Logimat is a showcase for new products in the European lifting industry. The event originally scheduled for March in Stuttgart, like almost all public events, was cancelled this year. Julian Champkin showed some groundbreaking works that were supposed to be exhibited there.

The company said that Vetter Krantechnik from Germany has modified its proven mobile jib crane into a modular system to create a completely new concept.

Mobilus cranes are booms and masts located on the concrete ring base, which provide stability but can be moved around the factory floor; the crane does not need to be fixed, and now new options make it easier and more flexible to move. When the boom is locked for safe transportation, the crane base can be lifted using a forklift pocket or pulled using a tow bar/coupling system, and has lifting eyes, so it can also be transported using a hall crane; it can also be integrated in it Manually move on the wheeled trolley.

The modular design of the system is novel: the concrete crane base can be combined with different crane models. Customers can choose a standard crane with a 360° swing range, or a 270° version with an unsupported cantilever, or a light cantilever made of aluminum. Another option is an articulated cantilever, making it a handling crane. If the user wants to use the crane for other purposes for many years, there is no problem: the base of the crane can be raised by adding more concrete rings, and other types of cranes can be installed on it. Vetter said that the entire system provides maximum flexibility.

The German company 3i intends to demonstrate its basic system-a vacuum lifter. Despite the name, it is new and complicated. "It replaces the traditional vacuum lifter," said General Manager Christian Viehmann. "Compared to those, its huge advantage is that even if it is a vacuum system, it has no noise."

Silent performance is achieved at the first moment of lifting. "At that moment, we freeze the pressure inside the equipment; we keep it at this value throughout the lift and movement, and will not increase it." Therefore, the vacuum pump does not work; and it does not consume air during carrying. "This not only provides a silent effect: it also saves 85% of energy."

He said that the last degree used is intuitive. The pistol grip has an "up" button pressed with the index finger and a "down" button pressed with the middle finger. "That's it," Viehmann said. "No need to explain how to use it."

The Basic system can be installed on any overhead support, such as 3i's rail system or its mobile boom crane MobiArm.

Different variants of the EQ electric chain hoist are some of Kito's best-selling products. The latest highlight of this series, and also this year's new product, is the new single-phase EQS electric chain hoist. It is designed for 220-240V power supply, while still having all the advantages of the high-voltage version, such as compact design and versatile application possibilities.

Three-phase power is the norm in factories, but many construction sites, repair shops and maintenance work only have 220v or 240v single-phase power. Nevertheless, they still have heavy tasks to complete. The new EQS hoist is specifically designed for this type of situation; it can simply be plugged into a power outlet. With a capacity of 500kg or 1t, it can provide lifting where needed.

Technical features include frequency converter and "no-load high speed" function. When the lift is less than 30% of full load, the lift speed of EQS is increased by 1.3 times. The technology also provides gentle and precise load positioning. The overload protection is provided electronically by the inverter, and mechanically provided by the built-in long-life friction clutch. Kito said that the double lifting speed and the maximum lifting height of 15m are an advantage of this type of electric chain hoist.

It comes with a running hour/duty cycle counter, upper and lower limit switches and a rotor brake. All components of the EQS electric chain hoist are designed to be very sturdy, so wear is small and downtime is short. The unique Kito-grade T series DAT (G80) load chain is nickel-plated to reduce hydrogen embrittlement and ensure high corrosion resistance.

The breaking strength of the installed load chain is 800N/mm². The sealed die-cast aluminum body means that the protection class of the hoist is IP55.

Durability also comes from the inside: the internal design is designed to extend the service life. EQS does not require any sensitive transformers or electromagnetic components, such as contactors or relays. It is classified as FEM 3m at 500 kg load capacity and FEM 2m at 1,000 kg load capacity. It can be equipped with a top hook or an ordinary trolley to replace the standard hanging suspension.

At the other end, the self-closing safety hook from Kito Weissenfels, the company's Italian subsidiary, is available as an option, and a radio remote control is also available on request.

Kito Erikkila from Finland provides industrial workplace systems and intends to showcase light crane systems and slewing cranes with aluminum jib cranes. In January, Erikkila introduced a new seamless Prosystem profile for its light overhead lifting system. These S200 and S260 replace the old P200 and P260 configuration files. At the same time, a new form factor S140 was introduced. All new materials have a stronger suspension clamping area.

SWF intends to showcase their Nova Silverline and Nova Blackline wire rope hoists. The Silverline series is designed for loads up to 80 tons. The rope drum adopts an extra-large diameter to minimize rope wear; the approach distance has been optimized; the hoist has an ultra-low clearance requirement; and the horizontal hook movement is minimal. The frequency converter and smooth motion also minimize load swing.

Nova Blackline is more basic than Silverline, but still has the same advantages. SWF stated that the combination of the Blackline series of electric wire rope hoists and SWF crane kit components provides a sturdy, low-cost crane solution suitable for loads of 2 to 20 tons.

These hoists can be used with SWF's crane kit components (such as Profilemaster overhead rails and brackets) to create a complete lifting system. There are several versions of Profilemaster, including the plus ST made of steel, designed for loads up to 2 tons.

The arrangement is highly flexible; compatible components and optimized suspension ensure the first assembly at the record-breaking speed that the company says.

The system can be expanded or modified in the future as needed, also in the shortest time.

There are seven different steel profile types, five sizes, suitable for various loads and suspension distances. Two of the profiles are equipped with internal wires.

All profiles are cold formed and powder coated, which makes them very strong.

Another option is their ProfileMaster plus AL, which is a lightweight aluminum version of the system, suitable for buildings with low static load capacity. There are six different profiles in four sizes, two of which also have internal wires. SWF said that reduced running noise, smooth movement through specially designed high-performance running wheels, and gentle load handling are all advantages provided by the system.

Both systems are very flexible, with single-beam and double-beam solutions, and joint or static designs. SWF also plans to showcase its Athlo chain series, which is the company's latest generation of chain hoists that can lift up to 5 tons. High safety, high performance and durability are the main development goals, as well as easy maintenance and long service life. The hoist motor adopts a new 4:1 transmission ratio, and the redesigned heat sink provides better cooling and prolongs the service life of the hoist; the larger diameter jump clutch has additional grooves to improve the cooling effect of the gear oil And increase its service life. The limit switch has also been redesigned and can be used as an operating end switch. The compact design and the new upper eye suspension provide a higher lifting height under the same suspension height. When the power is turned off, the brake responds immediately and can handle 1 million cycles, or, if handled properly, it can last a lifetime. All SWF wire ropes and chain hoists and crane components are available in explosion-proof versions suitable for zones 1 and 2 or zones 21 and 22, so they are safe and suitable for a wide range of uses and industries.

One innovation of Columbus McKinnon is the Magnetek brand tandem crane radio remote control system. The company stated that this is an ideal solution for situations where two bridge crane systems need to operate in conjunction with each other.

The tandem crane system allows a single operator to easily control two cranes at the same time using a single transmitter, or two operators to control each crane at the same time. Monitor the lifting and traversing conditions of the two cranes. Failure detection of one crane will stop the movement of the second crane to prevent the load from moving or falling.

The system can be easily programmed, and has a unique dual transmitter and dual receiver kit to achieve advanced and reliable communication. Software-based logic reduces programming and setup time, and displays status and diagnostic information on the display, including battery level, signal strength, and warning symbols. They say that status feedback eliminates the need for in-depth inspections and reduces downtime. The protection level of the system is IP66, and the seal can withstand harsh environments. Its plug-and-play design complies with EN 7121 and EN 15011 standards, and the optional radio control programmer allows customization of transmitter and receiver functions, so the system can be adapted to a variety of applications.

Since November 2017, Stahl CraneSystems and Magnetek have been merged into Columbus McKinnon. The most recent results are two new smart chain hoists, Stahl STF50 and ST20, which are launched under the Stahl brand. Both are equipped with Magnetek brand variable frequency drives as standard for lifting. The company says they improve control through precision, stepless lifting and movement, and provide reliable feedback. Providing operators with greater safety and less stress on structures, machinery and control components are some of the benefits. The radio system also comes from Magnetek.

The newly developed and simplified installation encoder has 1024 ppr (pulse per revolution), which can provide reliable feedback even under harsh operating conditions. During the development process, great attention was paid to the easy debugging of the hoist.

Customers can also choose variable frequency drive. The biggest advantage is that both inverters are based on the mature "Impulse G Mini" Magnetek products. Generally speaking, all products of Stahl CraneSystems will be equipped with Impulse series inverters in the future. These can be parameterized through external software and directly through the input on the display.

Some of the previous characteristics of the ST chain hoist series remain unchanged: the ambient temperature is from -10°C to 40°C, all voltage ranges are available, and there are many possibilities for individual adaptation.

Thomas Kraus, head of product management at Stahl, said that the goal is to ensure future safety and reliability. "We are one step closer to Industry 4.0. The combination of stepless walking and improvement with digital transparency protects operators and machines to the same degree. "

The variable frequency speed control chain hoist will be put on the market in 2020.

From their Yale brand, Columbus McKinnon’s latest product is the new Yale Mtrac endless winch. Its state-of-the-art design allows the winch to be operated vertically, inclined or horizontally. This model combines modern industrial design with technological innovation.

During the development process, the focus is on the simple and safe handling of the mobile application. As an endless rope winch, the rope is driven through the winch without storage, so almost unlimited lifting height or towing length is possible. A range of accessories for ropes and components are provided, which means that winches can cover a variety of applications.

The company recommends the construction, maintenance and installation of wind turbines, water management, energy supply and overhead line projects.

Demag has a new compact chain hoist in DCBS, launched in April 2020.

They said that its intelligent control system makes assembly, especially the connection process, easier and safer. In terms of its basic functions, DCBS is a variable speed chain hoist based on the proven DCS series, which can perfectly control the daily tasks of the hoist. The operator is controlled by the D-Grip Servo control handle, and the load with the maximum weight of 125kg or 160kg is raised and lowered by the motor.

The difference between DCBS and other chain hoists is its integrated balancer function, which has been adopted from Demag D-BE electric balancer. It allows the load to be booted without the need to start the controller. The operator only needs to use hand or finger pressure to move the load to the required height, with little force, and can position it more accurately with both hands, because he does not have to "detour" through the control panel. This makes the job easier-not just when precise positioning is required.

By starting the switch, or automatically switching according to the selected control mode, the DCBS device can switch between the "grip control" and "load control" operating modes to provide intuitive load control. The high-performance sensor on the hoist can realize this function.

The manual force exerted by the operator is detected by the pressure sensor in the grip control system and used to control the lifting movement. This eliminates the need for the operator to press any buttons to control the hoist. The integrated load sensor detects the weight of the load and possible weight fluctuations, and determines the required movement direction and speed based on these values ​​in the load control mode.

This allows the operator to use both hands to move the load to the desired location. In an assembly mode that is particularly suitable for horizontally connected components, any possible uncontrolled load movement will be suppressed and converted into a gentle rocking movement.

This enables the components to be connected precisely. It also avoids damage that may be caused by collisions between parts, thereby increasing the processing rate during the assembly process.

The fourth DCBS operation mode is "load start". For example, this feature is very useful when changing tools or removing parts from fixtures or test benches. The balancer can be adjusted so that it only rises when the preset force is reached. As a result, it can lift load handling attachments and pre-tension them-for example, the load can be removed from the fixture without falling or suddenly pulling upwards. At the same time, the machine or fixture is protected from excessive force.

All operating modes are associated with additional protection and safety features, such as adjustable load or speed limit, to make working procedures safer.

When combined with the Demag KBK light crane system, DCBS creates mobility for horizontal load transportation. It can travel on KBK profile rails, for example, on single girder suspension cranes or system suspension monorail and jib cranes.

In addition to innovative direct load control, DCBS also has design features that simplify operation, improve safety, and reduce service requirements. This includes a slip clutch with automatic cut-off function based on speed monitoring, which prevents permanent slip in the event of an overload. Since the brake is arranged in front of the slip clutch, it can effectively prevent any load from falling in the load-bearing device, and the brake will be automatically applied in the event of a fault.

All these measures together mean that the gearbox, slip clutch and brake are maintenance-free for up to ten years, and safety-related functions meet performance level C and EN ISO 13849-1 category 2 as minimum requirements.

Therefore, DCBS makes the operator's job easier, Demag said, can achieve very precise and safe load handling, and itself becomes a tool that opens up new tasks beyond simple load lifting.

Kuli plans to bring something completely different to the Logimat exhibition.

"We want to perform model calculations for different types of cranes," said export manager Oliver Riese. The calculation results will prove that using Kuli's smarter energy recovery system is smarter-capital ER represents the energy savings brought by energy recovery.

“We could have done these calculations on the stand for visitors’ own cranes,” Riese said.

For example, for a 6.3-ton bridge crane, an 8-hour shift per day, using 6 kilowatts of lifting power, and a utilization rate of 30%, more than 250 working days will consume 1,800 kilowatt-hours of energy. The same crane equipped with the Kuli energy recovery system will use 540 kWh. The savings seem to be very worthwhile.

It is also possible to calculate the savings of other capacity of cranes in other usage modes.

"Of course, this is just an abstract figure, because the real savings depends on a lot of factors, mainly related to the use of cranes, which vary in each case," Riese said. "But it made at least the first impression, and it was as real as possible."

He said that you must remember that when a traditional crane lowers the load, energy is wasted as heat generated in the brake resistor.

"These braking resistors can be very large, depending on the crane's motor power. Their initial cost is similar to the cost of the Kuli smartER energy recovery system, and most of the wasted energy can be recovered."

In short, Kuli's smartER energy recovery unit feeds the new braking energy of the variable frequency control drive directly back to the grid. The method of operation is that when braking, the motor works as a generator to generate alternating current. The frequency converter converts it to direct current.

This direct current is not wasted by the braking resistor, but is converted into sinusoidal alternating current by the regeneration unit, and then fed back to the local power grid. The feedback is synchronized with the local network in phase and amplitude, which means that the network quality is guaranteed and other consumers are not affected by parasitic induction.

"The obvious advantages are energy efficiency and savings and minimal heat waste," Riese said. "Kuli devices are much more compact than braking resistors; their network performance is the same as that of frequency converters.

"The system is particularly suitable for high-inertia applications, such as those commonly found in large bridge cranes or gantry cranes.

The cost savings can be expected to have a one-year amortization period. "

These devices are available in 7.5 kW and 15 kW versions and can be easily connected to achieve higher power. These modules are very compact and installed in the control cabinet.

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