New Stellar Cranes Use Crane Dynamics Technology

Stellar Industries, Garner, Iowa, introduced the new line of Crane Dynamics Technology (CDT) equipped telescopic service cranes at last week’s International Construction and Utility Equipment Expo in Louisville, Ky.

Stellar CDT is a proprietary collection of features that control, power, and monitor the new cranes. Models range from a 6,000-pound capacity up to a 14,000-pound capacity. There are three main features of the Stellar CDT equipped cranes: a two-way communications and feedback feature, the crane boosting feature, and the enhanced safety-monitoring feature.

The two-way communications and feedback feature is first in the mechanics crane market to offer integral capacity alert incorporated into the handheld controller, the company said. The system will indicate to the operator when the load being maneuvered is increasing the load moment of the crane. Indications are by visual and sensory signals built into the Stellar handheld controller using color-coded LED lights and varying cyclical vibrations. When approaching an overload situation, LED lights on the handheld control will indicate yellow for 80 percent capacity, red for 90 percent capacity and flashing lights for 100 percent of rated capacity. In addition, the cyclical vibration increases frequency in the handheld controller to insure the operator is aware of the approaching overload when keeping an eye on the load is critical.

Through the use of proprietary technology, this new system allows operators who encounter an overload situation to productively operate through that overload situation by increasing crane capacity to nearly 120 percent of its normal operating capacity for a short period of time. This is achieved by simply pressing a button on the handheld controller. This allows an operator to finish the lift or get out of an overload situation, thus increasing productivity. After a short period of time, the crane returns to normal mode.

The other new feature of the Stellar CDT equipped cranes is the enhanced safety system. If a capacity monitoring device fails to operate correctly the crane will enter the safe mode. The safe mode will allow the operation of the crane at a reduced speed until the safety device is repaired, replaced or returned to proper working order. The crane will also indicate the overload device fault to the operator via diagnostic lights located on the Stellar CDT crane.

Other features of the Stellar CDT equipped crane line continue to include hexagonal boom design for added strength and stability, the planetary winch system with speeds up to 60 feet/minute, all hydraulically operated extensions with reach up to 28 feet, and a fully proportional radio remote control system.

“Stellar continues to be the market’s innovation leader by listening to our customers and truly understanding how they need to use our equipment,” said Tim Davison, Stellar Industries product manager. “We’ve consistently implemented new designs and technology that lead the industry and these features we’re introducing with the Stellar CDT equipped cranes will change the way the industry operates. By having the ability of knowing the weight of a load and boosting crane capacity to nearly 120 percent of normal operating capacity without compromising the equipment is a huge step in increased productivity.”

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