CATTRON^® is a world leader in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of radio and infrared Portable Remote Control Systems, RF data links, and related products. Remote Controls allow the maneuvering of equipment from a distance, thereby removing the individual from potentially dangerous situations. By increasing operator safety, plant productivity also increases. CATTRON^® Portable Remote Controls can be used on many types of equipment including: overhead cranes, locomotives and other railroad equipment; mining, military test, materials handling; and agricultural equipment. CATTRON ^® Portable Remote Controls are sold and serviced exclusively through the CATTRON^® Worldwide Service Distribution Alliance.

Portable Remote Controls for Overhead Cranes

A growing number of crane, hoist and monorail users are now specifying remote control technology for new installations, and retrofitting existing cab and pendant cranes for cordless control. CATTRON^® remote controls offer many advantages over pendant or cab control of overhead cranes, including:

Safety. Pendant operators are restricted to a narrow range of movement relative to the load. Often, they are directly beneath the load they're moving, as well as other loads passing overhead, posing a serious safety risk. And only rarely are they able to position themselves at the best possible distance or angle to track its movement.

Similarly, cab operators also have their view of the load obstructed, and must rely on hand signals from the floor. Misinterpreted signals can lead to accidents and serious injuries.

With remote control, the crane can be moved from a position that affords the operator the greatest degree of personal safety and also the best view of the load's movement.

Efficiency. Remote controls eliminate the need to thread a pendant cord between and over obstructions along the path of movement, and also free the operator from having to negotiate around obstacles on the floor.

Rather than moving in a series of right-angled steps, as must be done with a pendant control system, remote controls send the load by the most direct path. This is also a consideration as activities and the general layout of the floor change over time. Remote controls offer maximum flexibility to adapt to these changes.

Labor savings. Cab-controlled cranes require at least one other person on the floor to signal the operator. Conversion to a remote control system offers direct labor savings, since it requires only one man to move the load.

Further savings result when the operation of other functions is combined with that of the crane. From the same remote controller, an operator can operate both the crane and many other machines and processes, such as opening and closing of doors.