New Years Greetings from Kristian Electric

New Years Greetings from Kristian Electric

o our valued customers across the industrial community: May this message find you well during the holiday season. Although our usual gatherings and traditions are not something everyone can enjoy this year, I hope you are doing your best to persevere.

It has been a difficult year for us all. As we prepare to close the chapter on 2020 and renew our strength for the year ahead, I wanted to take this opportunity to personally reach out to those who make our services possible — our customers.

After 56 years in business, we have seen our share of accomplishments and challenges as a company. 2020 was no exception. Together, we have all faced the challenges to maintain our health, the health of our loved ones, our businesses, and our lives during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

At the end of each calendar year, I often take some time to think about my father, our company founder and former President, Bjorn ‘Kris’ Gjertsen. Although he left us in 2008, we continue to move forward in his absence by remembering his values, especially in times of hardship. He believed that every customer and every employee was part of the family. Just like our company slogan “A Strong Family,” my father knew that we are all stronger together.

Kristian Electric continues to persevere because of you — our customers, our employees, our family. Our gratitude to you is endless as we remember how you continue to support us in these times while facing all of the same challenges.

Thank you for being here for us and know that we are here for you.

On behalf of our entire Kristian family — stay safe, stay kind, and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Gjertsen,

President Kristian Electric Ltd.

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The Boss of Entertainment Hoists

The Boss of Entertainment Hoists

Can you guess what Bruce Springsteen did for work before he became one of the world’s most successful recording artists ever? Before he was dubbed “The Boss” and drove us down Thunder Road? Before he was Born to Run and reminisced about his Glory Days?

Well, nothing.

That’s right! Besides a few odd jobs mowing lawns as a kid, Springsteen has never been employed or held down a job. Since the release of his debut album, “Greetings from Ashbury Park” in 1973, Bruce Springsteen has mastered his craft of writing, recording, and performing his socially aware, poetically diplomatic, and nostalgic storytelling brand of rock n’ roll, and become one of the most acclaimed singer/songwriters of all time.

Since 1974, he has embarked on 17 headlining tours, 2 co-headlining tours as well as a concert residency on Broadway. Each tour ran between 1 – 2.5 years in duration with an average of 117 shows played each circuit. His live shows have become legendary for their energy and length, some lasting more than 4 hours!

For the past 5 decades, Bruce Springsteen has devoted his working life to rock and roll, always striving to maintain the top talent, production, and quality equipment for his tours.

One such piece of equipment that has been a mainstay for the rigging crews at Springsteen concerts is the Lodestar Classic entertainment hoist from Columbus McKinnon. Introduced in 1955 the Lodestar has become an icon in the entertainment rigging industry known for its performance and reliability in the most demanding and challenging applications. During Springsteen’s 2012-13 Wrecking Ball tour, nine 2-ton and twenty-five 1-ton Lodestar hoists were depended upon to keep the 26-country tour running smoothly.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Capacities: 1/8 to 2 tons (Metric Rated) Lift: 60 ft. standard (other lifts available) Speeds: 5 to 100 F.P.M. at 60 Hz. Voltages: 1-phase and 3-phase available

WATERPROOF FEATURES

Composite cord grips prevent water from entering the motor body at the pendant and power cord points of entry while continuous Gaskets create a waterproof seal between gearbox assembly and back frame and motor covers. O-Rings on Lift Wheel Bearing prevent water from entering the body through the lift wheel opening.

LOW VOLTAGE CONTROL

110 volt for long cable runs without voltage drop. 24 and 48 volt optional. Single-phase and three-phase also available.

IP66 RATING OF 66

An Ingress Protection (IP) Rating of 66 indicates that the Lodestar Classic offers protection from dust and high-pressure water – making this unit ideal for use in outdoor environments.

LONG SERVICE LIFE

Standard AC brake is designed for a long service life. Lifetime grease-lubricated gear box ensures better wear and smooth operation. Heavy-duty-rated motors. Standard external chain guide helps extend chain life

OVERLOAD & OVER-TRAVEL PROTECTION

Overload protector helps prevent lifting of dangerous overloads. Adjustable limit switch prevents load from over-travel in both up and down directions.

LIGHTWEIGHT, CAST-ALUMINUM HOUSING

Durable and strong cast-aluminum housing is black powder-coated for low visibility.

DUTY CYCLE

H-4 duty rated for heavy-duty applications. 2M+ FEM class. 50% duty cycle or 300 on/off per hour.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Metric Ready. Road ready, easy to stow and travel. Lifetime warranty.

 

Springsteen isn’t the only one “Born in the USA”. Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, and with operation and production facilities in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio, Columbus McKinnon is proud to supply American-made, quality-craftsmanship hoists to the entertainment industry.

It’s distinct design, quieter operation and low maintenance have made the Lodestar Classic the boss of all entertainment hoists.

 
 

Click here to learn more about entertainment hoists and rigging.

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A Not So Carbon Copy Crane – A Safety Sensitive Lifting Solution

A Not So Carbon Copy Crane – A Safety Sensitive Lifting Solution

Cancarb, a member of the Tokai Carbon Group, is a worldwide provider of thermal carbon black and is based out of Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Thermal carbon black is a product derived from the thermal decomposition of natural gas. It is one of the purest forms of carbon available on an industrial scale. Carbon black is used in the manufacturing of a huge variety of products such as rubber, plastics, insulation, concrete, graphite, and more.

The process used in producing carbon black creates a massive amount of heat, which Cancarb converts into high-pressure steam that is used to generate electricity that powers 20% of the City of Medicine Hat, which is approximately 200,000 MWh annually. This is a reduction of approximately 90,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be created.

Recently, Cancarb began undertaking a considerable expansion of its plant to increase its production output by up to 20% annually, which would equal an extra 9000 metric tons of carbon black per year. As an Alberta based manufacturing facility, Cancarb has turned to local provincial contractors to contribute to this 40-million-dollar expansion. One of those contractors just happens to be Kristian Electric.

In January of this year, Kristian Sales Representative Leonard Forcey was approached by Cancarb about the manufacturing of two overhead crane systems for their plant expansion, also known as “Train 6”. However, there was a catch. One of the cranes was to be installed for the use of maintenance in a safety-sensitive area and would require all electric motors to meet a more stringent safety certification. Hazardous location (explosion, spark-proof) electric motors are available but tend to be more expensive with a significant lead time. That said, Forcey knew there was a more cost-effective alternative with the use of pneumatic motors.

Having recently outfitted one of the largest mining companies in British Columbia with JD Neuhaus pneumatic equipment, this wasn’t new territory for Forcey. J.D. Neuhaus is the worlds leading manufacturer in pneumatic and hydraulic lifting devices, with over 275 years in the material handling business. JDN hoists and crane components are engineered for extreme environments including subsea waters, arctic zones, mining, and more.

“With pneumatic crane components [hoist, trolley, end trucks] compressed air is the energy source that drives the motor, thereby removing electricity and its associated risks from the equation completely.” Forcey explains “So if the client already has a compressed air system able to deliver the appropriate amount of cfm, then they have a big box already ticked.”

Due to Cancarb already having the appropriate compressed air system in place, the classification needed, coupled with the dusty environment and long lift required (40+ feet), Kristian and JD Neuhaus combined resources to manufacture and supply a pneumatic style crane to fill this need.

“JD Neuhaus pneumatic crane components are also completely dust-tight and offer a 100% duty cycle as the motors naturally cool themselves. Long lift scenarios (100+ feet) are also easily achievable with a JD Neuhaus pneumatic hoist”.

The 2-ton capacity crane with pneumatic style end trucks was fitted with a JD Neuhaus Profi 2T hoist, trolley, and controls package. Both cranes (one electric, one pneumatic) were delivered to Medicine Hat in mid-July.

For a company that has been building cranes for decades, our recipe can sometimes be simple and a crane design may almost be a carbon-copy of the last. However, on occasion, we get to break out of the routine and solve a specific problem with a unique crane system design, such as our experience with the Cancarb project.

You can learn more about Cancarb and their industry here.

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Buttoned Up – Demag DST Pendants

Buttoned Up – Demag DST Pendants

DST pendant controls from Demag are a one-stop, universal solution for the operation of overhead cranes, hoists, and more. Easily configurable with multiple operations, ergonomically designed for ease of use and constructed with safety in every detail.

Available in three differing sizes with four different configurations, a single pendant allows a for 3, 6, 7 or 9 operating elements, dependant on the model. However, DST pendants have the option of being combined in pairs allowing for the possibility of for up to 18 operations, making it one of the most versatile pendants in the industry. With switching elements for single-stage, two-stage, or variable control the DST pendant is ideal when operating material handling systems that support several drive functions.

Demag designed a sloping control style with the DST line, creating an ergonomic composition that allows the operator to work in a natural, comfortable posture and position, which can eliminate fatigue and make for convenient operation.

As with all Demag products, the DST line was designed with safety in mind. Composed of durable, resistant, and safe materials, such as a glass fibre-reinforced polyester housing that is highly unyielding to impact and components that can withstand temperatures from -40°C to 150°C. The pendant itself is highly resistant to corrosive materials such as spirts, ether, petrol, turpentine, benzene, grease, oil, dilute acids, and alkaline solutions. Furthermore, each DST is equipped with additional strain relief elements to ensure high operating reliability.

Regardless of material handling demands, big or small, DST pendants are capable of meeting the highest expectations from simple hoisting to complicated lifting at the push of a button.

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55 Years – A Classic Worth Preserving

55 Years – A Classic Worth Preserving

Anniversaries are always a good cause for reminiscence and contemplation. When company president, Kevin Gjertsen, was asked to reflect on the past half a century of the family business and what it means to him, it was of no surprise that his ruminations focused on one very particular thing.

Family.

“It is no small thing to be celebrating this anniversary. Fifty-five years is not a small amount of time to be in business.”

“When I was a kid, my Mom and Dad had a ’55 Chevy Bel Air sedan. It was a big green and white beautiful car. I remember my parents up front, Mom holding our baby sister in her arms, while my other sister sat in the middle and us three boys rolled around in the back seat. Of course, there were no seat belts back in the day, so we would lay on the floor or up by the back window. I have so many good memories of that car. For years it was driven by my father and he kept all us kids in line if we started getting too rowdy in the backseat. The car was designed for a family; it was big with lots of room, sturdy and reliable and it kept us all safely within its smooth sturdy panels. Even with all seven of us in the car, there was still room for more people! However, as all things do, the car got older and was eventually replaced. Those were the days! However even today, the ’55 Bel Air is an extremely sought-after car by collectors; even those who don’t have warm, nostalgic ties to it like we do.”

“So, what does this have to do with Kristian? Why does our 55th anniversary remind me of this classic family car? Well, it’s simple. The car really does represent the founding of our company—what began as a reliable family vehicle has now become a classic with a history worth preserving. Although it was originally built during a time that looks quite different from the modern world we live in today – we see many similarities in the values it was built under – for carrying families safely from one destination to another. The ’55 Bel Air served to unite my family – shoved inside its metal frame – and all of those who rode with us along the way – as we grew older, grew wiser and grew together traveling around the prairies. It stands as the first building block in our tower of progress. While we do not drive the ’55 Bel Air today – our choice in vehicles has progressed to suit our new needs and incorporate new technology – it lives on as the foundation on which we stand. The dirt roads we drove on have been paved into highways, but today I still drive them with you – my family – all of us safely in the backseat – just like the Bel Air carried us – to our next destination.”

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