P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR

P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR
Voltar

Safety as a value

Mobilizing manufacturers and entities, the construction equipment industry is giving priority to training and technologies to ensure safety in machine operation

During the last years, the availability of on-board technologies and operational qualification became one of the main differentials for those who want to get (or keep) a place in the sun in the competitive market of construction equipment. A key factor to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, to reduce environmental impact and to increase productivity, the progress of technology also caused a significant impact in operators’ training and in safety. These areas are more and more based on systems which are as complex as reliable and which may reduce the occurrence of accidents and human mistakes in heavy construction works.

In such context, many manufacturers and entities related to the industry quickly felt the pressure of the society for direct investments which connect the development of technical solutions to new services, programs and initiatives that would ensure that human factor would walk pari-passu with machines, even because the progress is really being spectacular in terms of technology.

Manitowoc is a good example. Worldwide known as an innovative brand in the area of cranes, the company headquartered in the state of Wisconsin considers safety as a priority in its activities. In the context of technology, one of the most advanced features installed recently by the company has the name of CCS (Crane Computer System), a fully computerized control system.

According to Leandro Nilo de Moura, marketing manager of the company, the system allows the operator to see each phase of the work in a screen. This allows the operator to configure the machine in a way that ensures perfect operating condition. “This technology follows international standards and—independently of the type of crane—operators learn easily how to operate the machine in a safer way, what also improves efficiency”, points him.

The executive explains that the system allows customizations, including control sensitivity. This allows the operator to feel comfortable with the instruments, keeping his focus in the operation. “This system became so important that all cranes designed by the manufacturer come from factory with this technology installed on-board”, emphasizes Moura.

As occurs in other areas, the union of efforts also makes feasible the progress of the industry. To make available advanced technologies in robotics and more efficient tools to plan the operation, Manitowoc works as a consulting in an important research project managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), independent government agency from the USA.

The project involves other American entities such as the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the group of companies from High Industries, the Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois and the University of Pennsylvania. They are developing a new mechanism called CPS (Cyber-Physical System) which integrates computing, networking and processes for construction equipment. In medium term, the expectations of Manitowoc in this project are to make feasible the use of advanced computing technologies as a way to overcome risks of instability, collisions and structural overloading, for example.

CLOSED CYCLE

As one can see, advanced technology is a reality in the industry. On the other hand, the availability of courses to be given after product delivery is being more and more recurrent in the strategy of the companies. People who will use a solution from Manitowoc, for example, have necessarily to carry out a course and receive certification before start operating the equipment. “It is an operator-machine-maintenance closed cycle which ensures not only the operator’s capacity but also the correct use of the machine”, says Moura, complementing that the courses may include the use of simulators and of machines, in manufacturer’s headquarters or in the user’s installations.

The selection of the place is responsibility of the client. “The important is to spread the knowledge and to make available illustrative ads that make easier to assimilate new technologies”, points the expert. “Several computer programs such as 3DLiftPlan and CraniMax are used to support the processes of planning and safety.”

And this trend is spreading out. During the last years, the American company Terex Corporation integrated a long list of features—which demanded specific training for product operation—in their equipment. “Our Simulift crane operating simulator helps the instructor to give high-level training, following individually the progress of the students and saving time and money”, ensures Ricardo Beilke Neto, service manager from Terex for Latin America. “In addition to teach how to work in a more safe, efficient and economical way, it is possible to fit it to the features of each type of equipment. All these factors help to reduce operation and maintenance costs.” A large portion of Terex courses has maintenance and diagnosis as its main focus. Divided by product lines, they have an average workload around 40 hours. The most requested courses are for RT (Rough Terrain) and AT (All Terrain) crane models. “Courses with focus in operation and safety include basic physical and mathematical aspects related to the use of cranes and to load lifting, as well as more sophisticated concepts which are important to the activity”, points Neto.

REAL SAVINGS

At the other side of the Atlantic Ocean there are also outstanding examples of how technology and training complete each other. Focusing operating safety and ergonomics, the German company Liebherr makes available technologies related to operator’s comfort and safety. Sensors, protectors, safety valves and speed limiting devices are among the features developed by the manufacturer along the last years.

The recent line of material handlers, for example, uses safety valves installed in the boom hydraulic circuit. As occurs in the excavators, this technology prevents that—in case of a hose braking—the attachment may fall down suddenly. And the arm limiting sensor prevents that the bucket hits the operator’s cab. “We have the mandatory safety devices determined by the effective international standards, mainly the EN 13000, in addition to technologic news which—in our concept—ensure an additional advantage to the product”, says Cesar Schmidt, commercial manager of the company.

Another recent feature is the VarioBase system for cranes, which improves the positioning of the brand in the market. This technology allows the outriggers to be opened in different radii and—depending on the grade of opening—a specific load chart is created automatically by the Liccon computerized control system. Thus the operator may work with total safety in situations of part or asymmetric opening of the outriggers, ensuring real gain in load capacity”, emphasizes Schmidt.

As occurs in Manitowoc, the focus of innovation at Liebherr is linked to training, which became a permanent concern in the design of equipment lines and in the manufacturer’s actions. In the Training Center (CET) located at Guaratinguetá (SP), for example, operating safety is inserted in the program content of all courses offered in eight rooms equipped with state-of-the-art materials and simulators of last generation.