Features Archive
Archive of features from the global hoist industryFeatures By Date
February 2019
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Testing times
Tom Woerndl looks at how crane owners and inspection companies can improve the safety of their test and inspection processes.
To boldly hoist
The aerospace sector demands heavy lifting, delicate handling, and precise positioning. Julian Champkin looks at the hoisting and lifting machinery that is needed.
Innovations on show at UK’s liftex
The LiftEx trade show took place in Milton Keynes, UK towards the end of 2018, with a host of innovations on show. Daniel Searle attended the event.
Tubeway army
A major upgrade to one of the world’s oldest deep underground railways, at Bank in London, relies on a single overhead crane nestled in a side street. Positioning the crane, and the logistics of its operation, posed a considerable challenge. Will North reports from the site.
New targets
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), based in the UK but with a global membership, started a new chapter at the start of 2018 with the appointment of Ross Moloney as CEO. Daniel Searle visited the organisation in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire to find out LEEA’s goals for the future.
January 2019
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Driving up
Car and truck makers require huge numbers of hoists, lifts and winches in their factories. Julian Champkin investigates the lifting machinery that is used.
Weighing it up
Load monitoring systems are part of the ever-increasing digital component of lifting technology. Julian Champkin looks at the latest developments.
Core strength
Hoists from Stahl CraneSystems are assisting the dismantling process at the Philippsburg nuclear power plant in Germany.
December 2018
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Expert market
The Italian crane market has a large number of independent manufacturers offering high-quality technology. With a new government elected earlier this year, Daniel Searle visited companies in the Milan region to discuss the market.
November 2018
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Nucor leads on brake safety
Nucor, the biggest steel maker in the US, worked with Pintsch Bubenzer to retrofit emergency brakes on its cranes—as the brake manufacturer warns many other steel firms miss out on these important safety devices.
All aboard for R&M cranes at bus factory
R&M Materials Handling manufactured more than 40 cranes and hoists for a bus production facility in California.
We’re going to need a bigger hoist
Air Technical Industries developed a bespoke crane for handling particularly dangerous cargo—live sharks—at an aquarium in New York.
Skill sets
Overhead cranes may seem simple to operate, but mistakes and accidents can happen. Julian Champkin looks at training for operators.
Expert expansion
US handling equipment specialist PaR Systems set up its new UK facility earlier this year. Daniel Searle attended the opening last month.
Lift off
Konecranes has updated a rotary crane at the test facility for rocket drives at the German Aerospace Centre.
October 2018
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Broader horizons
Petteri Lempiainen, technical director at Finland-based Erikkila, says that the company’s integration with Kito Corporation will help it extend its sales network. Tom Woerndl reports.
Sail away
A davit crane manufactured by UK-based Reid Lifting has been installed at Calvert Trust Kielder, a specialised site for outdoors leisure pursuits, to allow disabled people to participate in watersports and other activities.
September 2018
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Trash converters
Waste-to-energy plants, which convert domestic or industrial waste and by-products into power, require reliable, efficient cranes, often with specialised bodywork and grabs. Julian Champkin looks at three examples, starting with a woodchip processing facility in Germany.
Rolling on rails
The overhead monorail is a simple and robust way of moving loads in a factory. It has a long history but, as Julian Champkin finds, it has a future as well.
Trump card
Erratic and controversial he may be, but Donald Trump’s business measures in the USA seem to have boosted industry in the country— albeit with some uncertainty. Daniel Searle reports.
