About ALL

The product, which will be available in 500 lb. and 1,000 lb. capacities, meets the unique material, dimension, and lifting requirements of these markets. The water and wastewater sector typically specifies type 304 and 316 stainless steel; the latter is a requirement in coastal and marine applications.

Richard Miller, sales manager at OZ Lifting, said: “The latest addition to our product range has its perfect launchpad — WEFTEC — where water quality professionals gather to find material handling and other solutions for the special demands of their work. The stainless steel davit crane will be of interest to many markets, but it will be especially relevant to the wastewater industry.”

Full-scale production is expected to commence in time for OZ Lifting to deliver stock to its distribution network prior to Q1 2026. The stainless steel davit crane will be compatible with the pedestal, socket, wall mount, and wheel bases for ultimate flexibility when looking to install the system in a variety of locations and applications.

Full davit crane range

Already familiar to WEFTEC attendees is the Tele-Pro davit crane range, which is available in 500 lb., 1,200 lb. and 2,500 lb. capacities, and allows users to leverage the benefits of the company’s other davits, while telescoping the boom in and out under load. The series remains an excellent fit for wastewater and water treatment applications, where operators often encounter varying lift points, obstructions, or changing reach requirements during maintenance.

Miller said: “This feature allows plant personnel to fine-tune the boom length mid-lift, without having to stop and re-rig, improving efficiency and reducing downtime. It’s particularly useful for tasks like pulling pumps, mixers, or screens from wet wells or clarifiers, where conditions can change quickly and precise positioning is critical.”

Also popular among wastewater professionals are the CompOZite and CompOZite Elite davit cranes. The 1,200-lb. capacity CompOZite davit crane is renowned for being ultra-lightweight and having exceptional corrosion resistance. It is made from advanced composite material and weighs only 83 lb. The carbon fiber CompOZite Elite, meanwhile, is the world’s most innovative davit crane, offering the same capacity as the CompOZite, but with a total crane weight of only 37 lbs.

Miller added: “All of our davit cranes are designed for quick, tool-free assembly and can be used across multiple interchangeable bases installed throughout a facility, making it easy to service pumps, mixers, and equipment in different locations. The advanced composite material and carbon fiber are not only incredibly strong but also corrosion-resistant, ensuring long service life even in harsh, high-moisture, or chemical-rich environments, typical of wastewater plants.”

OZ Lifting will also show its complete stainless series, including push beam trolleys, beam clamps, chain hoists, lever hoists, and winches. All manual winches on display can be drill driven and include a drill drive adapter, making the job easier and more efficient for the operator. Like the new stainless davit, these solutions are engineered for corrosion resistance, low maintenance, and long service life in harsh water environments. They are compact, lightweight, and durable, making them ideal for confined spaces and demanding lift points. Together, they combine to give operators a versatile, site-ready arsenal to handle virtually any lifting requirement.

Miller will be joined in Chicago by Steve Napieralski, president; and Parker Hale, inside sales specialist.

See OZ Lifting at WEFTEC Booth 5806.

NOMAD Cranes provide flexible solutions for manufacturers when needs change, or when traditional building supported overhead crane installation is either difficult or impractical.

NOMAD Cranes are available for one, two, three or four-cell manufacturing systems, with safety-enclosed-type runway electrification brackets welded on runway beams, and with the conductor bars installed in the field as standard. Each system comes complete with mounting plates, bolts and bumpers and with top running end-truck travel speeds of 80 or 120 FPM (VFD). Wire rope hoists provide lifting speeds of 16/2.6 FPM with trolley speeds of 65 FPM (VFD). Bridge conductor cables are pre-wired to quick disconnect plugs.

NOMAD Crane Solutions come standard with radio control. Each system comes complete with a hand-held AAA operated radio controller. Rechargeable models are optional. A back-up pushbutton station can be provided as an option.

About Engineered Material Handling

EMH, Engineered Material Handling, headquartered in Valley City, Ohio, designs, sells and manufactures a complete line of overhead material handling equipment solutions for loads from 25 lbs. to 300 tons, serving a variety of industries with Bridge Cranes, Gantry Cranes, Jib Cranes, Freestanding Cranes, Workstation Cranes, and Crane Kits, plus custom and standard Wire Rope Hoists and End Trucks. EMH is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

About Sheffield Forgemasters

• • Sheffield Forgemasters specialises in the design and manufacture of high-integrity forgings and castings for the world’s most complex engineering challenges
  • The company operates a fully integrated end-to-end manufacturing process, including steel-making, forge, foundry, machining and testing, from a single site in Sheffield.
  • Some of the largest bespoke engineered steel products in the world are produced with capacity for castings of up to 350 tonnes and forgings of up to 200 tonnes finished weight.
  • Global markets include Defence, Civil Nuclear, Offshore, Power Generation, Renewables, Steel Plant, Steel Processing and Ingot & Bar.
  • The company was acquired in August 2021 by the Ministry of Defence who intend to make significant investments to re-capitalise defence-critical plant and equipment on site.

At this year’s AUTOMATE, Siemens is presenting Siemens Xcelerator for Digital Drivetrain,
its comprehensive and integrated digitalization offering along the drivetrain value chain comprised of two areas: Drivetrain Design (dimensioning and simulation) and Drivetrain Health (connectivity and optimization).

Drivetrain Design includes engineering and simulation tools for the efficient dimensioning, validation, testing, virtual commissioning, and optimization of drivetrains in the design phase of a machine or system.

Drivetrain Health offers hardware- and software-based sensor and connectivity solutions for data acquisition as well as coordinated analysis software tools. These tools provide insights into the behavior of the drivetrain and enable powerful condition monitoring. Siemens is thus demonstrating how customers can combine the real and digital worlds of drive technology to achieve efficiency and sustainability along the entire drivetrain value chain.

DriveSim Engineer for efficient selection, validation, virtual commissioning,
and optimization of drive systems

In the area of simulation and virtual commissioning, Siemens is launching DriveSim Engineer, the successor to DriveSim Advanced. DriveSim Engineer makes it possible to create a digital twin of the drive in a virtual environment with all the parameters and configurations that correspond to the real drive. In addition to the new SINAMICS S210 series, the new SINAMICS G220 frequency converters are now also available in the tool. Digital twin technology and the intuitive user interface allow users to simulate, commission, and optimize the behavior of drive systems in a virtual environment before installing them in the real world. This significantly increases efficiency and productivity in the engineering of drive systems and machines.

Thanks to its integration in TIA Portal (Startdrive), DriveSim Engineer is a seamless part of (virtual) commissioning and makes training in additional tools superfluous. Users benefit from shorter commissioning times, more accuracy in detecting and resolving potential problems with drive systems, and real-time insights and analyses for improving the overall performance of drive systems.

Intelligent condition monitoring for a healthy drivetrain

Siemens is presenting two intelligent solution packages for high-performance condition monitoring: a cloud-based solution and a PC-based solution. The two complement each other and can be used according to requirements. With Drivetrain Analyzer Cloud, Siemens combines the two applications Analyze MyDrives and Sidrive IQ Fleet into one innovative app. In addition to a new user interface, Drivetrain Analyzer Cloud offers users the option of connecting various drive components such as variable frequency drives, motors or other rotating machines to a drivetrain and monitoring the drivetrain’s status.

Another new product is the Connection Module IOT (CM IOT), which can be installed and put into operation in just a few minutes. Highlights include the improved, additional sensor technology, the new alternative energy concept via an external 24V connection, and a housing and component update. The module measures raw data and automatically transfers it to the cloud. Drivetrain Analyzer Cloud provides immediate information about anomalies and specific error patterns such as bearing damage, imbalances, or misalignments, thereby helping to prevent unplanned downtime. The cost-efficient solution combines condition monitoring with decarbonization by supplying the user with important additional data and energy costs. Another new feature is pump analytics, which Drivetrain Analyzer Cloud can use to calculate and analyze system efficiency and specific pump parameters.

In addition to the cloud solution, Siemens is also presenting another new product, a PC-based condition monitoring solution consisting of three components: the new VIB (Vibration) and FPP (Fast Process Parameters) (CM FPP) connection modules, the Drivetrain Analyzer X-Tools software, and the corresponding sensors and sensor cables. The CM VIB and CM FPP connectivity modules record vibration and analog signals at a sampling rate of
96 kHz. All sensor information can be recorded and transmitted synchronously.

Now users can also analyze high-speed, intermittent machines such as automotive presses, cranes, or machine tools with two synchronous axes. Drivetrain Analyzer X-Tools is an expert tool for highly dynamic data acquisition up to 192 kHz as well as for manual data analysis. Because X-Tools can connect to almost any data source, users can ideally use X-Tools as an analytics toolbox to link their own analytics with elements of a preconfigured library.

For example, the software can be used to monitor bearing temperature, housing vibrations, and oil lubrication, meaning pressure and flow, in heavy machinery equipped with plain bearings. In this way, Drivetrain Analyzer X-Tools and the new connectivity modules contribute to higher machine availability, better performance, and a longer system service life.

With Siemens Xcelerator for Digital Drivetrain, Siemens is introducing a comprehensive range of IoT-capable hardware and software for the entire drivetrain from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio for the first time in the US at AUTOMATE 2024.

A new PC-based condition monitoring solution consisting of three components: the new VIB (Vibration) and FPP (Fast Process Parameters) (CM FPP) connection modules, the Drivetrain Analyzer X-Tools software, and the corresponding sensors and sensor cables.

About Siemens Digital Industries (DI)

Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 75,000 employees internationally.

About Siemens Corporation

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. Siemens also owns a majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, a globally leading medical technology provider shaping the future of healthcare. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power. In fiscal 2022, which ended on September 30, 2022, Siemens Group USA generated revenue of $18.6 billion and employs approximately 45,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

EMH’s newest NOMAD XW Free-Standing Cranes expand and extend capabilities. With NOMAD XW, overall widths of up to 60 feet with overall heights up to 25 feet and capacities from 2 tons up to 20 tons are now possible.

Reasons for Rust Removal

There are two types of companies that will typically benefit most from setting up a VpCI^®-422 rust removal station:

1. Those that provide services to heavy industry (entire companies can be based on rust removal).
2. Those that want to make better use of maintenance budgets by in-house chemical rust removal instead of more labor-intensive options.

Purposes for rust removal include everything from touching up the occasional rusty part that maintenance teams encounter around the plant, to reclaiming millions of dollars’ worth of inventory that has been sitting in poor storage conditions at an oil and gas facility. In each case, the underlying goal is to preserve the value of the component and extend its service life by restoring it to usable condition.

Choosing Rust Removal Equipment and Location

Rust removal setups range from simple to complex depending on the size of the components and the length of the job. For example, a one-time job to clean up a handful of rusty parts around the facility may only mean that maintenance needs three dishpans and a mesh steamer basket to dip and remove very small items such as nuts and bolts. Another option for sporadic rust removal is to place the rust removal solutions in portable self-contained units that can be moved from one part of the plant to another without spilling concerns. If rust removal is a recurring activity, workers may want to install permanent tubs in a designated area. In some cases, tubs will need to be large enough to hold a giant gear or valve, and cranes may be needed to raise and lower the part. If desired, bubblers and heaters can be added to speed up the rust removal action of VpCI^®-422.

Identifying the Stages of Rust Removal

Before setting up a VpCI^®-422 rust removal station, workers should identify how many stages of the process are needed. At minimum, there should be three: VpCI^®-422, rinsewater, and an alkaline cleaning fluid (e.g., VpCI^®-41x Series). However, workers should first ask if the parts are dirty or greasy, in which case a precleaning stage is needed to degrease and rinse the parts before dipping them in VpCI^®-422 (which removes rust but not dirt or grease). Following rust removal, a preservation step is often critical to preserve what was restored.

How to Remove Rust

Once the stations are set up, rust removal proceeds as follows:

• Clean and degrease the part if needed.
• Immerse the part in VpCI^®-422 for one hour to 24 hours depending on the severity of the rust. Workers may check the components periodically to see how rust removal is proceeding.
• Dip the parts in plain water to rinse away any residual VpCI^®-422 and corrosion products so as not to contaminate the final neutralizing bath. At this stage, the worker can proceed to the final rinse or perform another round of rust removal.
• Dip satisfactory parts in an alkaline cleaner such as VpCI^®-414, which neutralizes the acid and inhibits flash rust.
• Dry the parts and preserve them against further rusting in storage or transit. This step can take a variety of forms, including dipping the part into a bath of VpCI^®-377 or BioCorr^® water-based rust preventatives or simply enclosing the dry part in VpCI^® Film and Bags or other VpCI^® packaging materials.

Ready, Set, Remove Rust!

Rust removal with VpCI^®-422 can make a major difference in a firm’s inventory value. By understanding the steps and equipment involved, companies can save asset value with a very simple process. Contact Cortec^® to learn more about setting up a rust removal station at your facility!

What is meant by ergonomics?

Ergonomics has several meanings, one of which is quite literal: the term is derived from the Greek words “ergon” and “nomos”. “Ergon” means work and “nomos” translates as law. The word ergonomics can therefore be translated as “law of work”. Another significant (and practical) definition of the term “ergonomics” is the mutual adaptation of people and their working conditions. Ergonomists try to design the workplace in such a way that it does not impair the physical or mental health of workers.

The same applies to welding workplaces. “These should be designed to meet the physical requirements of welders and enable predominantly focused work that does not cause fatigue,” emphasizes Peter Fronius, Head of Strategic Product Management Professional Welding Tools. “For example, by taking the height or arm reach of the welders into account. If workplaces do not satisfy ergonomic standards, the likelihood of sickness, injury, and absence through illness increases.” Of course, ergonomic risk factors cannot be eliminated every time and everywhere. This is the case for out-of-position welding, for example, whereby the aim must be to limit the time that the individual spends in the situation insofar as possible.

Risk factors when welding

Most causes of injury are not restricted to specific industries, but result from the movement and behavior patterns of welders. Typical here are repeatedly stretching the body, twisting the spine, being supported by or kneeling on hard surfaces, maintaining the same posture over a longer period of time, or a lack of rest. If such risk factors occur repeatedly (individually or in combination) they can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), in other words injuries and diseases that affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, intervertebral discs, skin, subcutaneous tissue, blood vessels, or bones. In addition to the causes previously mentioned, unfavorable environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures can also contribute to the development of MSDs, while personal risk factors such as physical condition, pre-existing illnesses, or age also come into play.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in welders

These disorders usually develop as a result of micro-traumas acting on the body over time and causing conditions such as lumbar slipped discs—the most common herniated discs due to the overall weight of the spine sitting most heavily on the two lower discs. These intervertebral discs consist of flexible, annular cartilage that contains semi-liquid gel. If a welder repeatedly lifts heavy components while adopting an unfavorable posture, this cartilage can degrade and tear over time. This results in the intervertebral disc bulging, pressing on a spinal nerve, and causing severe pain.

The most common musculoskeletal disorders include back injuries, bursitis, inflammation of the tendon and tendon sheath, carpal tunnel syndrome, and thoracic outlet syndrome. This disorder, which can occur due to compression of nerves, arteries, or large veins in the neck and chest area, is very painful and can be caused by frequent overhead welding.

Ergonomics and welding are not contradictory

Time and again, welders are forced to adopt unfavorable postures for a variety of tasks—frequently over long periods of time. It is often easier for the welder to move around large, heavy components themselves than to move the component into the optimum welding position. Is it therefore paradoxical to talk about ergonomics and welding in the same sentence? Absolutely not. Because despite all the hindrances, there are plenty of ways in which welding companies can design workplaces and work equipment ergonomically. Effort that is generally rewarded by a healthier workforce, better morale, higher productivity, and enhanced product quality. For example, height-adjustable welding tables and stools are tried and tested means of adapting the welding height to the physical requirements of welders.

Ideal for long seams: welding carriages

“Rather than welding meters of welds by hand in the overhead position, rail-guided welding carriages can often be used. The same applies to longitudinal seams and circumferential welds of large dimensions, which can be joined either with rail-guided carriages or with magnetic welding carriages. If mechanized systems like these are used, professional welders essentially only have to operate the remote control, while standing upright and with no physical exertion required,” explains Christian Neuhofer, Product Manager Fronius Welding Automation.

The compact Fronius FlexTrack 45 Pro can be used in a wide range of applications. Three different rail types are available to suit different requirements. In industries where surface geometries vary, such as shipbuilding or container construction, FlexTrack 45 Pro welding carriages are perfect for all-round use.

Welding 24/7 without physical effort

Nowadays, cobot welding cells mean that the automated welding even of small batch sizes is cost-effective. Thanks to its enormous flexibility for joining different components, the compact CWC-S from Fronius is the ideal tool for this. “It is easy to use, even without programming knowledge, and there is no physical effort required,” Neuhofer continues: “Your software remembers the welding sequences of the individual components, which are mounted either on a welding table or turn-tilt positioner. The components are welded fully autonomously in a protective cabin with an automatically closing and opening glare protection screen, which protects the welder from arc radiation—around the clock if necessary. If desired, the CWC-S can also be equipped with a fume extraction system.”

Heavy components should be lifted while fastened to lifting aids, such as indoor cranes, in order to protect the muscles and spine. This rule essentially applies to all lifting activities related to welding, because overloading the musculoskeletal system not only endangers health in the long term, but can also result in instant injuries such as lumbar syndrome, also commonly referred to as lumbago.

Orbital welding systems relieve the spine

Pipelines that are often used in the food industry or in power plant construction are produced using orbital welding, whereby the welding torch is guided around the pipe. They often have to be joined at unfavorable heights and positions, which can have an adverse effect on the welder’s back. Orbital systems, such as the open and closed welding heads from Fronius, provide a solution. If the pipe to be joined is clamped, the welding torch automatically moves around the component and welds the seam with consistently high quality.

Ergonomics at Fronius

The products of the Austrian technology pioneer have made a name for themselves not only for their technological finesse, but also for their user-friendliness. All welding torches, for example, are characterized by their low weight, comfortable handles, and user interfaces adapted to the tasks at hand. The ergonomic handles with non-slip components fit comfortably in the hand during welding and allow for safe and simple welding torch guidance, with ball joints facilitating optimum torch adjustment. Furthermore, the weight distribution of all torch components is well balanced, which promotes fatigue-free welding. With options such as a pistol grip, button extension, and heat shield available, our welding torches can be adapted to the personal use and safety needs of the welder.

Fronius also keeps usability in mind at all times when it comes to welding systems. In all compact systems, for example, the wirefeeder is integrated directly into the welding system housing, making them easier to use, especially when it comes to manual welding tasks.

Modularity combined with personal configuration and intuitive operating procedures are the keywords that we always focus on with our welding systems. The easier they are to use, the better professional welders can concentrate on the welding task at hand and keep their risk of injury low. Examples here include the systems in the TPS/i, TransSteel, and iWave series, whose touch-sensitive displays and dials are not only intuitive, but also easy to operate while wearing welding gloves.

Of course, the worker’s muscles and spine must also be protected, which is why Fronius welding systems have customized transport trolleys that accommodate the welding system, cooling unit, wirefeeder, and gas cylinder. Easy to move around, they are better pushed than pulled, because constant pulling has a negative effect on the skeletal muscles.

Learning to weld without risking injury

With the Fronius Welducation Simulator, trainees can familiarize themselves with welding without any risk of injury. They create different welds without putting themselves at risk due to arc radiation and welding fume, using ergonomically shaped welding torches and while adopting different welding positions, including out-of-position welding postures. The components used for the different simulations are not only handy, they are also made of lightweight plastic, which protects the muscles and spine of future welding experts.

In summing up, there are many ways in which to make the working environment of professional welders as safe and ergonomic as possible, and in doing so positively influence the working conditions and motivation of employees. This in turn enhances not only cost effectiveness for the company but also public perception.