Potain launches ECS smart control system for tower cranes

Manitowoc has introduced the Ergo Control System (ECS), a new operating and monitoring platform for Potain tower cranes aimed at emerging markets. The system becomes standard equipment on all next-generation Potain tower cranes manufactured at the factories in Zhangjiagang, China, and Pune, India, and the first ECS-equipped model is scheduled to launch later this year.

Two wires instead of dozens

At the heart of the system sits Controller Area Network (CAN) bus architecture. A single two-wire layout replaces the dozens of cables that would conventionally link a tower crane’s motors, sensors and switches, which Manitowoc says makes the crane faster to erect, lighter, more reliable and simpler to troubleshoot. The reduced wiring also leaves the system easy to expand when new functions are added later.

The central controller connects through the CAN wiring to the slewing, hoisting, luffing and trolleying drives, as well as to control units, load sensors, limiters and encoders. When something does go wrong, the ECS highlights the operational issue and recommends the steps needed to resolve it, cutting fault-finding time for technicians.

Touchscreen in the cab

The operator works the system through a Human Machine Interface in the cab: a 13.3-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The display shows the crane’s status and performance in real time, including wind speed, working radius, load on the hook and slewing angle. Eight display screens give access to crane data, operating preferences, zoning functions and display settings, while additional control modes with extended functionality are reserved for technicians and fleet administrators.

Driving behaviour is customisable: operators can raise or lower the movement speeds of the crane in the settings, maximising pace for duty-cycle work or slowing everything down for precise positioning. A data-logging function records historical operating data to support fleet management.

“The Potain ECS represents a significant advance in the operation, management, and maintenance of tower cranes for emerging markets. There’s greater control for the operator, faster troubleshooting for the technician, and better data for the owner. As construction, energy, and infrastructure projects advance across emerging markets, Potain is bringing new technology to drive greater efficiency on tomorrow’s jobsites.”

— Leong Kwong-Joon, regional product manager for tower cranes in Asia, Manitowoc

The ECS also speeds up commissioning. According to Manitowoc, the simplified installation shortens the time needed to get a newly erected crane working, while guided sensor calibration for radius, height, slewing and load is handled directly from the screen.