EC: Harmony eXLhoist

Hardware — HMI, Operator Interface, Thin-client: Harmony eXLhoist brings intuitive ease to remote control of cranes, while also helping to protect the operator and machine. This is a Control Engineering 2015 Engineers’ Choice finalist.

By Control Engineering October 20, 2014

Combining ergonomic design, long battery life, and a SIL3 wireless emergency stop, the Harmony eXLhoist brings intuitive ease to remote control of cranes, while also helping to protect the operator and machine. The ergonomic design of Harmony eXLhoist maximizes comfort of use and the smart position of buttons enables easy one-handed control of the station, allowing the operator to control a complex series of maneuvers with just one thumb and give their full attention to the hoisted load.

A wireless SIL3-certified emergency stop is placed at the base of the station grip, within easy reach of the operator. Additionally, Harmony eXLhoist integrates SIL1 protection against unintended use-critical crane maneuvers are unlocked by simultaneous pressing of two buttons.

The estimated battery recharge time for Harmony eXLhoist is only 15 minutes, which is minimal when compared to the average recharge time of 3 hours for similar available devices. Combined with long battery runtime of up to 30 hours on a single charge, it delivers an unmatched level of application availability. Longterm battery life is also unprecedented-up to five years, achieving nearly double the life span of similar available devices.

Additionally, the Harmony eXLhoist is the first wireless remote control for hoisting applications available globally from a general automation supplier. Operating on the international 2.4 GHz frequency, it delivers global compatibility and universal protection against interference, enabling simultaneous operation of up to 50 wireless devices.

Schneider Electric

www.schneider-electric.com