Cranes, hoists, components and people
23 January 2009As promised, here's the second half of a brief round-up from the show floor at the first trade show of the year, ProMat 2009, which took place at Chicago's McCormick Place South last week.
Hitachi America, Ltd., which is targeting the north American overhead lifting market, showed its variable frequency crane and hoist drives, namely the SJ700 and SJ200 Series. A Detroit Hoist and Crane Co. unit, fitted with Hitachi control equipment, was on the booth.
Hitachi outlined advantages of the SJ200 system, such as compact size, ease of installation, powerful function set and built-in PLC-type logic and timing functions.
The SJ700 is a large capacity, high torque drive with a powerful function set, offering advanced vector control technology, providing high starting torque or 200% or more at 0.3Hz.
The unit also provides closed-loop capability with optional encoder feedback board, sophisticated external brake control and, like the 200 Series, advanced trip avoidance functions.
Both series are empowered for crane and hoist service by means of a unique Hitachi pendant interface board. Inverters feature easy programming via the removable standard keypad, or using the advanced PC-based ProDrive software.
Kundel Industries showed its do-it-yourself modern light crane system, a complete floor-supported crane.
MGM Electric Motors NA Inc. showed two lines of brake motors, namely BA and BM.
The BA series main features include:
- high brake torque
- high brake duty cycle
- high Ts/Tn rate (up to 2.9)
- manual brake release
- easily adjustable brake torque
- precise and consistent reliable braking
- incredibly fast brake reaction time
BM series motors are standard brake motors equipped with a DC brake, which it said “leads to compact and silent units”.
Canada-based, O’Brien Installations Ltd., a licensed partner with Vetter Foerdertechnik GmbH, and one of North America's leading jib crane manufacturers, exhibited its line of German-engineered, high capacity, multi-purpose jib cranes.
The newly formed Overhead Alliance (OA), a Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) group entity, exhibited for the first time at ProMat.
The OA was formed to serve member companies organised under certain MHIA affiliated trade associations: CMAA (Crane Manufacturers Association of America), HMI (Hoist Manufacturers Institute), and MMA (Monorail Manufacturers Association). The three groups faced common opportunities and challenges, and determined they could compound the results of their efforts by joining forces and pooling resources.
A range of literature was available from the booth, where visitors were randomly selected for hourly giveaways of member companies' merchandise.
OA also hosted educational workshops.
Power Electronics International, Inc. celebrated its 40th anniversary. It exhibited a working control panel with high temperature crane and hoist drives, in addition to its new Page-Swap programming features.
Shepard Niles exhibited from a neighboring booth to Hoist, where steady traffic was welcomed all week.
Spanco, Inc., a manufacturer of overhead material handling products, as well as Rigid Lifeline fall protection systems, gave distributors and end users the opportunity to view and interact with a wide range of products. It also used the show to expand its distributor network.
Tele Radio America LLC showcased its T70-Jaguar system, the first unit it has specifically designed for the American market.
Vitali International Lifting Equipment Ltd. exhibited a range of chain and lever hoists, including its so-called K-V Type lever hoist. The model is available from 0.8 to 9t units.
Yale showed its Shaw-Box crane kit, complete with new end trucks, which, it said, will allow it to be "more competitive" in the marketplace.
The economical kits can reduce build-time and enable crane builders to quickly and easily produce a wide variety of cranes.
With capacities up to 15 tons (single girder) and 20 tons (double girder), the kits can be quoted using online estimating software available to all Yale Shaw-Box distributors.
A full show review will appear in the February issue of Hoist.
Were you at ProMat? What did you think of the show?
What's the next trade show in your diary?
Richard Howes, Editor
rhowes@progressivemediagroup.com
