Konecranes has rolled out a new semi-automated heavy forklift tailored for the steel distribution industry, designed to handle 30-ton steel coils in high-density storage environments. Handling massive coils is a notoriously dangerous and time-consuming process, requiring operators to manually perform intricate micro-adjustments to align the forks precisely into the eye of the coil while fighting the extreme pendulum effect of the suspended load. Konecranes' new platform utilizes active sway control and laser-guided fork positioning to automate these delicate maneuvers.
The forklift is equipped with a heavy-duty laser array mounted on the fork carriage. As the operator drives toward a stored coil, the lasers project a precise grid across the face of the coil, immediately identifying the exact center point of the coil eye. The machine's onboard controller takes over the hydraulic side-shift and tilt functions, automatically aligning the forks horizontally and vertically. The operator simply drives forward, and the forks slide perfectly into the coil eye without a single manual joystick correction.
Furthermore, the machine incorporates Konecranes' active load sway control system. When lifting or transporting a heavy coil, the mass acts as a massive pendulum. The forklift's control module utilizes mathematical modeling to predict the swing of the load based on the machine's acceleration and braking inputs. If the operator executes a hard stop, the system autonomously commands micro-movements of the mast and drive motors to counteract the kinetic energy, neutralizing the coil's swing within seconds.
By automating the alignment process and stabilizing the load, Konecranes is allowing steel yards to store coils much closer together, as operators no longer need wide safety margins for manual maneuvering. This increases storage capacity by up to 20% while drastically reducing the risk of dropped loads and structural damage to the racking.
