Hy-Brid Lifts, Richfield, Wisconsin, has introduced Intelligent Controls that offer intuitive and safe operation.
Now standard on all Pro Series Hy-Brid Lift models, the new Controller Area Network (CANbus) controls replace the previous hard-wired type. The new system’s diagnostic display, indoor/outdoor selection buttons, and motion controls make operation easier than ever.
“Many lift manufacturers are making the switch from hard-wired controls, but ours take it to the next level,” said Terry Dolan, Hy-Brid Lifts president and CEO. “We listened to customers and learned what controls and options would make their jobs easier. Then we implemented those elements to make the most intuitive controls possible.”
Hy-Brid’s Intelligent Controls include selection buttons for choosing driving or lifting control. When driving is chosen, the control lever engages steering and forward and backward motion.
When lifting is chosen, the control lever moves the platform up and down. Driving and lifting both feature smooth, precise proportional control. For safety, if the control lever has not been used for a short time, the controls will automatically disengage.
A diagnostic display on the control panel shows battery charge level, percentage of load in the platform, and hours on the machine. It also shows warnings, such as platform overload and tilt angle. Operators can cycle through the diagnostic display with the easy-to-identify information button.
“Customers told us that they want to see the percentage of weight capacity in the platform,” Dolan said. “Competitive units will give a fault code, but don’t indicate how much weight has caused the issue. It could be a matter of raising the lift up, transferring something off a shelf into the lift, and then receiving a fault code. It could be 5 lbs. or 50. Our system makes it easy to identify so they can efficiently accomplish their jobs.”
New ANSI standards require that an overloaded machine must stop all functions. That means an overloaded platform can’t be raised or lowered until the weight on it has been reduced to the manufacturer’s specified capacity.
Hy-Brid Lifts’ higher capacities minimize the chance of overloading. Also, their active load sensing helps avoid overloads by telling the operator how close they are to maximum capacity.
“An operator who has overloaded the machine might think it is not functioning properly,” Dolan said. “If they are not familiar with the new technology, they might call the rental company and request a service call. By educating customers and rental centers, they can avoid these situations and costly service calls.”
The control panel includes an indoor/outdoor selection button. The indoor option allows full-height operation if no wind is present. The outdoor selection button limits the height to allow for 28-mph wind speed, which complies with ANSI A92.20.
This indoor/outdoor option increases safety for the operator and provides contractors access to more jobs. Since any possibility of wind classifies the working area as outdoor, the outdoor option is especially useful for operators who might work in a building where the walls aren’t up yet.
Lastly, the Intelligent Controls include a horn, which adds safety by letting the operator alert other workers when the lift enters a hallway or room.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
