Media release: world-first crane safety device wins Universal approval
January 23, 2019
Brisbane-based Verton Australia has delivered the first of a revolutionary remote load-management system designed to improve safety in crane operations and boost productivity to national crane hire company Universal Cranes.
Verton has developed the R-series, the world’s first remote load-management system, which eliminates the need for human held taglines to control suspended loads, thereby significantly improving safety and productivity for crane operations.
Universal Cranes, a family business with its national headquarters in Brisbane, is the first customer for the R-series, which is attracting interest from transport, construction and mining companies worldwide.
"This world-first technology will revolutionise suspended load-management for the transport, construction and mining industries and also many other sectors," Verton CEO Trevor Bourne said.
The R-series can be applied to suspended loads of all sizes and across numerous industries, including engineering, construction, general cargo shipping and resource development, defence and mining.
Universal Cranes Group Managing Director Albert Smith said crane operations currently still require workers to collect and guide the taglines, which increases the risk of serious or fatal workplace incidents.
"We’re very excited to be able to use the R-series load-management system, which we believe will dramatically reduce the risk of accidents by ensuring no human contact is required for managing suspended loads,” Mr Smith said.
“With the R-series, tag line use and associated workloads are removed. Workers will no longer be near or under moving loads.”
Moving heavy loads using cranes or hoists can be extremely dangerous with industry research showing proximity to a load, let alone actual contact, accounting for 80 per cent of crane-related fatalities.
In its simplest form, the R-series is a single pair of gyroscopic modules and one handheld remote controller. The unit, which is available in various models and can manage loads of up to 20 tonnes, is attached to the load and its orientation is controlled using the remote.
Mr Bourne said Verton has received federal and Queensland government support to develop the unit. The company manufactures the R-series in Brisbane and is taking orders from interested industries.
"The R-series is set to become the load-management benchmark worldwide and we will be exhibiting at international trade shows throughout this year," he said.
Verton Founder and Chief Technology Officer Stanley Thomson said the R-series would increase productivity and profitability of businesses operating or relying on cranes and hoists for orientating heavy loads.
"The R-series will reduce hook time (the time each load needs to be suspended in the air) by 50 per cent or more and the overall cycle time by 25 per cent,” he said.
"This is the biggest improvement in productivity since the crane was invented. We estimate that implementation of the R-series will save worksites millions of dollars over its lifetime with payback possible within a year. These are significant advantages in our increasingly competitive industries."
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Steve Connolly on 0414 296 379
Visit www.verton.com.au
About Verton Technologies Australia
Brisbane-based Verton is a smart technology company which has developed the world’s first remote-controlled electromechanical load-management system that provides immediate safety and productivity benefits. The R-series is available in various models managing suspended loads of up to 20 tonnes. The R-series offers the biggest improvement in productivity and efficiency since the crane was invented.
