To Infinity and Beyond

To Infinity and Beyond

The new Miller Infinity welding helmets, introduced in the summer of 2015 are upping the ante of auto darkening helmet technology.

The Digital Infinity welding helmet is outfitted with the largest viewing area of any welding helmet on the market today. A whopping 13.4 square inch viewing area with wide screen format provides an unmatched view that increases peripheral perception thus eliminating tunnel vision.

The lens is outfitted with 4 independent arc sensors, which make for a quicker response time in obstructed or low amp welding situations, as well as auto on/off at the strike of your arc.

The helmets come complete with 4 modes; Weld, Cut, Grind and X-Mode. Grind mode is set to Shade 3, which eliminates the need to switch from your helmet to a face shield when grinding. Cut Mode allows the operator to shift between shades 5, 6, 7 and 8, while Weld Mode is set from shades 9 through 13.

Though the first three modes are fairly self-explanatory, the introduction of X-Mode needs a short explanation. First introduced with the digital infinity welding helmet series, X-Mode electromagnetically senses you arc and only the arc, by picking up its magnetic frequency. Eliminating the interference from any lights in your work area and if you are working outside, sunlight. This will also assist when welding situations where the operators view is obstructed. Since the lens senses the magnetic frequency of the arc, the obstruction will no longer interfere with the helmets ability to stay in mode.

One of Miller’s newest advancements in helmet design is their InfoTrack technology. This allows the helmet lens to track arc-on time while the operator is welding. This can provide valuable information to the operator and/or their company as to how much time is spent welding over a given period of time. Using this information can assist in calculating productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

One of Miller’s newest advancements in helmet design is their InfoTrack technology. This allows the helmet lens to track arc-on time while the operator is welding. This can provide valuable information to the operator and/or their company as to how much time is spent welding over a given period of time. Using this information can assist in calculating productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

Bonus features to the InfoTrack system are the digital clock display, and a timer/alarm setting. This can assist the user in staying on track and setting intervals of work or alerts for shift end times.

Miller’s pivoting headgear comes complete with dual top straps to evenly distribute the helmet weight across the operators head to alleviate strain and discomfort. As well as the newly added oversized back pad, for optimum comfort and fit and can be replaced as needed.

Currently available in 5 different styles, the digital infinity helmet will fit into any welders work wardrobe. Comes complete with 5 outside and 2 inside cover lenses as well as a helmet bag, to keep it safe from wear and tear while not in use.

With all these features and benefits, the possibilities for this helmet go beyond the everyday, you could even say they are infinite!

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Inspection Dissection

Inspection Dissection

One of the most important and sometimes overlooked aspect of being an owner and/or operator of an overhead crane system is annual inspections. The Occupational Health and Safety Act and CMAA regulations recommend having an overhead crane inspected at least once a year, depending on the usage of the crane. Cranes that have logged more hours and more shifts require inspection more often.

So what does a crane inspection entail?

With every inspection Kristian Electric technicians perform, a list of fundamental procedures are followed, such as:

    • Full lubrication of all required components

    • Inspection of bolted and welded connections

    • Minor adjustments to both electrical and mechanical components, including but not limited to: limit switches, control systems, brakes and trolley flange.

    • Operational tests through full range of functions

In addition to our main inspection, Kristian Electric can also provide customers with a detailed inspection report, along with a summary of any issues that need to be addressed as well as any recommendations for repairs and maintenance requirements.

Upon request, Kristian Electric can provide engineered stamped inspections, which include inspection of the structural steel support columns, runways and crane corbels and haunches. Also included are weight loading calculations and confirmations as well as detailed stamped engineer inspection reports with summary of issues that need to be addressed.

 

So what are the benefits of all this?

Regular inspections will prevent accidents and maintain the safe operation of your crane. It will also ensure peak efficiency throughout your cranes long life and avoid any unnecessary interruptions in productions that a crane in need of maintenance can cause. By addressing potential problems before they become more costly and inconvenient you can reduce overhead costs associated with parts and tools.

Also, by scheduling your inspections and maintenance during downtime, your production will not be interrupted or brought to a screeching halt if your crane stops working entirely due to unaddressed issues.

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Gorbel Gantry Cranes

Gorbel Gantry Cranes

Gantry cranes usually bring to mind the monstrous structures found in seaports and ship yards, used to move, load and/or construct massive items and equipment. With the ability to lift over 20,000 tons, some of these colossal cranes are extremely impressive, however, it’s not often enough we hear about the small, portable and easily assembled gantry cranes for the home or shop.

That’s right! You can have your very own seaport in your workshop. No, you won’t be able to move shipping containers, but the day to day handling of anything will become a breeze. Also, gantry cranes are excellent options to go places that forklifts often can’t or don’t go.

Many small, portable and lightweight gantry systems are available.

Gorbel offers both fixed and adjustable height gantry’s, along with an aluminum version for much easier assembly. Each type comes equipped with phenolic casters for ease of movement, even over oil and most other chemicals.

Gorbel Fixed & Adjustable Height Gantry’s

Both the fixed and adjustable series come with heavy duty end frame designs with square tubing uprights, knee braces and channel base to provide stable lifting and movement.

 

Gorbel’s Aluminum Adjustable Gantry Cranes

Made from lightweight extruded aluminum, Gorbel’s aluminum gantry is lightweight and can easily be lifted by one person. Which allows for easy shipment, storage and transportation – such as carrying up a ladder. The top beam is secured by easily adjusted beam clamps for just about any span, while the ratcheting height adjustment option allows for maximum lift in many applications.

While the hoist and trolley weight can factor into the allotted capacity of most cranes, each of Gorbel’s gantries have been pre-engineered for the use of powered hoists and trolleys, so if your crane is rated at 1000lbs, it will can safely lift 1000lbs.

Whether you need to pull an engine or load a truck, a gantry may be just what you need.

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The MacGyver Installation

The MacGyver Installation

“You’ve heard of building a ship in a bottle? Well this was building a crane in a cement box!” – KEL Project Coordinator

When it comes to installing a customers crane, we at Kristian Electric are the best at what we do. Even though each crane order is unique, the steps to manufacture and install each piece can be somewhat routine. However, in January of 2013, we were tasked with a crane installation that would have made MacGyver proud.

A construction company approached us to install a Gorbel workstation crane in a city pump station. The crane would be used for maintenance and repairs on the pumps, motors and valves in the lower level of the water lift station. Easy peezy right? Wrong.

The room the crane needed to be installed in was no more than a few feet larger than the workstation crane itself, and with dimensions of 20’ – 5″ headers and 43’ – 6″ long runways, this left little room for anything else. (Fig.1) Another obstacle to consider was building access, as the largest entrance to the building was a double man door.

So not only did KEL technicians need to ensure safety for themselves, working in such a confined environment but for the crane components as well, all while completing the job in a timely manner. “We had a number of obstacles to overcome before we even started that required a lot of forethought and measuring.” says the Kristian Electric project coordinator on the job.

After putting many heads together, a plan was formed. To begin with, the general contractor, removed all of the old equipment and piping from the pump station. Then, with the use of a KEL rental electric chain hoist installed on the existing monorail (Fig.2), a special spreader beam was engineered and fabricated to lift and lower a spyder crane, with only 2″ of clearance, through the man door and into the room. (Fig.3)

Meanwhile, a picker truck was situated outside the building. (Fig.6 The picker, in conjunction with the spyder crane were used to feed one of the headers through a window from outside as it needed to be installed above the monorail beam.

Then KEL techs went to work constructing the workstation crane in their little tin can using the monorail hoist to lower components into the room (Fig.5) and the spyder crane to hoist them into place. (Fig.6,7) Once completed, the spyder crane was disassembled and hoisted out of the room using the monorail. (Fig.8) The chain hoist was removed and voila!

All said and done, the job took a little over a week. Everything went as expected and our customer was very pleased. So, just like MacGyver always said; ‘any problem can be solved, with a little ingenuity’ (and a little KEL).

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A New Spin on Hand Chain Hoists

Traditional hand chain hoists only allow the user to pull the chain in a single vertical direction. This can cause a few different problems. First off, it requires the user to be directly under or in very close proximity to the load itself, which can cause a myriad of safety issues and concerns. Also, with the limited ability of the chains movement, the user cannot access tight areas if a vertical vantage point is unavailable, as traditional hand chain hoists will lock if the chain is pulled at an angle that is not directly vertical to the hoist.

Columbus McKinnon has designed a hand chain hoist that eliminates all of the above problems. The CM Hurricane 360 hand chain hoist is unlike anything available on the market today. It’s one of a kind hand chain guide has been specially designed to allow the chain to rotate a full 360 degrees. This allows the user to access the tightest of spaces and work from multiple angles. It also allows the user to be at a distance of the load while lifting, as the hoist allows the chain to be pulled from any angle.

A bonus feature of this ingenious design is the opportunity for drifting applications. When two CM Hurricane 360 hand chain hoists are used in tandem, a heavy load can easily be moved from one area to another, over obstructions and even through tight spaces.

For more information visit www.cmworks.com

Dixxon at Kristian: Built for Work. Styled for Life.

When it comes to workwear, most people settle for “good enough.” But anyone who’s slipped into a Dixxon flannel knows there’s nothing “good enough” about it — it’s built different. At Kristian Electric, we’ve added DIXXON to our shelves to give welders, crane techs,...

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Alright, let’s be real for a second. Winter is usually the season where welding projects slow down, budgets tighten up, and everyone starts putting off equipment upgrades. That’s exactly why Miller Build with Blue exists — and Build with Blue 2026 is shaping up to be...

Overhead Crane Service & Sales in Alberta & Saskatchewan | Kristian Electric

Authorized Hoist & Crane Service Depot — Calgary, Edmonton & Saskatoon Kristian Electric Ltd. is a Canadian leader in overhead crane service, hoist repair, CSA-compliant inspections, and crane system sales. With full-service branches in Calgary, Edmonton, and...