Anti-collision systems manage risk

At ConExpo last month, AMCS technologies unveiled its DCS 61-S (Driving Control System Safety) anti-collision and zoning system that is now available for the international market. At the show, the American Cranes and Transport team sat down with AMCS technologies CEO Mohamed Chettibi and Sales Director Radoine Bouajaj to learn the ins and outs of the new system and find out what else the company has in store for 2020.

“We had many customers asking for a system that can manage the risk of collision between mobile and tower cranes,” said Bouajaj. “Until today, no one could offer it on the market. We just finished all the development and testing in the field, and now it is available. This is something huge in the industry of anti-collision.”

A fleet of devices

Available for use in both Europe and North America, the DCS 61-S is a safety system designed to ensure the execution of orders to manage machines in interference and operating in the area of tower cranes. The system intervenes on the controlled mechanisms of the crane to ensure a slowdown and/or a complete immobilization of the lifting machine at a pre-set distance from the obstacle.

The DCS 61-S can detect the risk of a crane collision based on a variety of factors, in real time. For example, scenarios involving cable on jib, cable on counter-jib, or even detecting the risk of entering a prohibited area such as schools, railways or roads can be anticipated. In the event that any incident occurs on the jobsite, AMCS technologies can hold an investigation with the customer, who can then share information and statistics with the end-user. While the system has not yet been installed on wind farm applications, the DCS 61-S has been successfully fitted in cranes for the construction of nuclear power plants, electric power plants, stadium work and other large projects.

“With our new product, anything is possible with the open system that can be completely adapted to the needs of a customer,” added Bouajaj.

During the second quarter of 2020, AMCS technologies also plans to launch its own telematics system, IoT Lifting, in combination with its mobile application. The DCS 61-S anti-collision systems can be equipped with a SIM card that can be used to collect precise data on each crane on a web portal. This data comes from when the crane is powered, in motion and in weathervane, in addition to the ability to generate personalized statistics for each jobsite and company. The main objectives of the IoT telematic system are to follow the productivity of the construction site within a remote capacity, and to know the exact activity of the cranes every day.

“You can have a view of all your jobsites, everywhere and you can control, edit and manage your own fleet of devices,” said Chettibi. “If you have an operator who is asking for help, you can access their display directly inside the cab, in real time.”

Technology toolbox

Another new innovation from AMCS technologies includes a jobsite supervisor with a BIM option, known as the SUP BIM. This supervision tool makes it possible to follow the progress and production of the site in real time. This is recreated virtually by integrating the real types, brands and models of cranes on the site plan and in their real environment including buildings and roads. However, despite all these moving parts, the core business of AMCS technologies is still and will remain anti-collision.

“If you don’t have a good system to avoid collision between two cranes, all of the rest of it is for nothing,” said Bouajaj. “So, you will need to have an active, reliable, anti-collision method. We have created a whole experience. We listened to the market and to our customers and created a variety of innovations surrounding anti-collision. Everyone wants to have better images of their own jobsites to see the productivity and data. So, we have developed the tools to allow you to do exactly that.”