Crane Metamorphosis: Driven by innovation

Recent innovations in smart design and manufacturing are the main drivers behind new crane technology. The latest generation cranes are more modular, adaptable and intelligent than ever before. What’s more, technological advances in these areas have enabled cranes to be manufactured so that they are more compact and energy efficient.

For example, some new cranes offer robust, intelligently designed modules that can be easily configured to meet a wide variety of needs. With this new type of crane technology, users can change or add new features over time depending on the business need. Additional features available in today’s environment include remote diagnostics, maintenance monitoring or automated positioning. New breeds of cranes such as these can scale with a business, enabling companies to be more efficient and realise a greater return on investment in the process.

Furthermore, new generation cranes can be equipped with intelligent service panels, allowing operators to diagnose and correct faults more quickly. In essence, they operate by the crane detecting its condition automatically and then communicating this to the operator via the service panel. Indeed such is the sophistication of this technology that it can also recommend preventative service measures and inspections, so businesses can make smarter maintenance decisions. Not only does this help to deliver production efficiencies, it can go a long way to potentially extending the lifecycle of the product. Fundamentally, it can play a massive part in helping prevent the scourge of unwanted and costly product downtime. But that’s not all, some new cranes even have remote monitoring capabilities, ensuring constant and consistent equipment support, in any location. 

In addition to maintenance monitoring, some new systems can also detect the load weight and positioning, ensuring operators make smarter decisions relative to the available working environment. Innovation also comes in the form of a crane with optimised pulley rope angles, which extend the life of wire hoisting ropes. Smart systems also communicate the condition of wire ropes and recommend replacement when needed.

Additionally, new cranes are designed to be more energy efficient. New crane technology – where cranes operate in a process environment – can be equipped with technology that cycles energy back into the power grid, which greatly mitigates overall energy consumption and costs. Some cranes are now being manufactured using recyclable materials, which in turn supports a company’s goal of being more environmentally responsible.

Cranes operating in process environments, where the duty is 24/7, such as waste-to-energy or paper roll storage, are today always fully automated – no driver, and touch screen control for adjustments and maintenance purposes. Where cranes are equipped with Konecranes DynaReg technology, power generated by the crane in the lowering part of the work cycle is returned to the power network.

Not surprisingly, new crane technology is the driving force behind delivering a new generation of cranes that greatly supersede those of yesteryear. So with innovation abound, companies can increase uptime, save on maintenance and energy costs and extend the life of their investments.