NORTH AMERICA REGION REPORT | MODEX SHOW PREVIEW
R An IOT (Internet of Things) Panel discussion at Modex 2018.
digit growth for the hoist and crane market this year as compared to 2020.” Paxton says while the industry is facing a shortage of qualified workers, he views the labour shortage as an opportunity to tell the story of the many exciting and rewarding careers available in materials handling. That story, he says, starts with young professionals: “Connecting with young professionals and students is a focus for MHI all year long, not just at our tradeshows,” Paxton says. “One new initiative that we will be releasing in 2022 is a docuseries on the Jobs of Tomorrow. MHI is producing 12 of these episodes that will focus on material handling and supply chain jobs.” The Jobs of Tomorrow docuseries will be available on the MHI website as well as Amazon Prime. While the Covid-19 pandemic has
forced companies to make a number of operational changes, technology has enabled suppliers to adapt. Spencer Darr, director of sales, Engineered Products, Americas, Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) in Denver, Colorado, USA, says the pandemic prompted the company to move sales calls from in-person to online, engage in more video promotion, and host more webinars to enhance aftermarket technical support. CMCO saw the pandemic as an opportunity for technological innovation, and has capitalized on it: “Training is such an important aspect of the material
handling industry,” Darr says. “During the pandemic, we partnered with a Learning Management System (LMS) provider to provide online training with self-paced, interactive courses, electronic certifications, and a chat feature to ask questions of our experts along the way.” CMCO has also found a way to perform
virtual equipment witness proof testing. While this testing previously had to be conducted with customers in-person, the Covid-19 pandemic has proven that a virtual process can work. This transition has saved time and reduced costs associated with testing. In keeping with the trends being
unveiled at Modex 2022, CMCO’s latest innovation is its new line of automation solutions. In November 2021, the company added an SPA linear actuator with Intelli- Motion technology to its portfolio. The actuator, built on Duff-Norton hardware, combines onboard variable-frequency drive technology with plug-and-play control and feedback. An optional Ethernet connectivity feature adds further control precision; the actuator can be connected to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) without any conversion or intermediary equipment. “The SPA with Intelli-Motion gives operators the ability to program specific movement patterns with variable speeds, expanding the range of production applications to which it can be applied,” Darr explains. “Some of these
applications include balancing loads on automated guided vehicles, synchronizing lifting tables, timing critical steps in a manufacturing process, and more.” Darr says CMCO wanted to add more modern controls and communication methods to the Duff-Norton line. The SPA linear actuator is the fulfilment of this goal. CMCO also launched the Hurricane Mini
360 in June 2021. This hand chain hoist, the smallest and lightest on the market, offers 360-degree rotation and is available in 226kg and 453kg capacities. The Hurricane Mini 360 is designed for multi-angle applications and enables the operator to lift from nearly any position. The target market includes service technicians, construction workers, and any work environment that requires a low-capacity on-the-job lift. Darr says CMCO has seen growth
from the food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries. Electric vehicle manufacturers, in particular, are a growing segment for the company. Despite the initial economic downturn in 2020 from the Covid-19 pandemic, Darr notes the North American market is now trending upward and will post strong performance in 2022. “We’ve seen increasing investments in
the steel industry and power segments,” Darr notes. “There have been some decreases in manufacturing due to the global supply chain issues that are causing
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