Spanning 0.55-315kW standard ratings with higher-capacity drives available upon request, the new drive range comes equipped with various crane- and hoist-specific software intended to ensure safety and precision. The company says the new product will help customers adapt to the latest standards and market requirements, rather than having to rely on general purpose or outdated systems that are not designed for crane applications.

With even a small crane potentially posing a high risk to people and nearby equipment due to issues such as the pendulum effect, the drives come with a series of safety features. These include Safe Torque Off, a safety redundancy feature, as well as an anti-sway control software. The drives also include a function that synchronises two motors using encoder feedback, which ensures the load is level and prevents any tipping while removing the need for antiquated mechanical links that can wear or break over time.

“Previously, crane customers have relied on general purpose variable-speed drives (VSDs), but integrating them into a crane system meant hours of programming,” explained Andy Swann, business development manager for cranes and  power transmission at CP Automation. “However, the CR700 is a crane drive at its heart, and was created specifically for crane original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and crane repair, service and upgrade companies.

“The new drive series combines state-of-the-art hardware and dedicated crane and hoist software features to deliver a unique product designed for heavy industry,” continued Swann. “It comes equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options and can be linked to a smartphone or laptop, meaning users can now make easy adjustments to a crane’s performance remotely.”

Before becoming an exclusive partner for Yaskawa in the UK and Ireland, CP Automation already had a relationship with the company as a preferred partner for elevator, lift and escalator drives in the UK. The arrival of the CR700 range follows the launch and expansion of CP Automation’s crane and power transmission department, which it launched in September 2021.

 

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