Advantages of Using Radio Controls

20-30 years ago, radio controls for an overhead crane system had a pretty bad reputation. They were expensive and also experienced a lot of interference issues that caused control problems—ultimately leading to productivity issues and frustration for the end-user.

Over time, advances in technology have greatly improved the functionality of the transmitter and receiver—becoming a solid and reliable choice for controlling an overhead crane system. Also, as wireless and radio control technologies became more prevalent, the price of these remote systems has reduced drastically—making them more of a cost-effective solution and more in line with the cost of pendant control systems.

Radio controls are battery-operated and can be handheld or designed in a “bellybox” style, where the operator clips it onto their belt or attaches it to a harness or shoulder strap. Both styles can be compact, lightweight, and ergonomically-designed—with multiple speed configurations and intuitive controls.

The main advantage of using a radio control for your overhead crane is that it eliminates the dependence on being tethered to the crane itself—either via cab controls or pendant controls. Because the operator doesn’t have to be near the load to lift, position, or lower it, radio controls can help protect them from hazards like:

• Vapor, smoke, or chemical exposure
• Radiation
• High heat or hot metals
• High voltage / electric shock
• High humidity

Not only can the operator work on the floor safely away from hazards, but they’ll also get a better vantage point to perform the lifts effectively. The operator doesn’t necessarily have to walk with the load as it moves down the crane bay, so radio controls help keep the operator away from trip or fall hazards like obstacles on the floor, workers, and other machinery or equipment in operation. They’re also ideal for higher duty classes like D, E, or F where the crane runs up and down the runways more often, and at a faster rate.

A cost-savings benefit of operating a crane via radio controls is that it offers improved visibility for the operator. With only one operator required to control the crane from the ground, you no longer need a team of two or three workers operating a crane from cab and the floor to lift, move, and lower loads via hand signals. Productivity can also be improved with better visibility–helping with faster load positioning and damage control as the operator can better judge load and clearance obstacles from the ground.

Advanced engineered radio controls can also provide diagnostics and data information to the crane operator or to a service technician who is on site servicing or inspecting an overhead crane. These advanced radio systems can supply data on:

• Runtime usage
• Drives
• Weight on the hook
• Number of picks or hooks made
• Diagnostics or fault codes for issues requiring maintenance

In the event of an issue or fault code that requires maintenance, a crane service technician can pull information right off of the radio control rather than having to get up on a lift to dig around and find the cause of the problem.

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