CONTROLS | TECHNOLOGY REPORT
WHO’S IN CONTROL HERE?
Technology now offers crane control systems that can do all that skilled operators can do but more smoothly, more efficiently and more safely. Julian Champkin investigates.
swaying; can stop if an obstruction or a person gets dangerously close; can avoid hitting the walls, or any other crane on the same runway; can slow his load as it nears its destination, inch it into position, and lower it accurately, gently, and precisely where it is needed. But even the most skilled operator, with years of experience behind him, can do these things more easily, more reliably – and above all, more safely – if his crane is fitted with automated control systems for vertical lift, anti-sway, safety zoning, inching, and set-down; which is why these automated control technologies are now routinely offered on factory hoists and cranes. Casey Cummins, controls product manager for Magnetek, (part of Columbus McKinnon) takes us through the basics of
A
skilled crane operator can lift his load vertically from the floor, so as not to drag it; can move his load from A to B without it
fitting automated crane controls. “The very first priority for customers is
usually safety,” he says. “When installing new or updating existing cranes, customers not only look to improve the control of the crane but also look for ways to increase operator and employee safety. “Automation is a huge advance here, since it helps get people away from the equipment. If anything does go wrong, you can always fix equipment, but you can’t say the same about people. “When automating any crane system,
there are a couple of areas to consider. The first is cost, establishing a budget and understanding the value of the investment. As customers look to automate cranes, technology continues to advance to provide more options while driving costs lower. Additional improvements can include radios, variable frequency drives, safety controls, motors, and programmable logic controllers (PLC).”
The automotive industry has driven
several designs for sensors and safety. Years ago, safety features and sensors were options for cars. Today, many of them are included as standard and may even be mandatory. There has been a large investment in the research and development of sensors, together with high-volume production, which brings down costs. The crane industry is no different, and we have been developing new products, sensors, software for almost 50 years. So, when thinking of improvements to the crane controls to improve functionality, reduce product waste, increase throughput, or employee safety, the initial costs may be significant, but they will come with a quick return on investment, explains Cummins. One option for cranes is our collision
avoidance technology. “It is pretty surprising that only 10% of overhead cranes currently have collision avoidance fitted.
R Magnetek Intelli-Connect Mobile+ App service. 30 | November 2021 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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