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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The welding industry can be very demanding. Operators must conform to all sorts of environments, climates and surroundings. Miller has always taken these demands seriously and is constantly producing better technology and superior equipment to necessitate all of these challenges.
Here are just a few of these innovations.
Easily turn your machine on and off remotely so it only runs when you need it. Get more out of each tank, extend time between maintenance and work without the hassle of walking back to your machine, all at the click of a button.
Currently available on the Bobcat 260 Engine Driven Welder.
Eliminate the cumbersome use of remote cables when welding with ArcReach technology. No longer will you need to walk or climb from the weld-joint to the power source and back again to adjust parameters. With ArcReach, you can adjust your meters remotely.
Learn more about Miller’s ArcReach here.
Auto-Set is a breakthrough control that automatically sets your welder to the proper parameters. Simply set the wire/rod/tungsten size, set the material thickness, and start welding!
Currently available on the Millermatic 212, Multimatic 215 and the Millermatic 255
Allows connection to common 120 and 240-volt power receptacles without the use of tools. . Simply choose the plug that fits your receptacle and the power source automatically reconfigures.
See all the Miller products currently available with MVP.
The fan operates only when the thermostat senses the need for power source cooling. Running the fan for shorter periods, consumes less energy while keeping internal components cleaner and increasing their life span.
Found on various MIG, multiprocess, stick, TIG and plasma cutter products.
Unlike competitive machines that provide auxiliary power only at 3,600 rpm (max), Excel power delivers a full 2,400 watts (20A) of 120V inverter-based, pure sine wave power at idle. With Excel power, you can operate jobsite tools like grinders and lights at a quieter, fuel-saving engine speed. Refueling time and operating costs are reduced with Excel power, which means more productivity and profitability. Plus, everyone on the jobsite gets a better working environment because noise levels and exhaust emissions are lowered.
Miller power sources equipped with Auto-Line power management deliver consistent, powerful arcs using single-phase or three-phase electrical service from 110V to 575V — even “dirty” power with dips and spikes. “Dirty” or inconsistent input power can exist in the field or in the shop — and it can affect welding arcs. Sometimes, you don’t know what kind of AC power is available. With Auto-Line technology, it doesn’t matter. Many machines need to be linked to AC power, which delays work and increases expenses. Auto-Line machines draw less primary amperage, so you can run more equipment on one circuit.
Welding outdoors, in bight environments, or in an out-of-position welding application that blocks your helmet sensors, can be extremely frustrating. However, X-Mode, available on many Miller helmets, triggers the helmet lens to darken when it senses the electromagnetic field of the arc, rather than the brightness.
Available on the Classic, Digital Infinity, Digital Elite and T94 series of welding helmets.
These are just a few of the many technologies that Miller has designed to make your welding experience as easy as possible. You can learn more about these innovations and others here.
Regardless of where your crane is located, regular overhead crane maintenance is important to ensure safe crane and hoist operation and extend the useful service life of your equipment. However, overhead cranes that either permanently or partially operate outdoors require a bit more TLC from time to time as they are directly exposed to Mother Nature.
The constant influence on an outdoor crane is – of course – the weather. Rain and humidity can cause rust corrosion in the joints, wires, bearings, wire rope, drum, and in all moving parts, which can cause a loss in the overall strength of the crane over time. In the depths of winter, snow and ice can gather on crane runways and interfere with the motion of the bridge – even seizing the crane altogether.
Outdoor gantry cranes motor filled with ice.
A sudden temperature decrease can put the tensile strength of all the materials used to construct an overhead crane to the test. Many materials can become brittle during a cold snap. When a material becomes brittle, it becomes much more fragile. Any additional stressors on these brittle materials, such as shockloading, overloading, or even a random impact can create cracks, nicks, or more complicated and costly issues down the road. Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) used in certain crane and hoist motors do not perform well in temperatures below -10C. Conductor bar systems can react and even fail with exposure to frost, causing the crane to single phase or lose power all together. Frigid temperatures can wreak havoc between the moving parts of a motor and diminish the proper flow of oil. Even pendant buttons can crack, crumble, or fail if the temperature dips below a certain level.
On the flip side, sudden high temperatures can be just as damaging to multiple components of an outdoor overhead crane system. Oil seals can sweat leading to oil leaks inside gearboxes. Extended exposure to UV rays can cause insulation wires to harden and crack. Hot and dry weather can lead to dirt, dust, and sand accumulating along crane runways which can obstruct movement and safe operation.
Though an infrequent occurrence but no less critical, small animals and birds can also cause damage to your outdoor overhead crane system. Mice and squirrels can find their way into panels, chewing on wires and interfering with contactor movement, while panel boxes and crane runways can become appealing locations for birds to build their nests.
Birds nest discovered inside a cranes gearbox.
Ensure your outdoor crane is constructed from a high-strength steel to withstand any large fluctuations in temperature.
Installing panel heaters inside all bridge panels, especially those operating from VFD control!
Heat it up! Utilizing heated conductor bar will alleviate the build up of any condensation and eliminate the fear of frost along the power bar.
Lubrication is key! Maintain crane and hoist oil type and levels based on temperature breakdown within the manufacturer’s specifications for your equipment.
Consider using SOOW rather than SOW cable to protect your crane’s wiring. SOOW has both an oil-resistant insulation and an oil-resistant outer jacket while SOW only consists of the latter.
Install rail sweeps on the ends of your endtrucks. Rail sweeps are a type of brush that works to remove debris, dirt, sand, and snow with each pass of the bridge beam.
Switch your pendant! Invest in a specialized DST pendant that can withstand temperatures as low as -60C without malfunctioning.
Invest in defense control! Installing shields over your wire rope hoist protects the rope drum and wire rope from snow and moisture. You can also protect your bridge with a custom cover to eliminate many of the worries precipitation can cause.
Bridge crane with custom built cover installed at a water treatment facility.
Most importantly, the biggest weapon any overhead crane owner has in the battle against Mother Nature is maintenance. Call your Kristian crane service representative today to craft a customized inspection and preventative maintenance program for your outdoor crane systems! Regular checks and upkeep by a qualified team is essential to preventing all weather-related crane issues before they become critical.
This past fall, Saskatoon carbon fiber composites manufacturer SED Research Inc. (SRI), a Calian subsidiary, commissioned Kristian to increase their shop productivity with the design and installation of three new overhead cranes. The cranes were needed by SRI to construct their line of 10M composite carbon fiber antennas for the satellite ground systems industry.
Their custom order included two Demag column-mounted jib cranes, 1 ton each, and a 5 ton Demag top running single girder bridge crane. These overhead cranes were chosen to assist SRI in their day to day production processes of manufacturing their sophisticated, state-of-the-art satellite earth station antennas. SRI provides composite carbon fiber reflectors to Calian SED, a global solution provider of advanced communication systems for over 50 years.
Both jib cranes were selected from a standard Demag construction, ensuring a straightforward and uncomplicated installation consistent with Demag’s quality design. However, the 5 ton bridge crane offered up a few challenges for the Kristian design and production team.
This is where our Kristian design and production team found an innovative solution to keep costs down without sacrificing SRI’s design specifications. Ernie Dajavs, Project Coordinator, proposed a plan to design and construct our own castellated beams to save time.
A castellated beam is made by cutting an I-beam down its longitude in a repeating, tooth-like pattern. Once the beam is separated into two parts, it is welded back together on an offset with the cut patterns mirroring each other; creating identical slots along the beam. The finished castellated construction allows for an increase in beam height without an increase in weight.
Kristian outsourced a local Edmonton company to have the beams professionally cut with their CNC equipment. When the freshly cut steel was returned to our Edmonton manufacturing shop, our fabrication department went to work welding the plasma-cut pieces back together in the castellated pattern.
Prior to being cut, the original beam measured 10” high, but once reconstructed the beam measured more than 15” without the standard additional weight.
“It is an estimated 30% lighter,” says Ernie Dajavs. “A truss beam would have taken us two to three days each just to manufacture, while the castellated-style only took about 6 hours each.”
Although the SRI project marked the first time Kristian has utilized this design in a crane system, it won’t be our last.
“It is an old-fashioned technique and you don’t see it used for cranes much anymore.” says Dajavs. “A beam’s strength comes from its depth (height), and by taking weight out and making it taller, it actually ends up making it stronger. It’s a neat way of doing it.”
While the Kristian team has grown steadily throughout 2019, an audience formed recently in Calgary when our newest addition to the shop was brought in: our very own CNC plasma table! Acquired to strengthen our own hands-on knowledge and provide in-house demonstrations to our customers, Welder Service Lead Hand, Gerry Davidson, and his team have been busy setting up and testing ‘Helga’!
We sat down with Gerry to get the 411 on Helga and everything she brings to the TABLE at Kristian Calgary.
“Helga is a 3×5 CNC cutting table; perfectly sized for her location right now in our induction bay and for transport around the shop as needed,” said Gerry. “We are running it right now with our Hypertherm Powermax45 XP – one of Hypertherm’s newest cutters. The Powermax45 XP is an excellent machine for this table: lightweight, small, powerful, with the ability to cut up to 5/8” if required.”
Gerry and his team mounted the Powermax45 XP on a rolling table hooked up to our CNC Shape Cutting Controller – a Hypertherm Automation Edge Ti running Hypertherm’s Phoenix™ CNC software. After automatic basic tasks using Hypertherm’s CutPro Wizard, Gerry and his team played around with automated torch height controls to see everything Helga has to offer!
But what is Gerry’s favourite thing about Helga joining the Kristian Calgary team?
“It’s going to be great to host demos and demonstrate everything a CNC cutting table can do with Hypertherm cutters, consumables, and software,” he said. “Having Helga in the shop for our technicians to test, practice, and troubleshoot is really helpful too. Everyone can gain the knowledge of working with every part of cutting so when we are selling, repairing, or finding consumables for our customers, we are speaking from our own hands-on experience!”
