Vince Maynard see's first hand the latest innovation from Terex Material Handling & Port Solutions

Terex Material Handling has launched a new generation of cranes which sets a new standard in the industry with its Demag V-type crane. Thanks to its V-type design, which uses less material and helps to save resources, the V-type girder weighs on average 17 per cent less than comparable box-section profile girders. The reduced crane deadweight produces less wheel pressure, minimises the forces transmitted to the existing building structure and increases the maximum load capacity. Consequently, the new Demag V-type crane gives architects greater freedom for planning new factory buildings and is also suitable for companies that want to employ it in existing assembly and production bays.

• 17 per cent less deadweight than cranes with box-section girders
• Oscillation characteristics cut by up to 30 per cent
• More than 500,000 changes of load double the service life

The design (patent pending), which features diaphragm joints, also cuts oscillation of the crane girder by up to 30 per cent. The reduced oscillation characteristics cause lower loads to be transmitted to the crane and its components, as well as to the entire building, and double the service life of the crane to more than 500,000 changes of load. In addition, the improved oscillation characteristics enable heavy and sensitive loads, such as glass panels, fluids or aluminium shell sections for aircraft, to be positioned more precisely and quickly.

“The new V-type girder is the result of our continuous development in the crane engineering sector”, explains Andreas Hambrock, Head of the Universal Cranes Business Line at Terex Material Handling. “The new crane is an ideal supplement to our existing range of rolled and box-section girders. Thanks to its special design, sensitive loads can also be transported safely and precisely indoors and in outdoor applications. We are now able to cater to our customers‘ needs even better and can offer them solutions to meet their specific load handling requirements, boost their productivity and, at the same time, improve their operating safety.”

The new Demag V-type girder is initially available as a single-girder crane on the German market. It can be employed for various crane types, such as overhead travelling cranes, suspension cranes, portal cranes or wall-mounted travelling cranes.

Demag V-type crane: versatile,  fast, long service life

Oscillation is a natural phenomenon that occurs in cranes. Lifting and travel motions result in forces that can cause a crane to resonate. That not only subjects the crane to loads. If the crane oscillates too much, it becomes difficult for the crane operator to handle loads precisely.

Terex Material Handling has developed a crane that is specially designed for transporting sensitive loads with its Demag V-type crane.

V-type design for efficient material flow
Whether for logistics contractors, aircraft manufacturers or steel producers – all sectors of in- dustry now face strong international competition. To maintain their position in today’s market, they need optimum efficiency throughout their material flow processes. “That already begins with fast and precise load handling”, explains Andreas Hambrock, Head of the Universal Cranes Business Line at Terex Material Handling. “We want to give our customers the best possible support with our cranes.” For this reason, the development of the Demag V-type crane focussed on factors such as handling rates, a high lifting-capacity-to-deadweight ratio, high load capacity and stability. Cost effectiveness and the certainty of a reliable investment also played an important role. “The goal of our engineers was to design a high-performance crane that operates with a high level of precision for a lower weight and longer service life.”

The result is a new design. “The crane girder is designed according to bionic engineering principles based on nature”, explains Andreas Hambrock. In a similar way to bone structure, material is only employed where it is necessary. Parts that are subjected to high loads are provided with additional stiffeners. “Diaphragm joints provide for optimum dissipation of force and, at the same time, an even distribution of pressure and tensile forces. That makes the Demag V-type crane extremely resilient to loads.” The result is a crane girder that weighs up to 17 per cent less, has up to 30 per cent less oscillation and offers double the service life. Terex Material Handling has patents pending for the new technologies incorporated in the Demag V-type crane.

Lower deadweight, higher load capacity
Thanks to its V-type design, Terex Material Handling has cut the deadweight of the Demag V-type girder by an average of 17 per cent with reference to a comparable box-section girder. This enables companies to utilise any reserves offered by their building structures and – de- pending on the load classification of the relevant rope hoists – to increase the lifting capacity of their installations even further. In this way, they are able to transport greater loads and no longer have to operate in the upper load capacity range. The lower deadweight also means that V-type cranes exert lower wheel pressures and transmit lower loads to the existing build- ing structure. Cranes can be integrated into existing workshops, assembly and production bays, often without the need for costly building refurbishment or changes to the building superstruc- ture. In addition, the eco-friendly use of materials also helps to protect the environment.

Lower oscillation and improved precision
The optimised deadweight-to-lifting ratio and improved dissipation of force enable the crane to steady the load more quickly. Crane owners benefit from higher performance and improved handling rates, since crane operators can position valuable and sensitive loads, such as glass panels, fluids and aluminium shell sections for aircraft, more gently and precisely.
And this can already be accomplished without the need for electronic control systems. The

Demag V-type crane as standard already offers more performance.
A further benefit: thanks to its reduced oscillation characteristics, the entire crane installation, including its components, the crane runway and its supports as well as the building and its foundations are subjected to lower loads. This is reflected by reduced wear, for example. In addition, the crane also boosts cost-effectiveness, since heavier loads can be moved in exist- ing building without the need for companies to modify the building structure. Furthermore: the Demag V-type crane can manage some 500,000 changes of load and, therefore, can achieve double the service life with reference to a comparable crane that has a box-section girder. That provides greater certainty of a reliable investment.

One crane to meet all requirements worldwide
Thanks to its new design, the V-type crane is also suitable for outdoor operation, since its surface area that is exposed to the wind is up to 55 per cent smaller in comparison with crane that has a box-section girder. For indoor operation, the girder allows 30 per cent more light to pass in comparison with conventional box-section girders, which provides for a brighter and more attractive working environment. The improved light situation also allows companies to save costs for indoor lighting. Besides allowing more light to pass through, the improved view also benefits safety at the workplace: users have an improved field of view and can see what is happening on the other side of the crane.

Compared to enclosed box-section girders, this benefit also pays off for service technicians, who can view the workshop through the crane girder. Since the design of the V-type crane affords a view of all weld seams, inspections and maintenance work can be carried out more easily.

In principle, most of the drive motor output is needed simply to move the crane. A further benefit of the new Demag V-type crane: the lower crane deadweight may enable motors with a reduced rating to be employed for improved energy efficiency. That saves operating costs and is kinder to the environment.

Emphasis was also placed on eco-friendly manufacturing processes for production of the crane. For example: the crane is blast-cleaned with dry ice before it is painted. The actual paints are water-soluble, thus avoiding the use of solvents that are harmful to the environment.

At the product launch, the Demag V-type crane will initially be available in single-girder design in the form of overhead travelling, suspension, portal and wall-mounted travelling cranes.

The overhead travelling and suspension cranes are available with spans of up to 30 metres and cover load capacities up to 12.5 tonnes. The Demag V-type crane is initially available in five different model variants for an optimum match with individual building contours. Depending on the situation – such as a bevelled or sloping inclined roof or installed pipes and conduits – the shape of the crane girder end will vary accordingly. Thanks to the new variable design, the V-type crane can be adapted with millimetre accuracy to the height of existing or planned buildings and modified in line with specific needs. Experienced Demag sales engineers can configure the best possible girder design for the given application based on customer wishes with a completely new Designer Tool in advance. Example for the height: depending on how much space is available between the crane runway and the lower edge of the building, the corresponding X and U dimensions are entered into the Crane Designer system to determine the optimum height of the crane.

Faster, more flexible response to production and maintenance inspection needs

Unilux has introduced the LED-12, the first handheld strobe light in its H2LED Series of second-generation LED inspection lights for the printing, converting, papermaking, metals and textiles industries. The lights are designed for additional applications, including maintenance, speed measurement, machine vision, camera inspection, motion timing and motion analysis.

The LED-12 has twice the light output of its predecessor and is available in standard and UV models. The UV strobe light is available as an optional fixed-mount unit. The second generation adds an internal phase control for greater flexibility in handling production and maintenance operations. Its narrow-beam spot illumination covers a 45cm diameter when 90cm from the target.

“LED technology continues to get better and better,” said Mike Simonis, President, Unilux. “Our second-generation handheld inspection lights raise brightness to the levels of our traditional strobes and deliver superior UV inspection capabilities that are so critical to the security needs of label and package printers. With much more extensive controls for more inspection and motion analysis capabilities, we can now provide an effective tool for product quality improvements and machine maintenance.”

The LED-12 features an adjustable flash rate from 300 to 50,000 flashes per minute, internal and external phase control, flexible triggering sources and white light approaching the visible spectrum of sunlight. Its environmentally friendly diodes are ozone-free. The rechargeable battery provides up to one hour of continuous use for the standard LED and up to four hours for the UV model, depending on usage patterns.

Unilux LED strobe lights use the stroboscopic effect to visually freeze detailed images of flat surfaces or machine parts moving at full production speed. Images allow process operators, technicians and engineers to use their knowledge and experience to spot and determine the causes of defects and to implement repair solutions. 

Simonis said the new Unilux lights should help users reduce waste, unscheduled downtime and maintenance costs while raising yield.