< PreviousP alfi nger has introduced a 'Smart Control' feature that makes working with the crane more effi cient by controlling the crane tip. The intelligent system gives crane operators additional freedom for more complex lifting operations. The crane tip can be moved vertically or horizontally to the desired position with one lever movement on the radio remote control. With conventional control, this requires several lever movements. The logic of the movements of the new crane control is processed in the 'Paltronic' control unit. In the background, the system independently calculates the direction of movement using sensors and electronics. In conjunction with the HPSC-Plus Load function, the truck inclination can also be included and compensated. When the extension boom system is fully extended, Smart Control calculates the boom system defl ection and automatically compensates it. Due to 'Flow Sharing', the electronic oil volume distribution system, the required hydraulic oil always adapts to the current requirements. This guarantees smooth movements of the crane. When the crane operator does not need Smart Control, he can deactivate or override it at any time. Loader cranes with Smart Control can even be operated with an additional knuckle boom system. In this case, the main boom, knuckle boom and extension booms are operated via the new type of crane control; conventional control is used from the additional knuckle boom system onwards. Additional equipment such as grapples, pallet forks or earth augers can also be integrated. Michael Völker, head of product management-loader crane, Palfi nger, said: "We want to make working with a loader crane even easier, more effi cient and smarter. The new crane control system of the crane tip results in more lifting operations and thus greater profi tability. Its simple operation reduces the training period for operators." Palfi nger off ers Smart Control for the entire range from 29 to 58 metric tons. Up to eight extensions can be controlled, covering the entire TEC 7-range from PK 29.502 TEC 7 to PK 58.002 TEC 7. 40 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJUNE 2021 LIFTING AND ACCESS EQUIPMENT INTELLIGENT SYSTEM ON PALFINGER CRANES GIVES OPERATORS BETTER CONTROL OF THE CRANE TIP41 PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESwww.plantmachineryvehicles.comJUNE 2021 LIFTING AND ACCESS EQUIPMENT T he Tanger Alliance container terminal (TC3 terminal) at the Tanger Med port in Morocco has received the fi nal two of eight Liebherr ship to shore container cranes. The fi nal crane entered service in April 2021 and brings the operational capacity of the new terminal to over 1.5 million TEU per annum. The cranes, which are the fi rst Liebherr STS at Tanger Med, were erected at a remote site in Cadiz, Spain, before being shipped two at a time to Morocco. The fi rst cranes were commissioned in October 2020, with four more following in quick succession, allowing the terminal to open for business in January 2021 with six STS cranes. The cranes were designed and manufactured by Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. in Ireland. They have an outreach of 72 m, a lift height over rail of 54 m, a span of 30.48 and a backreach of 22 m. The safe working load under twin-lift spreader is 65 t. The ultra large STS cranes are future-proofed as they can cater for vessels with up to 26 rows stowed across the deck and include Fibre optic cores in the cabling, fault monitoring and remote diagnostics. Safety features including laser and ultrasonic anti-collision systems as well as smart slowdowns are installed as standard. Liebherr Container Cranes contracted with ALE Heavylift Madrid (later Mammoet) to assist with the assembly and transportation of the cranes. The cranes were ordered between March and November 2019, with delivery scheduled to take place during 2020 and 2021. The Covid pandemic with its global lockdown and strict restrictions necessitated an agile approach to site assembly in Cadiz and commissioning in Tangier. Utilising EIGHT LIEBHERR STS CRANES ENTER SERVICE AT TANGER ALLIANCE’S TC3 TERMINAL IN MOROCCO local support, Mammoet’s personnel and experienced Liebherr engineers, the project was able to proceed with minimal interruption. The cranes bring to twelve, the number of Liebherr STS cranes in Morocco with four cranes already in operation in Casablanca. Gerry Bunyan, global sales and marketing manager, Liebherr Container Cranes, said: “The handover of these cranes to Tanger Alliance, is a key moment for the port. Tanger Alliance’s investment in Liebherr STS cranes will be rewarded with industry-leading productivity, low operational costs and the knowledge that the cranes will be available as required, to work on the world’s largest vessels for many years to come. We look forward to seeing Tanger Alliance maximise the cranes potential.” CREATE FUTURE-READY ELECTRIC VEHICLE OPERATIONS E lectric vehicle companies are operating in top gear to turn prototypes into road-ready off erings and get in front of a growing fi eld of competitors. But in the race to get to market today, companies should also think about how they’re going to meet another challenge down the road – drastically greater demand. Electric vehicles may represent less than 3% of all new vehicle sales today. But by 2040, it’s estimated that almost 60% of all new vehicles sold will be electric. Quite simply, if you can position your operations to keep up with this demand – and with electric-vehicle technology changes – you will be positioned for success. One way you can do this is by creating smart, scalable and fl exible operations that are as nimble as they are productive. READY, SET, GROW By creating agile and resilient operations, you can gain the ingenuity you need now and be prepared for growth in the future. A key component are scalable information solutions that turn raw production data into useful insights. You can deploy these solutions to address your specifi c needs today, and then scale them up to grow with your operations and address more needs over time. For example, scalable analytics software can Additionally, motion-control systems that use independent cart technology can help you more easily respond to demand and technology changes. Using software-confi gured move profi les, these systems can change functions with the push of a button to speed up changeovers and reduce downtime. They can also move small components or even full car bodies around a plant faster and more precisely than conventional mechanical solutions. STAY PRODUCTIVE THROUGH CHANGES Disruptive technologies can help you manage through change by improving decision making and maximizing effi ciencies. With a digital twin – or a digital replica of your product, process or plant – you can test new products and confi gurations before you physically implement them to reduce downtime risks. And with knowledge-capture tools that leverage augmented-reality (AR) technology, you can capture step-by-step work instructions and share them across the enterprise to help cut training time, increase operator eff ectiveness and maintain compliance. Experienced operators can record procedures, note relevant locations and highlight key safety precautions. Then, new operators can use this recording in an AR environment to learn on the job. be deployed from the edge to the cloud to get the insights you need, as you need them. Today, your focus may be on applying analytics to improve effi ciencies and deliver quality vehicles by tracking products, personnel and systems in your production process. Eventually, as demand grows, you can expand your use of analytics. That could mean using analytics software with machine-learning capabilities to optimize processes, streamline your supply chains and predict machine failures. MES/MOM applications can also address specifi c manufacturing challenges, and grow with your operations and their needs. You may want to start with a quality application to track, identify and alert you of machine or operator deviations, and later scale up to an enterprise MES software. DESIGN FOR FLEXIBILITY Whether your operations need to pivot to new powertrain technology, changing automotive trends or new regulations, your control solutions should enhance your ability to respond, not inhibit it. A smart servo press allows you to confi gure as many motion profi les as you need. It also gives you the freedom to use the right motor type from the right motor supplier to get the specifi c speed, torque load or other characteristics required for your application. By John Miles, business development manager, Rockwell Automation PLANT / MACHINERY / VEHICLESJUNE 2021 COMMENT42 www.plantmachineryvehicles.comAnup Oommen Editor T: +971 4 444 3448 Email: anup.oommen@itp.com Anup Nagpurkar Group Sales Manager T: +971 4 444 3573 M: +971 52 895 0931 Email: anup.nagpurkar@itp.com Ebonie Platfoot Events Manager T: +971 4 444 3689 Email: ebonie.platfoot@itp.com FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES: FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES: FOR EVENT ENQUIRIES: CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MEP SECTOR WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 DUBAI, UAE MEPMIDDLEEAST.COM/AWARDS SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL MEP MIDDLE EAST AWARDS PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSORSNext >