Keeping cranes in control
April 1st 2007

Sluiter Ellwoodii, a tree grower based in the Netherlands, has come up with a sophisticated way of transporting containers.

Part of the production involves the transportation of equipment either to a cut line or to a washing machine using overhead cranes.

In this situation, two cranes have to share the same track, therefore both must communicate with a main controller on the ground, using Ethernet protocol with infrared networks.

The controls and software for the cranes were designed and installed by EEU using Yaskawa MP2300 machine controllers.

The unit can give analogue, communication or pulse outputs, giving speed and torque control as well as position control facilities across servo, stepper, open and closed loop inverter drive applications.