AEM Offers New French Canadian Aerial Platform, Aerial Devices Safety Manuals

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) now offers French Canadian versions of its Aerial Platform Safety Manual and Aerial Devices Safety Manual to help equipment manufacturers comply with government language requirements for distributing products in Quebec.

Industry Thought: Leaders on Innovation

At the end of 2012, we conducted a roundtable discussion on innovation in the rigging industry to get perspectives and insights about what is driving innovation and growth.

Wire Rope Exchange:  How do you define innovation in our industry?

Tom Miller, President
Marcal Rope and Rigging, Inc.

Tom Miller:  To me innovation in the rigging industry is two-fold.  We’re focused on providing our customers with safer products that also promote ease of use. The loads are getting bigger and bigger, so the rigging also gets bigger and bigger – which means more weight and more opportunity for accidents. Providing a safer way to lift these larger loads is where we are looking.  Also, I think our own manufacturing practices have to be safer.

Field ID Aids in Two Million Safety Inspections and Counting

Safety professionals around the world have logged more than two million safety inspections using Field ID’s industry-leading inspection management and safety compliance system. The milestone signals growing adoption of Field ID’s cloud-based safety inspection and compliance system among health and safety managers in various industries.

U.S. Construction Equipment Exports Up 43% in 2011

U.S. construction equipment exports increased 43 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year for a total $23.5 billion of machinery shipped to other nations, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). This follows growth of 28 percent in 2010 after a 2009 decline of 38 percent in the depths of the recession.

The Subsea Industry Gathers to Discuss Deepwater Lifting Challenges

As oil and gas developments go deeper, the risk related to lifting operations is increasing. “Existing standards and regulations don’t sufficiently meet this challenge and this is why DNV now has initiated a joint industry project to ensure a unified safety approach. Fourteen key international offshore players have joined the project,” says Robert Oftedal, DNV’s Business Development Leader, Cranes & Lifting.

The development of subsea cranes and lifting appliances has been driven by constant demand for increased lifting capacity, operations in greater water depths and motion compensating systems.

Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety: Final Report from the Deepwater Horizon Committee

To reduce the risk of another accident as catastrophic as the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, a new report from the National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council says, companies involved in offshore drilling should take a “system safety” approach to anticipating and managing possible dangers at every level of operation — from ensuring the integrity of wells to designing blowout preventers that function “under all foreseeable conditions.”  In addition, an enhanced regulatory approach should combine strong industry safety goals with mandatory oversight at critical points during drilling operations.

NCCCO Articulating Crane Operator and Rigger Level II Certifications Earn ANSI Accreditation

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) announced that it has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for two of its newest certification programs. The CCO Rigger Level II and Articulating Crane Operator certifications are now accredited by ANSI to the ISO/IEC 17024 International Standard for organizations that certify personnel.

Year 2011 Manufacturing Technology Demand Strong, 2012 Forecast

The resurgence of manufacturing following the crash of 2008 is unprecedented.  The most current U.S. manufacturing technology orders put the year-to-date total at $4,529.11 million , which is up 80.5% compared with 2010 and are the second highest dollar amount in the last 15 years.  As of October, manufacturing technology orders had already surpassed the total value accumulated in 2007.

The Crosby Group Announce Enhancements to Mobile Applications

The Crosby Group recently announced enhancements to their mobile applications for the iPhone and iPad  as part of their ongoing commitment to provide the information required to ensure the proper application of their products.  The User’s Guide For Lifting and the Block Selection and Application Guide offers special enhancements and features that are easy to use and user friendly.

Columbus McKinnon Now Certifies Advanced Riggers and Examiners for CIC

CMCO recently hosted a Crane Institute Certification (CIC) Advanced Rigger Practical Exam and Examiner Workshop. The hands-on workshop was held at our CMCO Niagara Training Center in Western New York.

NCCCO Unveils Digger Derrick Practical Exam

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) unveiled recently at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) a prototype of the practical exam that will form a central element in its certification program for operators of digger derricks. 

Cable and Wire Evolution

When Cargotec executive Ismo Matinlauri revealed the group’s vision of ports in 2060 at TOC Europe earlier this year it was jam-packed with futuristic concepts including ‘flying spreaders’, widespread automation, and artificial intelligence.

True Cause of California Blackout: Aged Power Transmission Infrastructure

In one of the largest blackouts of the past decade, millions of people in parts of Southern California, Arizona and Mexico were without power Thursday night and Friday morning. Amid the flurry of news about the situation, many questions are being asked: Who was the technician who supposedly caused the blackout? What was he actually working on at the Yuma-area substation? How and why did this get past the Yuma area?

Challenges and Innovations in Offshore Wind Design and Development

Although still only a tiny fraction of the world’s installed wind capacity, offshore wind is about to explode. BTM Consult predicts that more than 16 GW of new offshore will be installed by the end of 2014, with a global total of 75 GW by 2020.

U.S. Exports in Construction Equipment Machinery Up

U.S. exports of construction equipment continued to grow in 2011 and ended the first half of the year up 48 percent compared to January-June of 2010. Total construction machinery exports at midyear were $11 billion, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).