Morris Material Handling has launched the full range of its new S3 series of electric chain hoists. It is now being rolled out through mainland Europe and has already been launched to the UK distributor network. Dates for the US launch have yet to be decided.
The range is designed to meet almost any lifting application up to 40t. And with more than 50 different models, Morris claims it can provide a hoist for most applications. In the range are the S3 High Performance, in capacities from 125kg to 2t, the S3 High Capacity, in capacities from 2t to 5t, and low and ultra low headroom models ranging in capacity from 500kg to 40t.
To prepare distributors for the new range they were invited to one of five launch days, held in June at the UK headquarters in Loughborough. Distributors were given a series of presentations on the new products that covered areas such as correct hoist specification, service and maintenance training and product support. Steve Sherwin, Morris’s sales manager for distributor products, said that the workshops helped ensure that distributors could back the S3 range with professional customer service.
The New S3 range
The S3 High Performance is a new hoist designed and manufactured in the UK. Before design work started Morris looked closely at its predecessor, the 360.
Sherwin commented: “We wanted to incorporate everything that has made the 360 so popular, and then develop it to meet today’s customer expectations”.
A high basic specification was a design priority of the S3 High Performance. It includes raise and lower limit switches, thermal protection, enclosure to IP 55, an ED rating of 50%, condition monitoring, a mains contactor and a chain collector.
High Capacity is the range of S3 models that extends the range from 2t to 5t capacity, targeting the need for a “workhorse” hoist with heavy-duty engineering, plus a choice of options.
New low and ultra low headroom models are designed for special applications where roof space is limited. Morris claims that these models offer some of the most competitive drawn-up dimensions available anywhere – 140mm on a 1t hoist and 330mm for a 12t unit.
With the 2t to 5t S3 High Capacity models manufactured for Morris by Yale in Germany, Morris itself concentrated its development efforts on the smaller S3 High Performance hoists. Based on feedback from distributors and market research, Morris engineers determined what features and performance standards the new series should offer. They focused on four main performance measures:
• to achieve best in class hook to hook dimension • better reliability with low maintenance
• greater precision in use
• competitive pricing.
The distinctive torpedo shaped casing of the S3 High Performance encloses all major components and gives a drawn-up hook dimension of just 295mm for the 250kg model. Across the range, the S3 High Performance has one of the best in class drawn up hook dimensions, Morris claims.
Reliability, durability and maintenance are linked and affected by a number of design elements. Features such as thermal protection and fan cooled motors providing a 50% ED, components sealed to IP 55 for dust and water protection, and case-hardened alloy load chains all contribute to durability. But it is also vital to ensure that the hoist is built to work well within its duty rating, and while designed for use at M4, the S3 High Performance is able to work to M6 duty when required.
With a standard full life of 800 hours to FEM 1Am, the S3 series is designed for a life of around 10 years for most users. Units under test at Morris’s Loughborough development centre achieved more than double the expected full life, according to the company. Models can be derated to provide a higher duty, so a 250kg-rated hoist lifting 200kg will provide an FEM rating of 2M. Working at half the rated load increases hoist life eightfold. Therefore, ensuring that the hoist is well within capacity can pay dividends in longevity.
Steps have also been taken to ensure the reliability of the electronic systems. According to Sherwin: “Morris designers were keen to use the latest electronics systems for condition monitoring and other functions but the industry had experienced PCB [printed circuit board] failures from jolting and sudden movements. They solved the problem by mounting the transformer directly onto the gearbox housing and placing an L-shaped PCB around it. The PCB itself is made from a more robust material than normal and is mounted on small plastic shock absorbers. Finally connections are soldered through holes in the PCB, not simply onto the surface, which provides firmer fixing. We believe that this approach helped to ensure such high standards of reliability during the testing phase.” Every hoist is factory tested twice before dispatch – first to 125% of the SWL and then to set the slipping clutch for life – and is backed by a two year guarantee. Maintenance needs are just routine checks, and an oil change every four years, Morris says.
Safety features included as standard include a mains contactor, 48V control circuit, fail-safe brakes and limit switches. The S3 series has been designed to operate at a noise level of 78 dB(A).
While the S3 series offers a choice of single and dual speeds, high hoist speeds are available (to a maximum of 12m/min). However, Morris strongly advises a risk assessment for use in those applications involving higher speed functions. Lowering a component into liquid might not be so critical but positioning heavy machinery with a high-speed hoist can risk both damage, and injury to operatives.
Competitive pricing was an important part of the design brief. Morris vice president Mike Maddock explains: “The combination of a good product design team and one of the most modern hoist manufacturing facilities in Europe, has enabled us to introduce the S3 and to make it extremely competitive on price.
