Date: 05/30/2025
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Special Features: Precision Controls for Picking & Placing
Hoist precision controls for picking and placing are essential for modern industrial operations. They ensure materials and components are handled with the utmost care and accuracy, enhancing overall productivity, safety and quality. By incorporating these advanced features into their handling systems, industries can achieve greater efficiency, reduce risks and maintain high standards in their operations. With precision controls, the load can be moved efficiently, at the right speed, with little to no sway and the movements can be automated to improve safety and reduce human error.
Industries where precision is especially essential include:
- Aerospace
- Ship Building
- Railyards
- Automotive
- Warehousing & Logistics
- Glass Production
While these industries may seem diverse, they all share the need for quality, efficiency and safety while reducing costs and waste.
Precision Controls for Picking & Placing
By discussing your process and any potential production bottlenecks or challenges you’re facing with your crane builder at the quotation phase, we can ensure that you are equipped with the right features for your applications and make recommendations to help achieve the ROI you are looking for. The more we know about your application, the better we can advise and configure a solution that is tailored to you.
Anti-Sway Technology
The ControlMaster® Anti-Sway System can be selected for bridge traveling, trolley traveling or both trolley and bridge traveling. The system can accurately predict and counteract the natural pendulum movement of the load automatically. This reduces human error and makes the process faster and safer for both the operator and the load.
Industries and examples:
Aerospace: Handling delicate aircraft or satellite components to prevent swaying and ensure safe positioning.
Ship Building: Moving large hull sections precisely without causing sway, ensuring accurate assembly.
Warehousing & Logistics: Handling large pallets and containers without swaying for efficient storage and retrieval.
Glass Production: Handling large and delicate sheets of glass to prevent damage and improve operator safety.
Inverter Controls
Infinitely variable speed control gives the user the flexibility to control, accelerate and hold any speed from the minimum to the maximum. The inverter can also be set to operate at two distinct speeds while still allowing smooth ramp-up and ramp-down to prevent load swing and reduce brake wear.
Industries and examples:
Automotive: Facilitates precise placement of the chassis on an assembly line.
Warehousing & Logistics: Controls speed while loading and unloading trucks, reducing motor and brake wear.
Learn more about inverter controls for high-speed operations here: https://rmhoist.com/about-us/blog/special-features-high-speed-heavy-duty-class-operations
Quick Load / Unload Features
Inverter controls for the hoisting motion offer an extended speed range so that the unloaded hook can travel faster than the rated hoist speed. This improves handling while the load is on the hook by allowing the operator to select the most efficient and safe speed. When the hook is empty, it can be quickly moved and reset for the next load.
Industries and examples:
Warehousing & Logistics: Enhancing throughput in automated storage and retrieval systems by quickly moving and resetting empty hooks.
Automotive: Speeding up the handling of components in assembly lines, enhancing production efficiency.
Railyards: Quickly loading and unloading containers from trains to reduce turnaround times.
Load Stabilization
Load floating smart controls suspend the load in a stopped position for a predefined time after the hoisting movement stops without closing the hoist brake. This allows the load to settle completely before starting the next positioning action.
Industries and examples:
Aerospace: Stabilizing sensitive aircraft and satellite parts to let the load settle completely before precise positioning.
Ship Building: Stabilizing large ship sections before final positioning to ensure accurate assembly.
Automotive: Stabilizing heavy components during assembly to ensure correct alignment before final attachment.
Fine-Tuned Material Handling
Inching and micro-speed controls allow the operator to approach the load’s destination with great accuracy through a slow speed. These motions can be controlled by the operator or preset with automation.
Industries and examples:
Warehousing & Logistics: Handling fragile items safely and accurately.
Aerospace: Carefully maneuvering delicate aircraft and satellite components using micro-speed controls for pinpoint placement without risk of damage.
Glass Production: Positioning fragile glass sheets with inching controls to achieve exact placement while preventing damage.
Below-the-Hook Devices
R&M’s equipment can integrate with specialty below-the-hook devices such as magnets, shakers, rotating blocks, scales and spreaders.
Industries and examples:
Steel & Metal Processing: Handling heavy metal sheets and coils with devices like magnets.
Automotive: Handling large car body panels with custom spreaders or slings.
Aerospace: Positioning large aircraft and satellite parts precisely using spreaders and rotating blocks.
Load-Turning
Load-turning features for applications such as die flipping help increase speed and safety during a load-turning process. This feature protects the hoist from side pull outside the allowable range, improving operator safety and reducing the risk of costly equipment damage.
Industries and examples:
Automotive: Safely and efficiently turning dies for maintenance or repositioning.
Ship Building: Turning large ship sections during assembly to ensure accurate alignment and welding.
Steel & Metal Processing: Rotating large metal sheets or components during processing.
Critical Advantages of Precision Controls for Picking & Placing
Improved Quality and Consistency
Ensures that components or products are picked and placed with high accuracy, reducing errors and minimizing defects.
Increased Efficiency
Speeds up the picking and placing process, leading to faster production cycles. Accurate placement reduces the need for corrections and rework, minimizing downtime.
Cost Savings
Reduces material waste and the need for manual intervention, so manufacturers use fewer raw materials and lower labor costs.
Enhanced Safety
Lowers the risk of accidents caused by operator error, improving workplace safety.
At R&M Materials Handling, we are committed to ensuring your hoist has the right features for your application. Want to talk to a crane expert about how to get the most out of your next project? Call 800-955-9967 or contact us online to find a local distributor.