Winvic Construction has taken delivery of the UK's first Skyline Cockpit allowing the operation of a site’s tower cranes from the site hut at ground level.
The cockpit control centre
The unit has been installed on the Crown Place project in Birmingham where Winvic is building a 33 storey accommodation unit, ultimately housing 814 students. The implementation started with a 12 week trial, in conjunction with a 14 tonne Potain MR225 tower, installed at an initial height of 77 metres. The company has decided to complete the job with the Cockpit, as the crane is extended to 102 metres as the project progresses.
The remote ‘cab’ has the same joysticks and controls as the crane's cab, but with wrap around display screens in place of windows, fed by seven cameras on the crane to provide the operator with simultaneous 360 degree views. It also uses augmented reality (AR) to display the hoist line, hook and load as well as real time indicators including wind speed, slew, lifting, hoist, jib and radius data.
Winvic managing director Mark Jones said: “We are pleased to be the first contractor in the UK to utilise ground control tower crane technology. It is transformational for the safety and wellbeing of crane operators and an important step for the industry. During our 12 week trial period, in collaboration with Skyline Cockpit and Radius Group, we analysed the data and assessed the benefits, and we’re delighted to announce that we will continue to use this game changing technology for the remainder of the project’s construction.”
The Crown Place student accommodation
Alan Pulver from the client Crown Student Living added: “Winvic is forward thinking, and it is no surprise that they are using Skyline Cockpit which sounds like a winner, we are proud to be associated both with this ground breaking venture.”
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