Following the launch of its new crane and power transmission department, the automation and cranes specialist CP Automation has added the Yaskawa CR700 AC drive series to its offering. Spanning 0.55-315 kilowatt (kW) standard ratings with higher capacity drives available upon request, the new drive range comes equipped with various crane- and hoist-specific software to ensure safety and precision. The new product will help customers adapt to the latest standards and market requirements, rather than having to rely on general purpose or outdated systems that are not designed for crane applications.

Cranes pose a high risk in industrial settings. Even a small crane operating in a factory, which weighs 20 tonnes, can experience a pendulum effect and a swaying load when stopped. For those working in the vicinity, this could cause significant injuries, as well as damage to surrounding equipment. Meanwhile, the rigging equipment used on cranes is often designed for static loads rather than dynamic ones, and can put the system under added strain.

The CR700 series from Yaskawa is designed specifically for the crane and hoist industry, and the drives come with a series of safety features. These include Safe Torque Off, a safety redundancy feature, as well as an anti-sway control software. The drives also include a function that synchronises two motors using encoder feedback, which ensures the load is level and prevents any tipping while removing the need for antiquated mechanical links that can wear or break over time.

“Previously, crane customers have relied on general purpose variable speed drives (VSDs) but integrating them into a crane system meant hours of programming,” explained Andy Swann, business development manager for cranes and  power Transmission at CP Automation. “However, the CR700 is a crane drive at its heart, and was created specifically for crane original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and crane repair, service and upgrade companies.

“The new drive series combines state-of-the-art hardware and dedicated crane and hoist software features to deliver a unique product designed for heavy industry,” continued Swann. “It comes equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options and can be linked to a smartphone or laptop, meaning users can now make easy adjustments to a crane’s performance remotely.”

Before becoming an exclusive partner for Yaskawa in the UK and Ireland, CP Automation already had a relationship with the company as a preferred partner for elevator, lift and escalator drives in the UK. The arrival of the CR700 range follows the launch and expansion of CP Automation’s crane and power transmission department, which it launched in September 2021.

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For more information about the CR700 and other crane technologies, visit the CP Automation website.