INDUSTRY TRENDS
on motor torque, automatically stopping hoisting when limits are exceeded and allowing only controlled recovery movements. Advanced anti collision systems also prevent crane to crane impacts on shared rails and can detect objects or unsafe container positions in the yard. These features are combined with access
control to the stack, emergency stop systems, wind speed protection and fire detection in electrical rooms, all managed through PLC based control system locally at the crane and management for a specific ASC block.
With tools such as a digital twin, terminals gain real-time insights into operations, access historical data and can continuously optimise processes.
Another advantage is that real-time systems
like Mi-Jack’s can deal with challenges like non-line-of-sight movements – provided all workers are wearing a tag.
And while Mi-Jack can achieve measurable
results, it does require a change of mindset along with the capital investment. “With a fully integrated solution you need to change your processes,” says Trauth. “Full safety is not achievable just by putting a sensor on a crane. “It is very easy and low cost to just install a sensor. And that can ‘tick the box’ for safety. But if you commit to our solution, you commit to monitoring your complete terminal. This is the main challenge we have with potential customers – to convince them that an overall solution is best because it gives them the most possible options to optimise their operations and make their terminal safer.” The terminal operator often has deeply embedded views on safety. “They believe
that they know what is best,” says Trauth. “Operationally of course they know what is best for their terminal. But they still think that safety is about following the standards by using established processes. Moving to an automated container handling system means changing your processes. You can no longer rely on being reactive as you would end up running around like a headless chicken.” Attitudes to holistic safety systems like Mi-Jack are changing, however. “Ports and terminals already see the benefits of digitalisation for estates management and equipment management,” says Trauth. “They are now starting to understand that digitalisation can also apply to safety.” Huisman concurs, saying that modern safety solutions are no longer add ons but fully integrated into the crane’s control architecture. These include overload protection, which continuously calculates the lifted load based
Digital benefits “Digitalisation now plays a key role in safe lifting operations,” says Meijer. “High accuracy positioning systems, encoders and lidar sensors provide continuous feedback on crane position, spreader alignment and stack geometry. This enables containers to be placed automatically within tight tolerances, even at high stacking heights. Operational data such as load cycles, movements and safety events is logged and analysed to support predictive maintenance.”
By identifying wear or abnormal behaviour early, maintenance can be planned proactively, reducing both downtime and safety risks. Digital service platforms further support this by providing remote diagnostics, documentation and spare parts access.
Fundamentally, Mi-Jack sees digitalisation
as a key enabler for transparency and control. “While a safety concept can exist without digitalisation, it lacks visibility,” says Trauth. With tools such as a digital twin, terminals gain real-time insights into operations, access historical data and can continuously optimise processes. “Without this visibility, operations may function, but there is limited control and no clear understanding of whether processes are running optimally.” When it comes to safely implementing
automation, he recommends that his customers first create a matrix of activity – what happens in the terminal daily, weekly and monthly. “For activities that occur on a daily basis, you can automate them,” he says. “But it is probably not worth automating the activity you only do on a monthly basis, because it adds a lot of complexity to the automation to enable it to cover that process also.” He believes that the best focus is on daily tasks, where people are in high interaction with machinery.
In addition, tracking should be genuinely in
Huisman says that modern safety solutions are no longer add ons, but fully integrated into the crane’s control architecture.
xviii | May/June 2026 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
real time for this type of safety system to work. “Some real-time tracking only updates once every minute or two minutes,” says Trauth. “That is still useful for machinery management
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