One track, two cranes, no probs
January 1st 2007

Dutch tree growing firm, Sluiter Ellwoodii is benefiting from EEU's control engineering expertise.

As part of its process, containers are transported using two overhead cranes – but these share a single track.

To negate the collision risk each crane's controller communicates continuously with the main controller on the ground using Ethernet and IR. If there's a risk of collision, one of the cranes automatically stops.

EEU designed the controls and software using YASKAWA MP2300 machine controllers – which are capable of controlling up to 48 axes over a fieldbus. It gives analogue or pulse outputs, giving speed control, torque control and position control across servo, stepper and open and closed loop inverter drive applications. The system has run for four years without failure.