Date: 04/28/2020
Previous Blog: OLI (Overhead Lifting Information)
Hoosier Crane Takes OLI For A Test Run
R&M’s latest innovation in hoist safety and efficiency is being used in the field! Our Overhead Lifting Information (OLI) app displays direct, real-time data reports of crane conditions, usage and events on any iOS or Android device. We’ve started hearing feedback from OLI’s pilot runs, and we want to share what professionals are saying about their experience.
We talked to Todd Cook, COO at Hoosier Crane Service Company, and Derek Bukrajewski, Service Manager at Hoosier Crane, about how they’re integrating OLI with their existing crane in their facility to educate customers and share information.
Reviewing the Installation Process and First Impressions
They said that the installation process was simple; the crane was out of service for about a half hour while they attached the wireless key to the HoistMonitor unit. After that, it was just a matter of downloading the app – the app prompted them to connect to the hoist, and after a quick scan, they had their hoist’s data in front of them.
From the start, they noticed that the app’s simple design was easy to navigate, which is helpful when training technicians to reference the data in the app.
“Some of these guys have been in the game for 25 years and are used to pen and pencil,” Todd said. “But the way the data’s displayed in the app isn’t too complicated, and I think that’s good for the less tech-savvy technicians.”
Using OLI to Help Hoists Last Longer
OLI is a step in the right direction for preventative maintenance. Todd and Derek feel that that they’ll be able to provide better information to their customers about how the operators are using their equipment.
“This is going to save them production time and expenses from added trips and distributor charges if they need a part when they aren’t expecting to,” said Todd.
Being able to tap into the crane’s data history to get an even clearer picture of how to maximize a crane’s lifecycle is a big advantage. As Service Manager, Derek says he has useful applications in mind for many of the reports available in OLI. Some information he called out specifically were the overload data and start counts in the usage report and the condition report.
“We’ve seen customers run at their heaviest load more than they realize – it’ll be nice to show them this information so that they can get equipment that fits their work better,” said Derek.
With OLI, the Hoosier Crane team is able to show facility managers exactly how their hoist is being used and directly compare that to how the hoist was designed to perform.
Looking Forward and Rising Above
Hoosier Crane is in the beginning stages of introducing OLI to its team and customers, and we can’t wait to see how this technology helps them rise above the competition and provide even better service to their customers.
If you’re interested to see more about OLI for yourself, our interactive brochure gives a comprehensive breakdown of the app, including in-app examples of the hoist data you can expect to see.