Montana Operating Engineers acquire Vortex Crane Simulator

CMLabs, a training-solution company for heavy equipment operation, announced that the Montana Operating Engineers (MTOE) had acquired a new Vortex Crane Simulator. MTOE will add to their existing crane training program by providing simulation-based training for union members, helping them acquire more comprehensive skills, which will result in more experienced operators and safer working conditions, according to CMLabs.

The Vortex simulator allows students to gain easy access to realistic machine training without the cost and environmental impact of operating actual heavy equipment, the company said.

With the Vortex Crane Simulator, IUOE apprentices and operators will learn how to use the equipment in increasingly challenging training exercises. High-resolution virtual worksites, realistic crane and load dynamics, authentic crane controls and challenging heavy-lift exercises provide students with rich operational experience. To accelerate learning, exercises feature navigation aids, performance metrics, and a playback review mode for team evaluation purposes. Instructors can introduce equipment failures, difficult weather conditions and other challenges to teach students to properly and safely react to situations that may arise on a worksite.

"We are eager to provide simulation-based training to our members, so we are pleased to be working with the Vortex team," said Quinton Farr, director of Training, Montana Operating Engineers Apprenticeship and Training. "The Vortex Crane Simulator provides the benefits we targeted for our crane operator program: to bring our training into the 21st century, to increase operator safety, to green the program, and to do all this as cost-effectively as possible."

Vortex Crane Simulators provide practical and in-depth work exercises, and includes typical mobile crane operations such as hook management, load handling, operating around structures, pipe handling, concrete bucket manipulation, tower crane erection and disassembly, and window cleaning, the company said.

Many features enhance learning, including performance indicators, navigation aids, safe response to faults, and scenario playback review. The simulator features wide-screen HD display, actual crane levers, pedals, and Load Moment Indicator (LMI) to prepare students for real work conditions.

The simulator simulates dynamic behavior of the crane and hoisting systems, outrigger usage, the back drive from the load, and engine power performance under varying loads. It also allows trainers to monitor and evaluate student performances, introduce faults and equipment failures, signal operations, and manage the simulator environment, the company said.