For Kristian Karlsson, marketing manager at remote controls specialists Tele Radio, the last 12 months has been a period dominated by the manufacturer entering new market segments thanks to the company’s rapidly-expanding product line.
"All in all we probably made around hundred upgrades during 2014 in areas such as hardware, software and product general performance. Customer are more aware these days and demand higher quality in products in general, better customer support, better service and so on, and we are happy to offer just that," he explains.
The biggest, in Karlsson’s eyes, are the new analog push button transmitters found in the manufacturer’s Tiger range (6+4 and 8+4 buttons).
While he is the first to admit that the technology in itself is not new, and that there are similar products on the market, it is a new area for the business and the segment it s in.
"It has also opened up a lot of doors for us on markets and applications were we previously didn’t operate," he adds. Karlsson also highlights the CANopen products in the Panther range are also an exciting new offer from Tele Radio. "Again, CANopen receivers are not unheard of but combined with our very expansive range of products in the Panther range, which are very affordable, I would say it is a very powerful option for our mobile customers."
Tele Radio has also upgraded the battery that powers its Panther PN-TX-MX8.
While the previous version used two AA batteries, the new version, which is named the PN-TXMX8B, will have two new types of battery solutions.
The first is the same kind of re-chargeable and replaceable Li-ion battery that is found in the firm’s Tiger range and in addition to that, it is also offering a battery cartridge of the same size as the Li-ion that allows the end user to insert three AAA batteries inside.
"The drive behind some of these changes are instigated by customers and others by us as an offering to the market to stay on our toes and stay relevant. The push towards the analog transmitters in the Tiger range has largely been from joystick customers that wanted a more nimble product to carry around," he explains.
Another major manufacturer, Scanreco, has broadened its product offering with a brand new radio remote control system that consists of a compact handheld transmitter, with the choice of three different receiver models.
The Scanreco Pocket transmitter arrives equipped with up to eight pushbuttons and has as standard five light emitting diodes for machine feedback. According to the manufacturer, the receivers are available with; relays, MOSFET out/inputs or CANopen in order to suit different machines.
It operates in the worldwide license free 2.4 GHz frequency band and has an operating range of up to 300 meters while automatic frequency management allows for continuous work without any interruptions caused by radio interference from other wireless equipment. And if an extended operating range is required, an extra Pocket transmitter can act as a repeater for the radio link.
Björn Askestig, Sales Director at Scanreco, explains: "The Pocket offers a high degree of adaptability and features. Each button can be configured to be momentary, latching or interlocking. The buttons can be assigned to any receiver output and can also be assigned to several outputs or several receivers at once.
"A shift feature duplicates the functionality of each button. The five light emitting diodes, which are used for feedback from the receiver, are programmable. Another special feature is that two receiver units can be configured for point-to-point communication. A useful feature when a two-way wireless link is required between machines."
Megan Voss, senior marketing specialist at Magnetek, tells Hoist that its established Flex M receiver, which has been operating in the overhead crane and hoist applications for more than 13 years, is expanding to areas.
"The new generation receiver has been developed to meet requirements that will permit Magnetek to apply UL, cUL, and CE markings to the product. In addition to meeting those requirements, a number of new features have been added," she explains. "These features, related to both safety and functionality, include a PL d rated machine stop, optional external display, and communication with Magnetek’s Radio Control Programmer (RCP) application."
The manufacturer says that is PL d machine stop, which conforms to the safety standard EN 13849, detects internal faults and ensures that if there is an error within the receiver, it will go to a safe condition to prevent unsafe operating conditions. In addition, unintended crane movements can put people and loads at risk, increasing the likelihood of operator injury and equipment damage.
According to Voss, the future development of an optional external display shows receiver status information, while maintaining the functionality of communicating receiver status to a Magnetek transmitter with a display.
She says: "The receiver’s new operating platform will also benefit from communication with Magnetek’s RCP program, which allows operators to program system settings from a Windows PC.
"This improved communication enables saving system configurations that can quickly bring spare units into service along with quick modification to basic configuration parameters.
Successfully beta tested in harsh environments, the next generation Flex M meets the needs of current and potential customers for Magnetek. In addition to its new product lines, Power, Magnetek recently sealed a $1m-plus order to modernise the controls on four 300-ton power plant cranes for the Hoover Dam.
The company is partnering with Nevada-based Precision Crane & Hoist Services on the project with Magnetek controls set for installation on each of the four cranes over a sevenmonth period. The first installation is scheduled for December, 2014.
Dan Beilfuss, director of sales at Magnetek, said: "Along with our partner on the project, we are very pleased to be able to assist the Bureau of Reclamation with the modernization of the cranes used in the Hoover Dam Power Plant.
"The new crane control systems we are designing will utilize our technologically advanced drives and radio controls, providing crane operators at the Hoover Dam Power Plant with improved productivity, safety and reliability."
Magnetek will retrofit aging AC static crane controls with its own technology that includes adjustable frequency drive panels and radio remote controls.
In addition, Magnetek will provide "complete control systems engineering and integration" in order to meet the specifications of the Bureau of Reclamation, which is the operator of the Hoover Dam.
"The Hoover Dam has two power plant wings, one located in Nevada and one located in Arizona. Each power plant wing is 650 feet long and rises nearly 300 feet above the foundation of the power plant," said Magnetek.
It added: "Two 300-ton cranes are located inside each power plant wing and are used to move and maintain the 17 main vertical hydraulic turbines housed in the wings.
"The Hoover Dam Power Plant, one of the country’s largest hydroelectric installations, generates approximately 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power on average each year, enough to serve 1.3 million people in Arizona, Nevada, and California."
Spanish manufacturer Ikusi tells Hoist that customers and the demands and requirements have largely driven development within its remote controls business.
They explain: We are also focusing at the same time on new products and functionalities, both hardware and software demands to march growing demand.
"Customers demands are changing constantly so it is important to be close to the market and also to get the right requirements and specifications, in order to be fast and agile in out response."
Ikusi has completed a range of recent upgrades and improvements to its remote control line, including the addition of new console boxes that feature software for TFT colour displays found on its iK3 & iK4 models and a LCD display for its iK2 system.
Elsewhere, Terex Material Handling has launched the latest iteration of its Demag Remote Control (DRC) radio control system in the form of it new D3 line of units.
The new radio transmission system allows up to 40 radio systems to operate in close vicinity to each other, without any interference or drop-outs with reference to neighbouring radio applications, the manufacturer claims.
According to Terex, the adaptive radio transmission method automatically checks whether a given transmission channel is available and then uses frequency hopping to avoid any interference and manipulation.
Terex has designed its DRC D3 handheld transmitters for practical multiple transmitter operation so operators can log on up to three transmitters per crane and then efficiently switch from one transmitter to another with the press of a button.
The manufacturer says this approach individual cranes can be handed over from one worker to another while control can be switched transmitters within seconds.
The company said: "Users also benefit from improved safety functions when operating cranes with DRC D3 radio controls. For example, the integrated speed limit function enables the maximum crane travel speed to be limited to 30, 50 or 70 per cent at the press of a button. The hand-held transmitters show the lifted load on an illuminated, two-colour display and feature a vibration alarm to warn against overloads.
"The radio transmission system has a range of up to one hundred metres. Users can operate installations from a convenient position at a safe distance to the load.
Terex Material Handling offers the hand-held transmitters as a two-stage model and as a stepless variant for frequency inverter-fed motion axes."
In addition, the rugged hand-held transmitters from the DRC D3 product line can be operated with one hand and feature a rechargeable battery that has a run time of up to five days in continuous operation for a charging time of only 2.5 hours.
