Columbus McKinnon introduces the first Electric Chain Hoist on the market with remote monitoring and wireless programming
Industry-leading CM® Lodestar® VS now features Intelli-Connect™ Diagnostics and Analytics for quick and easy hoist maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting wirelessly from the plant floor
Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling, today announced that its Intelli-Connect™ Diagnostics and Analytics technology is now available on the CM® Lodestar® VS Electric Chain Hoist. When Intelli-Connect is paired with the Lodestar VS and its variable frequency drive (VFD), this hoist is the only chain hoist that allows operators to wirelessly program the hoist and access detailed diagnostic and analytic information right from the plant floor on a smartphone or tablet. IntelliConnect is available as an option on all new Lodestar VS units or in retrofit kits for units already in the field.
“By combining the capabilities of Intelli-Connect with the Lodestar VS, we’ve made it easier than ever to program, maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot your hoist,” said Bryan Holby, senior global product manager, powered chain hoists. “Customers can get insight into how their hoist is operating to easily and proactively monitor performance and schedule maintenance, helping them address issues more quickly, keep operators safer and ultimately reduce downtime.”
Intelli-Connect eliminates the need to connect a tablet or PC to the hoist with a cord. Now, users can access information wirelessly through the Intelli-Connect Mobile or Mobile+ apps from their mobile device. Intelli-Connect Mobile offers a wide range of functionality, including hoist programming and monitoring, access to manuals, parameter file storage, and over-the-air software updates, plus easy contact with the service team. Intelli-Connect Mobile+ offers all the capabilities of Intelli-Connect Mobile, plus advanced diagnostics and analytics. This includes continuous equipment monitoring complete with long-term performance information, such as runs, faults, alarms, and VFD status variables like fault codes, motor voltage, current, available hoist operating life, and more.
The Intelli-Connect Mobile app is available as a free download on Google Play or the Apple® App Store®. Users can upgrade to Intelli-Connect Mobile+ functionality for a one-time fee through the app. Columbus McKinnon’s powered chain hoists are known throughout the material handling industry for their strength, reliability, and high-quality performance.
