Hang in the Balance – A New Intuitive Hoist from Demag

Hang in the Balance – A New Intuitive Hoist from Demag

Demag is a world leader in material handling innovation and design and there has been no exception to this rule with the introduction of their latest design, the DCBS chain hoist. Designed with the same reliable versatility and quality as the rest of the DC chain hoist line, the DCBS also includes an innovative balance function, making intuitive lifting easier than ever.

The brilliance behind the DCBS chain hoist lies in the state-of-the-art hand grip, known officially as the D-Grip Servo. This servo is equipped with two different sensors installed to make lifting simple. The pressure sensor is used to control the direction and speed whilst in Manual or Grip Mode, and a load sensor that is used for balancer control and continuously monitors the attached load.

e hoist also comes programmed with a change detection threshold that will activated and cause the brakes to apply if there are changes in the loads balance. For example, if a load is set down on an angle or on an edge of a platform, the brakes will apply and not allow the load to tip and fall.

The DCBS provides 4 selectable modes available to the operator to precisely position loads.

 

Grip Control Mode

 

The user can easily control the load positioning by manipulating the ergonomic D-Grip Servo. The photocell installed on the back of the handle-grip activates this mode when covered.

Load Positioning Mode

This allows to operator to grasp, guide and direct the load directly with ease. Since the device is controlled by the operator’s natural movement, the pace is as slow or as fast as the job requires.

Assembly Mode

 

In this mode the system can only be controlled by the load itself. If the operator covers the photocell on the D-Grip Servo, the system automatically returns to manual force mode, with higher lifting speeds. This also applies if the load comes into contact with an obstacle. With oscillation and uncontrolled load movements supressed, the level of safety and precision increases markedly.

Load Pick-Up Mode

 

Though not installed upon purchase, this mode can be programmed using the cable connector and software that comes with the unit. This allows the user to set up the specific parameters for their unique lifting situation. Once installed this mode allows attachments to be lifted and pre-tensioned, the load can be removed without dropping or sudden upward pull and the balancer will only lift until a pre-set force is reached.

DCBS units are available in two sizes with load capacities up to 160 kg. They are compatible with the Demag KBK light crane systems and can easily travel on single-girder suspension cranes, suspension monorail systems or on slewing jib cranes.

Demag Hoists Canada | #1 Sales & Parts Centre – Kristian Electric

Kristian Electric – Canada’s #1 Demag Sales & Parts Centre For over 60 years, Kristian Electric Ltd. has been a trusted name in the crane and hoist industry. From our earliest days in 1964 to today, we’ve been proud to support Canadian industry with reliable...

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Building A Crane One Girder At A Time

Building A Crane One Girder At A Time

In the spring of 2014, a producer of highly complex HVAC units at their state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in the South Foothills Industrial Park of Calgary, began looking at doubling the size of their existing facility. Kristian Electric was closely involved throughout the feasibility and design/planning stages with this company and on May 15, 2015 was awarded the contract for the supply and installation of four Demag double girder, top running bridge cranes and three runway systems for their new expansion.

Runways capacities were 40, 20 and 6 tonnes.

Each of the three runways are were designed to support two bridge cranes However, the customer decided to go ahead with four cranes in this initial expansion phase rather than the full six that the runways could safely withstand. Kristian Electric was called upon to supply the two (20 Tonne) cranes for the 40 tonne runway, and one (10 tonne) and one (3 tonne) crane for each of the other two runway systems.

During the construction process, the general contractor assumed the supply and erection of the runways, leaving Kristian with the responsibly of the runway rail supply/installation along with the crane systems. This presented a challenge to our team. Without the benefit of being able to install the rail supply on the floor of our Edmonton fab shop, our team needed to install on site. Nevertheless, in Kristian Electric fashion, we found a way, and the installation team got the job done.

Our biggest challenge arose when the manufacturing of the cranes would not be finished before our customer closed in their new building, leaving our project coordinator and his team with the tricky task of assembling these very large cranes directly on the runways. Which is no easy task! How do you put together cumbersome pieces of steel while 30 feet in he air? Well our installation team found a way. First the endtrucks were secured to the runway systems, then, very carefully, each girder was installed one at a time. It was a tedious undertaking and took a great amount of teamwork but once again we persevered and by March of 2016, some 10 months after the award of the contract, this Crane Project was complete; load tested, commissioned, and turned over to our very happy customer.

Demag Hoists Canada | #1 Sales & Parts Centre – Kristian Electric

Kristian Electric – Canada’s #1 Demag Sales & Parts Centre For over 60 years, Kristian Electric Ltd. has been a trusted name in the crane and hoist industry. From our earliest days in 1964 to today, we’ve been proud to support Canadian industry with reliable...

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Ask the Crane Tech: Pre-Use Inspections

Ask the Crane Tech: Pre-Use Inspections

Build with Blue is BACK! This quarter’s Build with Blue rebate promotion from Miller Welders runs from January 9 to March 31, 2023.

As an overhead crane technician, one of the questions I get asked a lot is, “What do I look for on a pre-use inspection?” Well let’s look into that today. Completing daily pre-use checks are an important part of having a crane, as not only can completing these checks save time, money, and lives(!) but are also required by occupational health and safety. And when you think about it, it seems completely reasonable to me to take a few minutes at the start of your shift in light of the possible consequences that may result from skipping your daily checks. Let’s take a few minutes from our busy days to discuss what to check and what to look for in a pre-use crane inspection.

 

STEP 1 – CHECKING THE PENDANT FOR DAMAGE OR WEAR

Make sure there are no holes or cracks in the casing. Press the e-stop button to ensure you do not move the crane and check all the buttons for wear or damage. Press each button to see if they feel right. If you have 2-speed control — do you feel the detents? Check the pendant cable and strain relief for damage. If all your checks are good, you are ready to release the e-stop.

 

STEP 2 – OPERATE THE HOIST

 

When you press the up button, does the hook go up? Does the hook go down when you press the down button? If your answers are yes, then great — then this step is done!

However, if the hook is going the wrong direction during this first check, there is something very wrong with your hoist; likely the power phasing has somehow been reversed. Do not use the crane and call for immediate service. Using the crane in this condition will almost certainly end up with the hook stuck at the top or bottom, with the possibility of damaging the wire rope and rope guide or burning out the hoist motor. At this point, repairs will become more expensive and the downtime will increase to bring your hoist back to safe operational capacity. Having everything running backwards also presents a safety hazard as the operator will likely press the desired button out of habit only to have the load travel the opposite direction… and in the worst case… pinning the operator.

 

STEP 3 – CHECK THE LIMIT SWITCHES

 

Run the hook to the top, using slow speed (if applicable) as you reach the top just in case, and make sure the hook stops on its own. If it does, then your upper limits are good. Now run the hook down to the bottom, using slow speed (if applicable) near the bottom just in case, and make sure the hook stops on its own. If it does, then your lower limits are good.

NOTE* Not all hoists will have a lower limit or upper limit. It is important to know the specifics of your equipment when conducting these checks. If your hoist does not have a lower limit, do not bother taking it all the way to the bottom as that could damage the equipment. Certain chain hoists do not have an upper limit switch. These chain hoists may utilize a stop block on the chain or just the load block itself that works to stop the chain at the top. If this is the case with your hoist, skip this check because when the hook gets to the top it will just run through the load limit clutch and cause increased wear on a part that should never wear under normal operation.

STEP 4: CHECK WIRE ROPE/LOAD CHAIN

 

If your hoist has a wire rope, you will want to look for obvious visible damage such as kinks, broken wires, wires from the core sticking out between the strands on the outside, or significant gaps between the strands which allow you to see the core. If your hoist has load chain, you want to check for damage which may come in the form of grinder marks, bent links, twisted links, or corrosion. With a chain hoist, wear is a factor as well. Take your time to look for marks on the chain, thinning of the links where the chain contacts the sprocket or where the links rest against each other. One additional factor of concern with chain hoists having more than one “fall” (more than one length of chain coming down from the hoist.) Check for a twist in the chain; twists can develop if the load block gets rolled over between the falls. A twist in the chain can jam up in the hoist and has been known to break the chain, especially under load, so this should be corrected immediately if found. Remember there is no expectation to go up to the hoist itself to complete these checks — simply check for what you can see from the floor.

STEP 5: CHECK THE LOAD BLOCK

Now let’s bring the load block up to eye level and check that. Are there any cracks? Has a grinder run across it? Do the sheaves (pulleys) turn freely? Are there ruts worn into the saddle of the sheaves? Are the side cheeks moving around? Damaged? Is the hook twisted? Stretched? Does the safety latch come out the throat of the hook? Is there a significant groove worn into the saddle of the hook? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, please have the crane serviced immediately for your own safety

STEP 6: CHECK THE LATERAL TRAVEL AXES

 

So far, so good? Good. Now that we are finally done with the hoist, time to check the lateral travel axes. Run your motorized trolley in low speed and high speed to make sure the circuit is working properly. If your crane has a single-speed trolley, a push/pull trolley, or no trolley, then don’t worry about trying multiple speeds. Complete your trolley check by making sure the trolley moves well. Now stop the trolley. Did it brake well? Good. You need to make sure the brakes work. Complete the same check with the bridge or jib. Again, the purpose of this check is to make sure all components of the crane are working as they should prior to operation.

If you have gotten this far without finding any problems, then congratulations, your crane is ready for use! Don’t forget to fill in the inspection report… and get to work!

-The Crane Tech

Demag Hoists Canada | #1 Sales & Parts Centre – Kristian Electric

Kristian Electric – Canada’s #1 Demag Sales & Parts Centre For over 60 years, Kristian Electric Ltd. has been a trusted name in the crane and hoist industry. From our earliest days in 1964 to today, we’ve been proud to support Canadian industry with reliable...

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CREATURE COMFORTS – CTR Crane Systems for the U of C

CREATURE COMFORTS – CTR Crane Systems for the U of C

Following the outbreak of Avian Flu and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) traced to Alberta feedlots, the University of Calgary established the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) in 2005, making it only the fifth veterinary school in Canada.

The UCVM expanded in 2011 with the construction of the Veterinary Medical Clinical Skills Building (CSB), a fully equipped animal housing and research facility for a large variety of domesticated and exotic species. CSB functions today as a hands-on clinical and diagnostic learning facility, housing areas for surgery, imaging, laboratory, and diagnostic activities. This state-of-the-art facility earned a gold LEED certification for its energy-efficient and environmentally friendly design.

 

Image courtesy of GEC Architecture (https://gecarchitecture.com/)

This specialized facility was divided into three sections, a classroom/office area, laboratory, and a handling area. The animals at the CSB may range from small dogs and cats up to horses and livestock. With the larger of these animals weighing upwards of one ton, the building design had to take into consideration an efficient method to transport the animals to and from different areas of the CSB. When Kristian Electric was brought on board, we knew that Gorbel’s Cleveland Tramrail system was the perfect fit for this application.

Cleveland Tramrail and its patented Tarca® Track offers segments of straight or curved track that work together in conjunction with interlocks and switches to change the load direction. Cleveland Tramrail has long been a popular application choice for laboratories, foundries, and any facility where material must be moved through an entire production area.

The unique Tarca® Track has a special raised tread and high-carbon track, making it superior to I-beams in strength and durability. Cleveland Tramrail allows for underhung hoists and carriers to operate on a single-straight, curved, or inclined track, and even operation on two or more straight track runways.

Cleveland Tramrail also allows for both switches and gates at every junction. Both 2-way or 3-way switches can be utilized, permitting the load to move right, left, or straight. Gates can be installed in areas where the system needs to “open” to allow other facility movement. At the CSB Building, some areas needed to allow large doors to close. The gate segment of the monorail could be pulled aside to allow this and could be swung back into position once the doors opened again. Both switches and gates are operated manually.

With capacities anywhere between two to forty tons, an unlimited length of coverage area, and the ability to be powered, Kristian knew that a Cleveland Tramrail monorail crane system from Gorbel was the obvious choice for the lift and access requirements for the CSB Building.

Kristian technicians began installation of two new Cleveland Tramrail monorail crane systems at the Clinical Skills Building in 2009. The first Cleveland Tramrail monorail crane system included hundreds of feet of track, five switch points, two gates, and multiple curves; spanning much of the building with numerous junctions allowing the operator to enter separate rooms and laboratories.

The second Cleveland Tramrail monorail crane system was provided for a specialized laboratory and set up as a manually operated system which included two gates.

Both systems were outfitted with multiple Coffing LHH hand chain hoists and were completed in 2011.

Kristian Electric returned to the CSB in 2014. The second specialized lab Cleveland Tramrail monorail crane system was modified with an expansion and conversion to a powered system, which included a 1 Ton Coffing JLC electric chain hoist and electric motorized trolley.

Demag Hoists Canada | #1 Sales & Parts Centre – Kristian Electric

Kristian Electric – Canada’s #1 Demag Sales & Parts Centre For over 60 years, Kristian Electric Ltd. has been a trusted name in the crane and hoist industry. From our earliest days in 1964 to today, we’ve been proud to support Canadian industry with reliable...

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RISING STARS – The Cosmic History of CM Hoists

RISING STARS – The Cosmic History of CM Hoists

POST Count Off brand cereal, introduced in 1962.

From 1955 to 1975, the imagination of the world was gripped by the competition between Cold War adversaries, the Soviet Union and the United States, as they raced to achieve superior spaceflight capabilities.

From Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human being in outer space to the famous ‘one giant leap for mankind,’ every warm-blooded citizen of Earth was fascinated with the great beyond.

This excitement spilled over into all areas of life and commodity; board games, television shows, and even breakfast cereals all took on new space themes. Everyone and their dog were getting on the space race bandwagon. The space frenzy didn’t just stop at commercial products, but expanded into the industrial sector as well.

At this time, Columbus McKinnon was riding the post-war economic boom which allowed all types of industries and businesses to reach new heights. It was also during this time that they unveiled the iconic Lodestar electric chain hoist.

LODESTAR

A Lodestar is defined as something that serves as an inspiration or beacon, like a star used to guide the course of a ship. Over the past sixty plus years, the Lodestar electric chain hoist has earned its name — quickly becoming CM’s flagship electric chain hoist; renowned for its performance and reliability across both industrial and entertainment sectors. Since the Lodestar’s debut in 1955, more than one million Lodestar electric chain hoists have been produced and installed in facilities around the world.

This star of a hoist, however, was not the first piece of equipment that Columbus McKinnon christened with a celestial name. Long before Neil Armstrong, decades before Captain Kirk, and years before Sputnik, Columbus McKinnon was looking to the stars.

 

COMET

In the late 1930s, two engineers from the Ohio State University’s Engineering Department designed the Comet electric chain hoist. Released under the Chisholm Moore brand, the Comet hoist had a heavy oil-filled gearbox and was originally finished with a grey and scarlet color scheme; the official colours of Ohio State.

The Comet hoist stayed in the CM hoist line-up until 1954 when it was completely re-designed and re-introduced on the market under the moniker Super Comet. One year later, the name was changed again… this time to the famous Lodestar.

 

A fully restored Sky Hoist by Robert Dean of ZFX Flying Effects

SKY HOIST

During World War II, Columbus McKinnon produced a stainless-steel hand chain hoist called the Sky Hoist. The Sky Hoist’s magnesium-aluminum frame and two strains of aircraft cable were capable of lifting up to 4,000 lbs while only weighing 25 lbs itself.

Throughout the war, CM supplied both the American Navy and Air Force with vast quantities of tie-down chain and hand chain hoists, including the Sky Hoist. Columbus McKinnon holds the designation as the only company who was able to meet the American government’s wartime specification for military-strength chain.

METEOR

Columbus McKinnon launched the Meteor wire rope hoist in 1941. The Meteor was the first hoist developed through the company’s new independent research and development unit. The Meteor was a low-headroom wire rope hoist that utilized steel weldments in place of castings. In fact, the Meteor was the first hoist to introduce low voltage and two-speed button control! The Meteor remained in production until 1998, but CM continued to produce spare Meteor parts for service depots like Kristian Electric until 2014.

 

 

POLARIS & APOLLO

Upon retiring the Meteor in 1998, CM introduced the Apollo and Polaris wire rope hoist models. After Columbus McKinnon’s acquisition of LiftTech International in 1995, the Apollo and Polaris were both CM-branded versions of LiftTech’s popular 700 and 800 series hoists. CM produced the Polaris and Apollo until approximately 2012, and continued to produce LiftTech’s 700-Series until 2018. CM continues to produce the LiftTech 800-Series today.

 

SATELLITE

The Satellite hand chain hoist was introduced in the early 1970s. Armed with an all-steel frame, steel covers, and forged-steel hoist hangers, the Satellite was a compact, low-headroom hoist produced in capacities between 1/4 Ton to 10 Ton. The Satellite was a short-lived hoist series and was retired by CM within the decade.

Even though not all of these hoist models remain in production today, they symbolize a time in which innovation was reaching new horizons…even within the industrial sector. Today, CM continues to produce some of the world’s more versatile and rugged lifting equipment.

Since the merging of McKinnon Chain with the Columbus Chain Company back in 1917, Columbus McKinnon has always strived to reach new heights in the material handling industry.

And sometimes when you aim high enough, you land amongst the stars.

 

 

Demag Hoists Canada | #1 Sales & Parts Centre – Kristian Electric

Kristian Electric – Canada’s #1 Demag Sales & Parts Centre For over 60 years, Kristian Electric Ltd. has been a trusted name in the crane and hoist industry. From our earliest days in 1964 to today, we’ve been proud to support Canadian industry with reliable...

Welding Machine Acting Up? Let’s Fix It.

Okay, let’s be real for a second... When your welder stops working — it’s not just annoying, it’s stressful. You’ve got jobs to do, deadlines to meet, and now the machine you rely on is giving you grief. We’ve all been there. And that’s why I’m writing this — because...

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