HoistCam On Show At AISTech This Week

Netarus LLC, maker of the HoistCam remote camera monitoring systems, will showcase the new HC180 rugged wireless camera system and the Low Profile HC140 (Gen3) at AISTech, Iron & Steel Technology Conference May 7-10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Designed for environments demanding visibility, durability, and reliability, the wireless camera systems, accessed via a screen in the overhead crane operator’s cab, make ideal operator aids. See HoistCam at Booth 3230.

“In steel mill applications, load placement can be dangerous or precarious,” says Chris Machut, Chief Technology Officer for Netarus. “Both the HC180 and HC140 are designed to improve operator visibility of the load while delivering performance that can standup to the severe environments of steel mills,” he said.

The armored dome design facilitates picking and placing of heavyweight materials with overhead cranes by providing the crane operator with a view of activity below the hook.

The HoistCam HC180 armored dome camera lens protector features day and night vision for improved visibility in changing light conditions. The dome is made from impact-resistant polycarbonate and provides added camera protection during repetitive lifting, common in overhead crane applications. 

Often, operators are solely relying on someone else’s eyes to direct the crane positioning, which creates visibility challenges. When a spotter is not available, the crane operator has to decide how to handle the pick. In a finishing mill where various attachments, such as grapples, J-hooks, and Heppenstahl attachments are used on a regular basis, the HoistCam HC180 camera system gives the operator the ability to a make better, more informed decisions in moving loads. The armored dome design facilitates picking and placing of heavyweight materials with overhead cranes by providing the crane operator with a view of activity below the hook. 

HoistCam HC180 has a magnetic mounting system, a rechargeable battery (with a run time of 8 to 24 hours), and a wirelesss transmitter. Video is displayed in the tower crane cab on a 9.7-inch display with heavy-duty RAM suction-cup mount. When there is no spotter on the ground, a camera mounted on the trolley of the overhead crane gives the operator a direct line of site around loads.

The HoistCam HC180 armored dome camera lens protector features day and night vision for improved visibility in changing light conditions.

HoistCam’s new Low Profile HC140 (Gen3) now has an upgraded connection point and 360 degree lens rotation. “This allows the operator the flexibility to position and orient the view at virtually any angle that suits the needs of the application,” says Machut  When the application changes, the operator can readjust the camera’s perspective by manually loosening a screw on the camera, adjusting the camera’s orientation, and re-tightening the screw. The lower profile design was achieved by relocating the connector for the camera so that it attaches at the Video Transmission Box (VTB). A unique magnetic mounting system allows the camera to be installed at various locations on the equipment.

Optional remote monitoring and recording are possible for either device with Netarus’s HoistCam Director, which enables construction managers to view and manage the jobsite remotely. Information about current real-time overhead crane activities improves factory work flow and can be used for risk management and accident prevention/ investigation activities. HoistCam Director transfers video and images to a mobile digital video recorder (MDVR), which captures and stores data from up to eight HoistCam cameras. The MDVR can be configured to automatically upload to the cloud for analysis or archive.