MHIA, organiser of April’s NA 2002 show in Detroit, claimed it to be the most solution-focused showcase of material handling and logistics equipment, systems and technologies in the USA in 2002. Attendees from more than 40 countries, including Australia, Japan and African nations, saw everything from basic equipment, through automated handling systems, to software and control solutions from 400 exhibitors covering 140,000sq.ft (13,000m2) of Detroit’s Cobo Hall.
This being Motor City, much of the equipment shown had applications for automotive industry manufacturers, a strong target audience, so it is no surprise that ergonomic handling devices had a strong showing. Development of this equipment continues with increased capacities, faster and more accurate response and more lightweight and compact mechanisms. Cobotics, Demag Cranes & Components, Gorbel and Scaglia were among those showing intelligent assist devices (IADs) and manipulators suspended from jibs, rails and overhead gantries.
Gorbel used the show to introduce its G-Force IAD integrated with a trolley of Gorbel’s intelligent crane device so that loads can be moved around, instead of just up and down, with minimum operator effort in the same way as the assisted vertical motion of the IAD itself. IADs fill the gap between manual handling solutions and full robotics.
Also designed to bridge this gap and to minimise the physical effort required from an operator was a new device shown by Air Technical Industries (ATI). The new Mini-Articularm with omni-directional mobility is an ATI six-axis manipulator mounted on an omni-directional platform built by Omnics, co-developer in the project. Omnics describes the device as the link between conventional handling equipment and expensive robotic systems.
Typical operations for the Mini-Articularm are lifting, handling, positioning, transporting assembling, stacking, loading and unloading. Control can be by a cable operated button system or wireless remote which allows hazardous substances such as explosive, toxic or nuclear material to be handled because the operator can maintain a safe distance.
Manipulation capacity is 250 lb at a 72in radius (113kg @ 1.8m). The mast rotates 360° and the forearm 270° to give a full manipulation capability in a 12ft (3.7m) circle.
The Omni-wheel design for the undercarriage is modestly claimed to demonstrate “superior mobility compared to any other undercarriage ever designed.” The unit can be steered in any direction including diagonally and sideways and can climb a 20° incline.
Another unconventional idea was from Texas-based Robotic Cranes which used the show to introduce its bridgeless overhead crane to the material handling industry. Using technology developed in the space industry this radical lifting, guiding and positioning system, controlled using a ruggedised PDA, is claimed to have many advantages over traditional lifting and handling systems. It will be examined in more detail in a future issue of Hoist.
Also using a PDA is Telemotive’s new telePilot radio remote control, a universal spare transmitter. In this case a PDA running a Palm OS can be used to program the transmitter, via an infra-red link, to independently operate up to four different cranes. Crane configurations can be saved on the PDA for multiple locations.
The transmitter weighs less than 2 lb (900g) and is small enough to fit in the hand and to be carried around all day, Telemotive says. Up to five motions and two speed operations are available and it is compatible with almost all other Telemotive systems.
First shown a few weeks before at a US manufacturers’ show, Telemotive claimed to have already received 100 orders for the telePilot by the time of the Detroit assembly.
Radio remote control systems shown by Cattron-Theimeg included the Pendant Station (PS) controller for overhead cranes. Message security, battery life and quick response time are features of the unit that can be used in heavy duty environments, indoors or out.
New hoist control options were shown by Harrington for its hoists. The new cylinder control with inline hand grip for the NER/ER electric chain hoists in three-phase applications allows one-handed operation. For retrofit applications a cylinder control kit is available for 125 lb and 250 lb (57kg and 113kg) NER/ER hoists.
Launches by Crane Technologies (Michigan Crane) included a new 1 ton chain hoist manufactured in Korea, and a new monorail crane track system, also from Asia, that is interchangeable with Demag’s KBK system. Low price and a capacity of 4,000 lb (1.8t) make for a competitive advantage, the company says.
In addition to its stand-alone workstation bridge cranes Spanco showed a new range of articulated jib cranes. Capacities are from 150 lb to 2,000 lb (68kg to 907kg), spans are to 16ft (4.9m) and they can be mounted free standing on the floor, or on a wall, ceiling or crane bridge. Free standing and ceiling mounted versions have 360° rotation while wall mounts have 200° rotation on the inner arm and 360° on the outer arm. Internally supplied compressed air, vacuum or electrical power can be fitted for devices on the end of the boom such as hoists, manipulators or balancers. The bridge mounted models have lower headroom than competing products, Spanco claims.
New from Columbus McKinnon were some options for the LodeRail enclosed track crane and jib system that included pedestal and wall mounted jib cranes. Maximum capacity is 1,000 lb (454kg), spans are to 16ft (4.9m) and height under the boom is to 14ft (4.3m). Rotation is 360° for pedestal mounts and 200° on wall mounts. CM also exhibited the Hurricane, its new manual chain hoist with 360° handwheel cover chain guide to enable lifting and pulling from the side or above, as featured in Hoist issue 21.
