The newly launched Konecranes S series hoist from crane component design specialist Konecranes offers a range of smart features designed to increase lifting device safety and improve operator protection.

“Smart features give you greater control of material handling in your production processes. From the moment operators take charge of the crane, their work becomes easier and safer due to the reduced chance of human error,“ said Konecranes and Demag South Africa sales manager Ian Grobler. 

The company notes that the S series hoist also features its synthetic wire rope that offers advantages such as higher strength, reduced weight and increased durability, particularly in light to medium lifting applications where safety and less maintenance are key requirements.

The smart features can be activated for various requirements, such as:

• Slack rope prevention: when using a lifting device such as a coil tong, pressing tool tong or lifting beam, it prevents the lifting device from falling or tilting.
• Microspeed and inching: heavy lifting in assembly may require highly accurate positioning in a tight space - microspeed makes movement slow and exact, while inching allows the operator to move the loads in small increments.
• Working limits: builds temporary walls where the crane is designed to automatically stop; used when vehicles are transported to enter a facility.
• Protected areas: defines a protected area where the crane is not permitted to enter, such as where incoming materials are regularly offloaded/uploaded.
• Sway control and active sway control: dampens existing load sway and controls the acceleration and deceleration of the bridge and trolley, allowing faster load handling and more precise positioning while reducing the risk of damage to the load, crane and surrounding area.
• Snag prevention: stops crane movement if the hook, sling or load accidentally catches or snags onto something. Helps prevent damage to the load, crane and operational areas.
• Target positioning: moves the load from one of eight possible home positions to one of 120 pre-set target positions. Helps reduce cycle times and enhances safety.
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Features such as ‘hook centering’, ‘follow me’, ‘advanced speed’ and ‘extended range’, ‘load floating’ and ‘hoisting synchronisation’ offer safety elements in addition to their prime function of reducing wear on mechanical parts and increasing productivity.

Konecranes smart features are installed as standard in the S series and can also be loaded onto existing cranes.