CP Automation offers scrap handler remote control options

United Kingdom-based CP Automation says its handheld, cordless radio control units for cranes and hydraulic material handlers allow operators “to remain on the facility floor, out of range of load swings and potentially dropped loads.”

The firm says this means that if lifting is taking place in hazardous areas, such as hot, noisy or radioactive environments, operators are kept safe, well away from the hazards. “This keeps the operator clear of the area and overhead load, providing significant health and safety benefits,” states CP Automation.

According to data from the U.K. Health and Safety Executive (HSE), construction worker fatalities dropped by more than a third in 2016 and 2017, reaching an all-time annual low, says CP Automation. Tony Young, a director involved with supply, installation and repair at the firm, says the better results can be tied to the industry embracing new ways of working — including equipment like radio controlled cranes.

The cordless flexibility means the operator is able to move to a much better location for visibility, rather than remaining limited to the field of view of the cab, or the length of a pendant cable. With this increased visibility, on foot and away from the load, the operator can clearly see a load shift and determine whether the load is properly rigged before continuing, says Young. Operators also can adapt quickly to any obstructions or changes in the path as the move is completed.

Additionally, according to CP Automation, with the operator on foot, communication is greatly enhanced. The need for hand and voice signals between the operator and a spotter is eliminated. Operators are closer to spotters, and can easily hear and act on what they are saying more quickly.

From an efficiency standpoint, floor operation may even eliminate the need for additional assistance on the floor completely. A single operator could potentially manage some of the operations with below-the-hook attachments such as magnets, grabs, or C-hooks, thus reducing labor costs.

To help with this shift from cab controlled cranes to safer, radio controlled systems, CP Automation, is now supplying its customers with stock from Magnetek, the market leader of crane and hoist systems.

Cranes can be fitted with both CP Automation and motion control products made by United States-based Magnetek Inc. as an integrated package. That package can include power delivery systems, collision avoidance systems, radio remote control transmitters, motor gearboxes, failsafe brakes and variable frequency drives (VFDs).

“The partnership brings together the right set of products to support the rapid growth of the crane industry at present,” says Andy Swann, business development manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Magnetek. “Together, we can provide a customizable, engineered system to match the most demanding of specifications, ensuring reduced load sway and load drops.”

Continues Swann, “We are seeing more and more crane original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) moving away from in-cab operators and opting for radio remote control, whereby the operator is at a safe distance away from heavy loads. This means much more aggressive materials can be handled during a project, and the operator is kept at a safe distance, controlling the crane from afar.”