Features Archive
Archive of features from the global hoist industryFeatures By Date
February 2021
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From Russia with Love
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic the industry is continuing to make investments, building new plants, upgrading existing cranes, seeing a rise in electric car sales and foreign companies expanding in Russia
Raising a storm
2020 was a year like no other. The pandemic and the prospect of Brexit between them made it a year to remember, though perhaps not for the right reasons. Julian Champkin looks at how the UK lifting market weathered the storm and how it is looking forward to 2021.
January 2021
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Weigh it up
Load monitoring can be split into two main areas: overload protection and remote monitoring. Almost every crane will be fitted with one, if not both, systems which can be used to enhance safety and productivity. Simon Hastelow reports.
Crouching Tiger Rises
Asia is an economy in expansion. Julian Champkin investigates the lifting market there.
Rope swing
Synthetic rope from DSM’s HMPE fibre Dyneema has been produced for many years, and is now making the move into various specialised applications in the hoist industry. Daniel Searle reports.
December 2020
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Push The Right Buttons
Even though the standard pendant control is still found attached to many industrial hoists, remote controls have become ubiquitous in almost every sector. Simon Hastelow reports.
Can you dig it?
The mining industry relies on highly-specialised lifting equipment for maximum efficiency and minimal downtime. Daniel Searle spoke to some of the leading manufacturers in the sector.
Swift recovery
All eyes have been on the USA; its pandemic response and its election have disrupted business and made forecasting and planning more than problematic. How has the market for lifting gear coped? And will 2021 be easier? Julian Champkin reports.
What a treat
A modern waste processing plant in Spain ordered cranes and hoists from compatriot manufacturer Jaso.
November 2020
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Working in a vacuum
Julian Champkin finds that vacuum lifting is proving useful in tackling social distancing needs, in the online retail industry and beyond.
Test of metal
In the metals handling sector the three key words that crop up again and again are safety, monitoring and automation. Simon Hastelow reports.
Virtual Meet-up
The inaugural Overhead Crane and Hoist Innovation Conference, rganised by Hoist magazine, took place in early October. Daniel Searle reports
Hot topic
Enerpac SyncHoist lifting systems are being used at the world’s largest fusion experiment, in Southern France.
Work lift balance
The “work smarter not harder” mantra seems to have pervaded all areas of industry. Fortunately the opportunities for the use of workstation cranes is also becoming wider with a greater choice of structural materials, lifting capacities and installation options all helping to open up the workplace to new solutions. Simon Hastelow reports.
Paperless inspection technology
Karl Ahlgren, marketing manager at Pervidi, discusses the benefits of digitalising inspection.
Consistent performance
New technologies and partnerships are improving maintenance and inspection in our industry. Daniel Searle reports.
The long way round
A ship-to-shore container crane from Sany has been delivered to its new owners in Latvia, after a monumental effort from the manufacturer’s team.
October 2020
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Getting heavy
Heavy lifting hoists and overhead cranes are more than just scaled-up versions of smaller systems. Julian Champkin investigates.
Next generation
Gantry cranes for use at ports are getting makeovers, with new units and retrofitted existing cranes being fitted with automation capability, as well as safety and efficiency upgrades. Daniel Searle reports.
American Exceptionalism
A growing pandemic, a looming presidential election, an unpredictable stock market, and an unemployment rate in the double-digits. And yet, somehow, opportunity? Parts of the American hoist market are performing surprisingly better than expected, although the industry as a whole hasn’t been left completely unscathed. Mike Straus investigates.
