The lifting equipment industry is in a continuous state of advancement. As the industry grows thanks to increased demand for mining, oil and gas, construction and infrastructure projects, as well as increased safety demands, new and improved devices and technologies are being introduced to service the growing demand of customers wanting heavier, more complex lifts and a reduced number of cycles with a view to gaining further efficiency.
As the capacity of cranes increases, so too does the requirement for heavier duty lifting devices. Some now have “smart” embedded technologies, to reduce the possibility of safety incidents. There are many exciting developments happening right now.
Recently I was stunned to see additive manufactured, custom lifting points with the same capacity of forged or machined devices. 3D printing is one new way to save on weight and the complexities of reductive machining in a supply constrained market.
The cost to develop specialised lifting devices is far higher in a reductive manufacturing environment, once tooling and transportation is factored into this process, it is said that significant cost savings can be made without losing any strength or safety benefits.
Additionally, we now have a number of suppliers of intelligent lifting devices in the region. These devices integrate sensors and algorithms to monitor lifting operations, feeding back real-time date to operators. These advances help prevent accidents, optimise lift efficiency, and reduce unforeseen maintenance and service costs. There are a multitude of non-destructive testing devices on the market scan for damage and erosion on wire ropes, all done remotely via a virtually autonomous system.
We’re also now stepping into the realm of augmented reality and virtual reality as a genuine tool in our industry. Training firms are using virtual reality to give students the same look and feel as working on-site, from the safety of a classroom environment. There is also a push in our industry to look at how we can utilise augmented reality as a way to boost productivity for visual inspections.
This then points to a different question for our industry – do we have the workforce to take us into this new world? What does a lifting equipment testing, inspection and certification professional of 2030 or 2035 look like? And we can even ask, how quickly we expect to see some of these advanced technologies become mainstream?
To showcase these advances and answer some of these burning questions, we will be looking to the future and will provide an exciting opportunity to learn more about the industry. The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association will be holding our first ever LiftEx in the Australia and New Zealand region. LEEA will be hosting the event in Sydney on May 24-25, 2023. This event will feature the latest thinking, interactive exhibits, and expert speakers from the industry and abroad. We will be looking to the future, addressing complex issues relating to staffing, compliance and business practices. It will provide a unique opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts to network, learn and discover new opportunities in our constantly evolving industry.
The lifting equipment industry is a fast-growing and dynamic industry, and the event at the Sydney Maritime Museum on May 24-25 2023 provides a platform to learn about the latest advancements and network with industry peers and guests. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and learn about the latest trends and innovations in the industry.
If you only attend one event this year, LiftEx Sydney is the event to be at.
Registrations and further information will be available at LiftEx Australia-Australian National Maritime Museum, 2023.