information Exhibition (PIE) in Cleveland, Ohio last spring, as an enhancement to the manu- facturer’s TL clamp, which itself is capable of turning a single plate or load from horizontal to vertical and back to horizontal through the same 90-degree arc. The TLC joins the same range and is also available in 0.5 to 20-ton capacity. Dale Kelly, Engineering Manager at Caldwell’s J. C. Renfroe & Sons brand, said:
“Actually, it started out as a standalone product but quickly became obvious that since it was based on the TL we could offer it in the same range and tonnages as that clamp, which seemed to make sense for all stages of the supply chain and at point of use.” He added: “The TLC’s main purpose is to lift pipes, but it can also lift any curved
surface that meets the clamp’s minimum radius specifications. The minimum radius is different for each tonnage of clamp, but it can lift any size from the minimum radius up to a flat plate. As the clamp gets bigger the minimum radius of plate needs to get bigger. For instance a 1-ton clamp can lift a smaller pipe than the 10-ton version.” Initial interest in the product, which is currently manufactured to order, has been
predominantly in the U.S., where it is available through Caldwell’s distribution network. However, the international market has consumed a number of units and export is expected to grow over time, Kelly enthused. “There are alternative solutions,” he acknowledged, “but nothing specifically for pipe in a clamp style device that we are aware of. It’s worth reiterating that distributors and end users note that there is no need for a specific radius, only a requirement to meet the minimum radius size. Each model is clearly marked with the minimum radius, serial number, capacity, jaw opening, service class, design category, and all the information required for safe use.” Kelly explained that ASME B30.20 and ASME BTH-1 standards are applicable.
“ASME ensures that certain steps are taken into consideration in the design and manufacturing of lifting equipment. No product can ever be applied safely if the highest possible safety standards haven’t been adhered to during its design and manufacturing process,” he said. y
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MARCH–APRIL 2020
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
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