Kinesys at PLASA London 2013

Motion control specialist Kinesys will be highlighting three products at this year's PLASA London show, October 6 - 9 at ExCeL London.

• The GIS 250kg BGV-C1 39m/min hoist which is integrated with Kinesys' Evo controllers, complete with a SIL3 E-Stop system and optional full SIL3 functionality
• Kinesys' DigiHoist system which supports positioning encoders and Vector/K2 control and is fully compliant with British BS7906:2005 and German SQ P2:2010 codes of practice covering Cat A and D8+ systems respectively
• Kinesys LibraWATCH multiplatform load monitoring software which is now available in over 10 languages.

The GIS 250kg BGV-C1 39m/min hoist when integrated with Kinesys' Evo drive, including a SIL3 E-Stop system, according to the company, is both fast and safe.

The integration of the SIL3 (Safety Integrity Level 3) emergency stop is intended to meet today's rigorous safety requirements. Designed to comply with BGV C1, EVO offers true zero speed performance -- allowing the motors to "hover" without brakes being applied -- for the subtle slow movement cues and instantaneous reaction.

An integrated loadcell provides precise load information for both the controller and the operator, while incremental and absolute encoders offer ultra accurate and secure positioning. Standard 32A 3-phase Ceeform power can be daisy chained through the controllers for ease of cabling, and communication is via high-speed Ethernet. The Evo controller also features an on-board display and manual controls.

A rugged aluminium enclosure houses the controller, offering truss and rack mounting variations, all possible utilizing the same case.

Kinesys' DigiHoist fixed-speed chain hoist control systems offer BS7906:2005 compliance. Adaptability has been further boosted with a positioning and Ethernet option allowing DigiHoist controllers to offer accurate load positioning via encoders installed in the chain hoists the unit is controlling. Data from the encoders is fed directly into the DigiHoist controller which can then have upper and lower software limits programmed to prevent over-travel of the hoist. DigiHoist will also stop all movement if the system detects a lack of hoist movement or movement in the wrong direction. DigiHoist also offers Kinesys LibraCELL load cell reading capabilities, providing a full range of safety monitoring features for complex lifting requirements.

Additionally, Ethernet connectivity allows for multiple DigiHoists to communicate with LibraWATCH, LibraWIFI and Kinesys' K2, and Vector automation control software platforms, so the DigiHoist can easily become part of a much larger -- and fully integrated -- networked automation system.

Being fully compliant with British BS7906:2005 for Category A and the German SQ P2:2010 code of practice for D8+ means DigiHoist can now be used for lifting and suspending complex loads above people as part of a fit-up or breakdown operation.

The latest LibraWATCH software update offers a new, straightforward and stylishly designed user interface. New features include a multipage view, the ability to drag and drop cells in the stage plan, and ten languages plus English, reflecting the growth of Kinesys' business internationally.

Multipage view gives users the option to have the graphic, table, and plan views all together on one screen and adds an interactive wheel button in the middle to enable users to drag and select the desired size of each screen as well as re-ordering screens. The user's configuration of the screen is auto-saved when LibraWATCH is closed and the next time the software is launched it continues exactly as it was left.

A drag and drop feature has been added into the stage plan view. Users can still enter the coordinates manually within the channel setup if they wish, but now they have a better visual representation when dealing with load cells, what the company says "makes setting up a show easier, more dynamic, and very intuitive."

The bypass option is another new LibraWATCH update that lets the user temporarily bypass load cells or groups for load-in operations. When a cell or group is bypassed, the channel will not trip the LibraPRO's relays or those within LibraWATCH's notifications or alarms. Bypassed cells are easily identified at all times within the LibraWATCH interface and the function is not saved once the system is powered down. This last detail ensures that when the system is powered up, rig monitoring is always fully enabled.

New language packs for LibraWATCH make the software multi-lingual so touring and monitoring the loads of rigs in different countries is much more accessible. LibraWATCH can be displayed in English, Russian, Portuguese, Finnish, Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.