“It is a simple but very strong hoist in the lower capacity range without many different options, just a stock model which dealers can have in stock and sell straight away,” said SWF wire rope hoist product manager Stefan Daniel. He said the model is designed to compete with chain hoists.
The new model, produced by KCI Konecranes as the CXT and branded by SWF as the Nova Eco, is only available in a ‘semi-low headroom’ design with 580mm of headroom. It fits in between the Nova normal trolley (735mm headroom) and the low-headroom trolley (between 375mm-480mm depending on the width of the I-beam). The standard Nova low-headroom trolley is also about 230mm longer than the Nova Eco.
The new Eco has either a one-speed or two-speed motors for hoisting and travelling. Hoisting speed is 8m/min or 8m/min and 1.3m/min for the two-speed model. These speeds are slightly slower than the 10m/min and 1.7m/min hoisting speeds of the normal Nova range.
An upper and lower limit switch is standard. The hook-operated upper limit switch has two steps: the first step cuts the control voltage; the second cuts the main power.
The model is also being imported into the USA by sister company R&M Materials Handling.
“We are looking for a 2006 first quarter launch,” R&M vice president Jim Vandegrift said. “We are preparing documents for the launch. The pricing is set, the prototype is on the floor in the shop. I don’t know if it is going to be assembled here or shipped in,” Vandegrift said.
He said that the normal Spacemaster Sx range, as R&M brands it, could not always compete on price with competitors with half the lifting capacity.
