Blogs Archive
Archive of blogs from the global hoist industryBlogs By Date
January 2024
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Vacuum lifters: Suck it up
Matthew Prestidge, general manager/director at Stratalign, makes the case for vacuum lifters.
Editor's comment: Two forklift accidents and one tragedy
Three stories that have appeared in the UK press this year highlight the dangers of forklift trucks and the need to follow safety practices. Firstly, a 50-year-old warehouse operative was found to have contributed to their death by not following safe systems. The inquest heard the individual was driving a forklift in a warehouse of flooring distributors in 2022 when they sustained head injuries. They had placed a row of flooring on a shelf – that meant extending the forklift mast, which hit a beam and tipped over.
December 2023
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Below the hook: C-hooks
Even when a requirement for a C-hook has been identified, there are many different options and types for consideration, writes Bill Gridley, application sales, The Caldwell Group Inc.
LEEA column: Full marks for CE extension
Ben Dobbs, head of global standards and legislation at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association, welcomes the extension for the recognition of CE marking and offers tips for ensuring conformity.
Hire a crane consultant or a crane employee?
Richard Phillips, mechanical engineer at Casper, Phillips & Associates, argues for the benefits of hiring a consultant rather than a new member of staff.
How to pick a crane remote control
Brian Cook, senior product manager, Conductix-Wampfler USA, discusses how to pick the best crane remote for your business.
Below the hook: Sheet Lifters
There are special below-the-hook products for lifting sheet, and the most common electrical version is not the only option, says Jay Strong, applications specialist, at The Caldwell Group.
Crane damage: Inspect and detect
Mukulesh Debnath, vice president (structural) at India’s Texmaco Rail & Engineering, pinpoints the spots on a crane where damage is most likely to occur.
November 2023
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Overhead crane knowledge – Richard Phillips, mechanical engineer, CP&A
Working for a company that offers a wide variety of services, including procurement, specification, design, manufacturing review, modification and accident investigation, I hear a lot about machinery alignment. But it isn’t always widely understood in the crane industry.
LEEA column: The life of a crane
Understanding of the Design Working Period is crucial if age-related crane failures are to be avoided, writes Ben Dobbs, head of technical services at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association.
Overhead crane knowledge – Brian Stephens, president, MMA
Monorail Manufacturers Association president Brian Stephens introduces the organisation.
Overhead crane knowledge – John Paxton, CEO of MHI
John Paxton, CEO of MHI, says digital trends will push overhead lifting to greater heights.
Editor's Comment: A gold sustainability rating for Konecranes
Konecranes’ sustainability work has been rewarded with a Gold rating for a third straight year from EcoVadis, a business sustainability rating agency. Konecranes’ actions, policies and reporting put it in the top 4% of all rated companies globally, and in the top 1% of its general-purpose machinery peers. Its total score improved versus 2022.
October 2023
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Below The Hook: Modular spreader beams
There is a growing trend for modular spreader beams, driven by a number of factors, writes Dan Mongan, senior sales engineer at The Caldwell Group.
Checking for kinks in wire rope slings
Dave Tucker, senior training specialist, and Dave Thomson, training manager, at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association, explain why attention needs to be paid to kinks during inspections of wire rope slings.
Dockside expertise: Seismic upgrade
Richard Phillips, mechanical engineer at CP&A, describes how the company’s Base Anti-Seismic Isolation System is added to cranes.
Dockside case study: AAL Shipping transports juice tanks from China to Portugal
Dockside case study: AAL Shipping transports juice tanks from China to Portugal
Powerhoss Spmt now available in Us
In celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the TII Scheuerle self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) and in cooperation with the German heavy load transport technology firm, Transport Products and Service Enterprises has announced that the six-axle PowerHoss is now available in North America.
DLM Editor's Comment: Hydrogen Hyster for the Port of Valencia
Hyster, a provider of container handling solutions, has developed and shipped a hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker to the Port of Valencia in Spain. The ReachStacker is part of the H2Ports project, which aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment in port operations.
ABB launches Hoisting Young Engineer Exchange Program
In an attempt to help bridge the skills gap in the global mining industry, electrification and machine automation technology firm ABB has launched the Hoisting Young Engineer Exchange Program to attract the next generation of engineering graduates to a career in mine hoisting.
