Crane Institute Installs New Simulator, Donates Previous One |Construction News

Crane Institute Installs New Simulator, Donates Previous One |Construction News

The Crane Institute of America has installed a new Vortex crane simulator at its training facility in Sanford, Fla., and has donated its previous simulator to Alabama's division of workforce development (AIDT).

The new Vortex simulator was manufactured by CM Labs Simulations. Crane Institute uses it as a mid-point learning tool for students who have completed classroom instruction but have not yet progressed to working with a crane.

“Crane simulators provide an excellent training tool without the fear of an accident,” said Crane Institute president and CEO James Headley. “The graphics on this particular Vortex simulator are fantastic. The realism of the scenarios and visuals is second only to the real thing.”

Unlike gaming-style simulators, the Vortex simulates multi-body dynamics and has been validated against empirical and engineering data in order to provide accurate qualification of an operator’s skills.

Crane Institute has a long history of pairing assessment with training to qualify students, even before government entities began calling for third-party certification.

The Vortex simulator can measure performance skills such as pendulum control, collision avoidance, overloads, and operating near power lines.

CM Labs is creating exercises that can be used to help prepare CIC certification candidates for the practical exam.

A single versatile Vortex simulator can emulate lattice-boom, telescopic-boom, tower, and overhead cranes. “Controls are easily swapped out, enabling us to switch from one crane type to another. This fits nicely with the courses Crane Institute offers for operators of mobile, tower, and overhead cranes,” said Headley.

Replaced simulator helping workforce development

Crane Institute has donated its old simulator to AIDT, the workforce development division of the Alabama Department of Commerce. AIDT will use the simulator at its newest training center, the Alabama Workforce Training Center in Birmingham.

The training center came from a collaboration of the Birmingham Business Association, the Alabama Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, the Alabama Dept. of Education, and Alabama Community College System.

“AIDT offers first-class training. They are very conscientious and put on a good program for skills development,” said Crane Institute's  Headley. “The simulator will find a good home with AIDT.”

As Alabama’s workforce development agency, AIDT’s mission is to provide workforce training services for new and expanding industries. AIDT operates several industry-focused training centers around the state. The Birmingham center will focus on construction and manufacturing.

The simulator features a full-sized Manitowoc 2250 crane cab and is equipped with a fully functioning load-moment indicator. According to Headley, the simulator is unique in that it can switch between hand controls and foot brakes for stopping the load. Foot brakes are often used in applications like pile driving or dragline work.

“We’ve used simulators previously to teach other skills, such as robotics or welding,” said Rick Maroney, AIDT manager of robotics technology and safety. “This simulator will be used for introducing mobile crane operator skills and reinforcing mobile crane safety.” 

Maroney is one of two instructors certified through Crane Institute of America to teach mobile crane operators. Other AIDT instructors, also certified by Crane Institute, will teach overhead crane and forklift operator safety at the Birmingham Workforce Training Center. “We appreciate having Crane Institute as an industry partner,” said Maroney.

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