Although I have only been at Columbus McKinnon for 5 years, our company has been designing and manufacturing hoists and rigging products for over 135 years. Brands like CM, Yale, Coffing, Little Mule, Duff-Norton, Budgit, Shaw-Box, Chester, Dixie, Cady, and Camlok (all of which are from Columbus McKinnon) continue to be recognized as providing superior material handling products to companies around the world.

No matter what facility I visit, I can usually find a product from Columbus McKinnon. Sometimes I see our products when I least expect it. While visiting the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine, I noticed the bell on the Sherman Zwicker (a 1942 schooner) was hanging on a CM shackle.

I also saw a CM Lodestar being used on a dock to unload lobster boats.

Although this picture is not a shining example of how to maintain and attach a hoist to a jib (or in this case a pipe), it is just another example of our products being everywhere. (By the way, we do offer training classes on crane and hoist maintenance and proper rigging techniques!)

So we would like to know “WHERE’S YOUR CM”!

You can post your CMCO product pictures on our facebook fan page wall or e-mail them to cmcolive@cmworks.com with a short description of where the picture was taken. Do you use any of our products? Are they in your facility? Maybe you’ve seen our hoists used at concerts to hold up the lighting truss system or our chain and binders used to tie down products on truck trailers. Regardless of the use, we want to see our products in action.  WHERE’S YOUR CM?

For natural gas filter towers in the Saudi-Arabian desert, our German branch, Columbus McKinnon Engineered Products GmbH has developed and installed a special lifting and traversing system for changing filter elements. This involves the use of 19 specially designed trolleys in three different sizes and eight gantry cranes made from ATEX-compliant lifting elements and electric wire rope winches from Pfaff-silberblau. This extremely heavy-duty special solution is capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees F), sand and dust and even the explosive environment.

ATEX-compliant solution
The natural gas produced in the Saudi-Arabian desert is refined directly on site into a clean and effectively burning fuel by means of special filtration processes. The filter stations used for this process consist of two to four towers with an approximate diameter of three meters (9.84 ft) and a height of up to 24 meters (78.7 ft). These contain filter elements that have to be changed at regular intervals. The motion technology solution from Columbus McKinnon Engineered Products ensures that the covers on top of the towers (each weighing 16 US tons) can be safely lifted up and moved for access to the filters. 

Mobile trolleys and cranes
Our engineers installed a crane for each filter station on 24 meter (78.7 ft) platforms. The cranes move on traversing rails over the towers, along with a trolley per tower, which is also moved on rails.

During inspection, the dual drive trolley moves into position at the tower cover. The gantry crane, equipped with two BETA electric wire rope winches from Pfaff-silberblau, lifts the 16 ton cover and places it on the trolley where it is locked securely in place. The trolley and cover are moved away from the tower and the crane removes the contaminated filter.  Once the old filter is extracted, the crane travels to the area where it can be lowered to the ground. A new filter is hoisted and put into place.  The cover is moved back to the tower by means of the trolley and fastened securely.   

Columbus McKinnon Engineered Products and the client worked together for nine months on planning and designing this system. The entire project from start to finish took one year to complete.

The wire rope winches and lifting elements from Pfaff-silberblau used in the Saudi Arabian natural gas refinery comply with the stringent category 2 requirements of the ATEX Directives 94/9/EC and 99/92/EC, which also govern equipment used for lifting, lowering, pushing and compressing loads in plant engineering, navigation, sewage treatment plants, and chemical and food processing industries.

Current information and checklists pertaining to ATEX-compliant motion technology products from Pfaff-silberblau are available online at www.pfaff-silberblau.com/AT-Brochures.

Many thanks to our German office,  Columbus McKinnon Engineered Products GmbH, for submitting this application story to our blog!

MCM Events welcomes another speaker at the jointly held Crane & Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane & Hoist Conference at the Hampton Inn Hotel & Suites New Orleans-Convention Center, New Orleans, La. The conferences will take place May 23-24, 2012. Tom Reardon, Training Manager, Hoists and Cranes, for Columbus McKinnon Corporation, will provide an overview of OSHA 1910.179, as well as explore crane configurations, regulations, and standards for the industry.
“Many of us have experienced the concern prompted by crane inspection reports listing discrepancies as OSHA violations. Not all of these reports are accurate,” says Reardon. “Some confusion exists among crane and hoist owners, users, and service providers regarding crane configurations and the application of OSHA 1910.179 regulations.”

Reardon is inviting industry stakeholders to submit questions regarding standards and regulations, to which he will source answers from ASME/ANSI, OSHA, CMAA, etc., and share them with delegates at the end of his presentation.

Do you have a question you would like answered? Take part in this survey.

This photo and explanation have been provided by our guest blogger, Lou Collobert, from Independent Electric. Lou is a CMCO Certified Hoist Repair Technician. 

Thank you everyone for your comments!  Here is the answer to our challenge question:

• The trolley or carrier has been modified to accommodate the hoist’s suspension hook. This is an alteration of the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s design.
• The modified “suspension plate” is severely worn at the contact point with the hoist’s suspension hook.

This modification is likely not in compliance with ASME B30.11-1.3.4, regarding welding standards and qualifications or ASME B30.11-1.3.5, which addresses modifications of under hung cranes and monorails.

Because the wear of the “suspension plate” is so severe, this would likely be cited under the OSHA General Duty Clause, Section 5 (a)(1).  

In this case, the customer decided that repair of the trolley was not feasible and replaced the unit with a new one.   This is another example of why it is important that crane and hoist owners, operators and maintenance personnel are fully aware of the standards as they apply to equipment modifications and workplace safety.

Thank you, Lou, for submitting our challenge question and answer!

Want to test your luck with some of our other challenge questions? Check out these listed below:

Maintenance Challenge
Application Challenge
Rigging Challenge

You can put your ideas in the comments or check in on Friday for the answer!

Gene writes:  “I am not seeing eye to eye with my customer on a bridge crane alarm issue. His claim is that the warning device must be an alarm (sound) and that it should be continuously on when the bridge is traveling.  The standard he is referencing is ANSI B30.2 (1967) with the claim that it is incorporated by reference into law.

I have found numerous references myself to other standards regarding the requirement for a warning device. Where is the standard that permits a strobe? Where do you find the statement that makes ASME as the controlling entity? Thanks for your help!”

Tom replies:

For the short answer, please skip to the bottom of the page.
For the long, detailed answer, please read on:

To start out let’s determine if the crane in question is top running or underhung.   If any load-bearing member of a crane or monorail travels on an internal or external lower flange or equivalent it does not fall within the purview of OSHA 1910.179.  The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued several interpretations stating as much.  One such interpretation was issued to Mr. Thomas Hagerty, on March 4, 1991 in response to his question: Does this standard apply to under-hung cranes, hoists, and monorails?  OSHA’s reply was, “This standard does not apply to under-hung cranes, overhead hoists, or monorails.  Under-hung cranes and monorails are covered in ANSI B30.11-1980, a National Consensus Standard.”

ASME B30.11 states the requirement for a warning device but does not specify what type or how it should be used.
ASME B30.11 SECTION 11-1.11 WARNING DEVICES: “On cab- and remote-operated cranes or carriers, an audible or visual warning means shall be provided.”
ASME B30.11 is a consensus standard. It does not have the power of law.  It may be used by OSHA to support a General Duty Clause violation, (5)(a)(1) to “demonstrate that a hazard and abatement options are recognized by industry.”

OSHA 1910.179 applies only if both the crane bridge and trolley are top running.   
Paragraph 1910.179(b)(2) states, “All new overhead and gantry cranes constructed and installed on or after August 31, 1971 shall meet the design specifications of ANSI B30.2 (1967).”  OSHA became law on August 31, 1971, for overhead and gantry cranes.  Your distributor is correct in that OSHA 1910.179 “incorporates by reference”  in CFR 29 1910.6,  the B30.2 – 1967 standard.

OSHA 1910.179 does address the requirement for a warning device.  This requirement is vague at best.  “1910.179(i) Warning device; except for floor-operated cranes a gong or other effective warning signal shall be provided for each crane equipped with a power traveling mechanism.”  (Note: Floor Operated Cranes are defined as Pendant Operated)

While I do not have access to the 1967 version of ASME / ANSI B30.2 1967, it is highly unlikely the standards have become less restrictive or less protective since 1967.  The current ASME B30.2 – 2005 states the following requirements:

SECTION 2-1.15: WARNING DEVICES OR MEANS FOR A CRANE WITH A POWER TRAVELING MECHANISM

2-1.15.1 Cab- and Remote-Operated Cranes
(a) A warning device shall be provided.
(b) Refer to para. 2-3.1.7(e) for operation of the device.

2-1.15.2 Floor-Operated Cranes
(a) A warning device should be provided for installations where the ability of the operator to warn persons in the  path of the load is impaired.

2-1.15.3 Types of Devices
One or more of the following devices shall be provided when required:
(a) manually operated gong
(b) power-operated bell, siren, or horn
(c)  rotating beacon
(d) strobe

2-3.1.7 Conduct of Operators
(e) The operator shall activate the warning device on cab- and remote-operated cranes and, when provided, on floor-operated cranes
     (1) before starting the bridge or trolley motion of the crane,
     (2) intermittently during travel of the crane when approaching persons in the path of the load.

So… after a very long summary of the supporting standards and documentation, the answers to your questions are:

Question 1 – The allowance for the strobe is covered in ASME B30.2-1.15.3(d) above.

Question 2 - ASME is not law. ASME has no enforcement authority.  BUT  if the crane is not a top running bridge and top running trolley, only ASME B30.11 or 17  is applicable.

In closing:  (A) The alarm does not need to run continuously and has been proven to be less effective if it does.  (B) It also does not have to be a siren or audible device.

Have you ever rigged a bundled load only to have that load spill out once your sling went slack?  The  solution is the CM Bundling Clip, which prevents the choker from going slack and the load from spreading after being unhooked. It also eliminates shear points and damage to wire rope. Check out our latest video and see the application for yourself.

Our new Bundling Clip is built for the harsh environments and demanding applications of the oil and gas industry as well as for rail yards, logging, construction applications or wherever you are lifting, storing or moving cylindrical material.

Want to see the Bundling Clip first hand?

Make plans to attend the CM Bundling Clip Shop Talk Presentation at MODEX 2012 hosted by Tim Lewis, CMCO Product Manager at our Booth #3609 on Thursday, February 9th at 11:00 am. Receive a special gift if you register today. (You won’t want to miss it!)

This is a great opportunity for Modex (Atlanta, GA February 6-8, 2012) attendees to learn more about our recently-launched products. Our “Shop Talk” presentations and hands-on demonstrations are hosted by CMCO product experts who will walk you through the key features of our spotlighted products, and will show you their benefits. 

CM Lodestar Electric Chain Hoist
CM Hurricane 360 Hand Chain Hoist
CM Man Guard Electric Chain Hoist
CM Bundling Clip (to be launched on February 2nd)

Space is limited, so PRE-REGISTER today.
All pre-registered attendees will receive a special gift.

Otherwise, please stop by to see us at Modex Booth#3609. We would love to meet you!

Columbus McKinnon has opened its newest state-of-the-art training facility in Tonawanda, NY. Over the past few months, our training team has been renovating Columbus McKinnon’s previous headquarters(most recently the LodeRail production plant) in Tonawanda, NY into a new training center. This facility now holds certification classes and training courses featuring a combination of classroom and hands-on learning.

Here is an overview of the classes we will be offering in 2012:

• Hoist Maintenance
• Load Securement
• Rigging Practices
• Rigging Gear Inspection
• Crane & Hoist Inspection
• Mobile Crane Operator
• Overhead Crane Operator

By expanding its training offering, Columbus McKinnon now allows distributors and users the opportunity to learn in a controlled environment built for comprehensive training. Our training programs are designed to increase workplace productivity while emphasizing ergonomics and worker safety. For more information on available classes, please visit us at www.cmcodepot.com.