GUEST COLUMN
A highlight of the portfolio is the innovative Levo line, which includes remote-controlled hooks (LH series) and clamps (LC series) that allow automated attachment and release of loads via secure radio control – ideal for operations in hazardous, high-elevation or confined-space environments. The name ‘Levo’ derives from the Latin word, meaning ‘to lift’ or ‘to raise’, reflecting the core purpose of the product line: to elevate safety and efficiency in material handling. Pewag emphasises that Levo devices are designed as smart lifting solutions, enabling secure, remote-controlled load attachment and release and providing enhanced operator safety by removing them from the lifting operation. The name, therefore, aligns with the products’ functionality: automatically lifting while enhancing workplace safety and operational productivity. This type of product revolutionises below-the- hook operations by integrating remote-controlled functionality, allowing operators to attach and release loads from a safe distance, which significantly enhances safety and efficiency. Each Levo model is built with rugged IP65-rated housings and powered by lithium-ion batteries. The system incorporates dual safety mechanisms, compliant with ASME B30.10 and ISO 13849 standards, ensuring secure load handling and preventing accidental release. With features like fast cycle times, long service life and TÜV-certified performance, the hook and clamp represent a leap forward in lifting technology – combining automation, safety and ergonomic design to meet the evolving demands of modern material handling. What better example of mechatronics or Industry 4.0 could you wish for? While upfront costs are higher, these devices offer quantifiable operational benefits that can offset investment over time. Fewer incidents translate into lower insurance premiums; faster cycles reduce labour and overtime costs; and predictive diagnostics minimise downtime. In one recent example, a service centre reported saving 15 to 20 minutes per die change, offsetting the equipment cost within a year. Flexible budget approaches, such as subscription-based pricing or ‘safety as a service,’ shift expenses from CapEx to OpEx, making adoption more accessible. Taken together, these technologies are not merely a cost; they represent a strategic reallocation of resources from accidents and inefficiencies towards proactive safety and operational performance.
Pace of innovation
As industries achieve the benchmarks of Industry 4.0, they quickly discover that transformation doesn’t stop there. The pace of innovation is now exponential, driven by advances in AI, machine learning and autonomous systems. What was once a goal has become the baseline. The next evolution demands agility: the ability for industries to continuously adapt, learn and reconfigure in real-time as technology itself evolves. In this new era, competitiveness isn’t defined by reaching
Industry 4.0 compliance, but by maintaining a state of perpetual innovation, where human ingenuity and intelligent machines advance together. A recent relaunch has expanded capabilities
and improved performance across the pewag Levo line. The updated LH series currently features an increase of hook capacity options from 5t to 8t with plans for 16t and 32t options during 2026. The LC clamp maintains a single capacity that covers the most used clamp sizes between 0.5t and 3t. Further refinements include updated modular add-ons like magnetic, lighting and weighing modules, and advanced software support through the Levo Manager for configuring devices and analysing lift statistics. Additionally, improvements in powertrain and electronics enable longer battery life, quicker cycle times and enhanced diagnostics – all without sacrificing tool-free setup or safety. This evolution firmly establishes pewag’s Levo
products as industry leading solutions for modern, automated lifting applications. Beyond pewag, we continue to see digital/
remote-service ecosystems like a concept from Konecranes called Truconnect, that enables connected monitoring, diagnostics and data- driven maintenance for cranes, lift trucks and other lifting equipment. Machines are connected, data is flowing and maintenance decisions are now evidence-based, not intuition-based. It shows that Industry 4.0 has moved from ideation to implementation – becoming a standard expectation, not an experiment. It’s beyond contestation that digitalisation
is the key to a safer lifting industry for all, and the lifting industry is increasingly adopting digital safety systems and radio-frequency identification. The UK’s Rope and Sling Specialists (RSS), for example, is constantly raising the profile of its
Lifting sets a benchmark for Industry 4.0, uniting mechanical excellence with robotic intelligence.
ochmagazine.com | Winter 2025 59
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