ELECTRIC CHAIN HOISTS
The Lodestar VS from Columbus McKinnon.
In a similar vein, Columbus McKinnon’s Lodestar, first
introduced as long ago as 1955, has in its latest iteration been transformed. Back then – and in more recent versions, because of course upgrades have been many over the decades – it had of course standard motor control. Now the addition of variable frequency drive has turned it into the Lodestar VS.
Fast and precise The drive in question is Magnetek’s IMPULSE G+ Mini drive. The Lodestar VS also has CM’s Intelli-Connect
diagnostics and analytics and CM’s HI-Tech, which is an acronym for Hoist Interface Technology. CM are calling the end result an intelligent hoist. The smart features of the large overhead cranes that we spoke of at the start are now here in the handy electric chain hoist as well. The precise speed control from VFD allows the
operator precisely to position the load without having to jog the hoist in start-stop motions. The HI-Tech system is a plug-in cable interface that connects via USB port with a tablet or computer. Claimed as one
www.hoistmagazine.com | July/August 2026 | 21
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