< Previous40 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comSEPTEMBER 2021 LIFTING AND ACCESS EQUIPMENT F ollowing the announcement in France of the R.495 recommendation, calling for all cranes above 30 m high to incorporate a mast elevator, many tower crane owners have sought to include this equipment in their investment plans. Although it is only a recommendation, the safety and comfort of crane operators are vital, as are the smooth running and productivity of the site. With this in mind, Manitowoc developed the Potain Cab-IN internal mast elevator, which can be mounted on the 1.6 m, 2 m and 2.45 m K-mast and is compatible with all current K-mast bases, such as fi xing angle, POTAIN CUSTOMERS SHARE FEEDBACK ON CAB-IN INTERNAL MAST ELEVATOR chassis and cross shaped base. The advantages of the Potain Cab-In internal mast elevator are: Simple storage and transport: Whether in the warehouse, on site or during transport, having the elevator equipment already integrated into the mast reduces the space required and, therefore, the associated costs. The mast also helps to protect the elevator, prolonging its service life. Easy assembly and safety: As the Cab-IN elevator is integrated into the mast, it is assembled at the same time as the crane. The only additional step compared to a conventional crane is the connection of the racks between the diff erent mast sections and the commissioning of the crane elevator. 360° visibility from the inside of the crane elevator and the recessed start and end platforms allow the mast to be checked when the operator takes over. Cost effi ciency: Compared to an external solution, the assembly and disassembly costs are much lower. There are no additional storage costs for the crane elevator as it is integrated into the mast. The same applies to transport, as no additional trucks are required and because the elevator is protected 41 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comSEPTEMBER 2021 LIFTING AND ACCESS EQUIPMENT by the mast, maintenance costs are also reduced. The investment soon pays for itself, thanks to the savings in transport, assembly/ disassembly time and storage. Quality and compliance: The partnership between Potain and Geda, a specialist and leader in the fi eld of crane elevators, has resulted in high product quality. The Cab-IN internal mast elevator is easy to assemble and has been designed to be integrated into the diff erent types of Potain K-masts. Feedback from users and rental companies has confi rmed the advantages of this solution. Duponchel, based in Kervignac, Brittany, owns a fl eet of 30 top-slewing and 25 self-erecting Potain tower cranes and has both external elevators and internal Cab- IN elevators. The company made its fi rst investments in Cab-IN in early 2019. François Denoual, managing director of Duponchel, said: “Duponchel was keen to comply with the recommendations as early as possible, which is why we decided to invest in this crane elevator solution early on. The Potain Cab-IN internal crane elevator has proven to be a reliable and robust solution that is appreciated both by technicians during installation – it requires much less time than an external solution because the masts are already pre-equipped – and by users on a daily basis. Potain has been able to develop its product to take into account the various comments made by users. We are now very satisfi ed with the reliability, ergonomics and ease of handling of this solution.” Longstanding Potain customer Poteau, meanwhile, made its fi rst investments to comply with the R.495 recommendation and meet the needs of its end-users between 2019 and 2020. The company runs a fl eet of 80 Potain cranes from its headquarters in Hénin- Beaumont, Pas-de-Calais. Poteau’s manager, Thierry Poteau, said: “Today we have a mix of external and Cab-IN internal elevators. In our region, almost all cranes over 30 m high are equipped with an elevator. We have about twenty elevators for a fl eet of 80 cranes, which enables us to cover our needs. The main advantages of the Cab- IN internal crane elevator, which is very much appreciated by our customers, are linked to the speed of its installation and dismantling, as well as its easy transportation because it is already integrated into the masts. The fact that the masts are pre-equipped requires less storage space, less transport and avoids any parts accidentally getting lost. The small surface area that is exposed to the wind is also an advantage of this type of system.” RIGGING IT RIGHT R igging is a highly specialized skill set, and we most certainly are not talking about politics or the Olympic games. Rigging involves the preparation of crane equipment, hoists and other machinery that is commonly used on construction sites, shipyards, oilfi elds, etc., to assist with very heavy lifts. According to the Occupational Safety and Health rigging issue when they are well aware of the ground conditions, weight of the load and the capacities of the crane and rigging gear that is on site for a job. Once this is done, they must do a full inspection and evaluate all the safety aspects of the equipment, the site and also the weather conditions. Strong winds or sandstorms in this region can hamper a lift and could lead to serious damages. Another key aspect of rigging is having a well-qualifi ed and observant spotter. Spotters are people who act as a second set of eyes for riggers and operators on site as they have a higher vantage point and can immediately alert the riggers and crane operators about issues by using their walkie-talkies or hand signals. Spotters also need to maintain a safe distance from the equipment so as to not harm or injure themselves. Finally, watch those toes and fi ngers! We tend to focus on all the bigger aspects of safety, but a split second of carelessness could result in injuries such as fi ngers, hands and feet getting trapped under equipment or jammed in doors. Riggers, spotters and crane operators must remain alert and highly aware of their surroundings at all times, because such small injuries could happen to anyone irrespective of following every safety protocol. Although such injuries may not be life threatening, they certainly cause project delays. Administration (OSHA), the construction industry worldwide sees many injuries, fatalities and delays on projects every year due to improper training, faulty equipment and failed rigging. There is a clear way to mitigate this by following some basic rules for rigging. To begin with, all riggers on site must be well trained and qualifi ed. Well-experienced riggers are able to foresee an imminent Nithin Kunju, HSE offi cer, Johnson Arabia. By Nithin Kunju, HSE offi cer, Johnson Arabia PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESSEPTEMBER 2021 COMMENT42 www.plantmachineryvehicles.com© 2021 Terex Corporation, Terex, Genie and Quality By Design are trademarks of Terex Corporation or its subsidiaries. LEARN MORE AT GENIELIFT.COM ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE GENIE® J SERIES BOOMS ARE RIGHT-SIZED FOR JOBS AT HEIGHT 13% LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP 1/3RD THE WEIGHT OF COMPARABLE BOOMS 30% INCREASED LIFT CAPACITY 30% REDUCTION IN WEARABLE COMPONENTS AND INSPECTION POINTS NIE® J SERIES BOOMS ARE RIGHT-SIZED FOR JOBS AT HEI LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP THE W COMPARA INCR LIFT C REDUCTION IN WEARABLE COMPONENTS AND INSPECTION POINTS Next >