FASSI “DRIVING INNOVATION” for safety and full control

Fassi Gru is looking to the future by adopting digital innovation and mechatronics, introducing applications and technologies to support human labour.

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In a recent meeting with the Italian specialised press, Rossano Ceresoli, R&D Technical Director at Fassi, explained the design philosophy that drives Fassi's development and research work: “Innovation is achieved in different ways: from new steels to the development of innovative hydraulic controls and the study of the sensors that control them. All this is called mechatronic development, but the real revolution lies in having shifted perspective: a crane is no longer just a working tool, but an extension of the user's will and perception. This is an innovative concept where the operator becomes the centre of our design efforts. It has led to the development of increasingly intuitive human-machine interfaces and systems that allow the operator to converse and communicate with the machine. This enables them to keep risks under control and to receive continuous feedback on working conditions”.

An example that illustrates this is the work of tinsmiths who mount covers on roofs. They are almost always located at the installation site, well away from the cranes and trucks, because they need to be there to ensure the precision of the operation. They can do this in complete safety because all the systems developed by Fassi Gru guarantee total control of the crane and the vehicle even if they are not in their immediate vicinity. This is just one example of how Fassi aims to address working problems in a different and innovative way, always focusing on the operator and understanding how to support them even if they are wary of electronic controls, which is often the case as they are used to working with “old-fashioned” cranes.

Below is a brief presentation of some devices, developed internally by Fassi, which are activated by radio control or with selectors, in order to help the operator with both control and safety aspects. Predictive diagnostics, connectivity between machines, load displacement control and cabin safety are just some of the innovative features that give even more value to the operator's work.

FX-Link. A system developed with the aim of optimising connectivity between the crane and truck. In practice, controlling the truck from the crane radio control unit and the crane status from the truck dashboard, developing new integrated command/control features.

AWC, Automatic Winch Control. Through a network of dedicated wireless sensors, this system monitors movements and variations of the crane’s extensions, maintaining a constant distance between the eye of the pulley on the tip of the crane and the lifting hook. When the movements require a variation in outreach or position with respect to the vertical plane of the secondary arm, the system automatically activates the winch, adjusting the length of cable which is unwound.

ACF, Automatic Crane Folding This new system allows the crane to be opened and closed automatically, to activate the return to rest sequence in particular. ACF must operate without any load and following the retraction of the booms (both on the extension and the crane itself). Before activating the automatic closing sequence, the system always pressurises the booms on the crane and the hydraulic extension.

CCD, Cabin Collision Detection. The system uses position sensors to control the movement of the crane arms, detecting the distance from the truck cabin and automatically blocking them when they come too close and constitute a danger. The movement of the column is controlled by rotation sensors, which halt operations, thus avoiding collisions.

IMC, Integral Machine Control. An innovative integral control system, the digital brain of Fassi cranes that, through sophisticated electronics, coordinates and manages the best operating conditions in addition to the safety devices on the crane. This ensures optimal machine performance and control with respect to working situations. IMC uses a CAN-bus system to communicate between the system’s peripheral sensors.

GAS, Grabe Automatic Shake. An adjustable and automatic shake system for the bucket, which allows it to be gradually emptied, controlled from the radio control unit. This operation takes place gradually, even at high speeds, through the automatic control of the bucket's opening and closing movements. The system is also effective during multiple manoeuvres and is not influenced by Flow Sharing or dynamics.

FX901, Touch Screen Display. A 7” colour graphic display with touchscreen technology that allows the operator to view detailed information on the stabilisation and working conditions of the crane.

IoC, Internet of Cranes. With this system patented by Fassi, all the cranes equipped with the special device are “online”, allowing the operator to count on a constantly active support service that optimises time and maintenance costs. The system manages all the information obtainable on crane operation in order to offer the operator or support centre the advantages of a machine equipped with intelligent logic that is active during its use.