With nearly 270 years of hoisting technology experience, the J D Neuhaus company have pioneered many substantial innovations in the field of air powered handling equipment and are now acknowledged as global market leaders utilising this technology. Their impressive range of hoists, covering lift capacities from 250kg up to a full 100 tonnes, are used worldwide within many heavy-industry applications including shipbuilding and offshore, covering newbuild, refits and repair as well as dismantling. Typical shipyard external applications include the installation and disassembly of rudder blades, shafts and propellers, while internal work includes heavy components for the engine room drive equipment as well as drive shafts and other general fitting out or installation work.
Compared with electrically operated hoists, the JDN air powered equipment offers a wider range of operations that can be safely undertaken in outdoor damp, dirty or even hazardous area locations as well as indoor operation in dusty or potentially explosive atmospheres. Typical performance advantages include easy installation with robust, low-maintenance compact designs combining reduced weights and easy handling with 100% duty rating toughness. Operating air pressures range from 4 to 6 bar with lube-free performance ensuring non-pollution of the environment as exhaust air is oil-free. A range of optional pendant controllers are available to provide sensitive, infinitely variable speed controls for the safe and precise positioning of suspended loads. General insensitivity to dust, humidity and temperatures ranging from -20°C to +70°C helps to ensure an unlimited duty-cycle performance capacity.
The Profi Ti represents the major range of hoists in the JDN range. This covers a total of 19 products covering load capacities from 250kg up to an impressive 100 tonnes per unit. These hoists all incorporate a top suspension hook mounting so that multiple hoists can be utilised for single load handling, where oblique hoisting typically required for ship rudder or propeller mount/dismount operations can be accommodated (compliance with special safety precautions will also apply). These rugged products can also be used for horizontal pulling. Where horizontal movements of suspended loads up to 20 tonnes need to be accommodated, then the Profi Ti hoists can be mounted on trolley units for operation on overhead support rails even incorporating curves. The trolley horizontal movements can be achieved by manual, reel chain or fully motor operated, while anti-climb and anti-drop features are also incorporated. These are particularly suited for ship engine room operations where an optional low headroom trolley mount can also be made available.
These high performance, low-headroom products can be used with confidence in all areas where safety is a priority. They combine strength, reliability and speed with virtual silence of operation plus high speed lift and lower functions. For units up to 20 tonnes capacity an integrated emergency stop switch is incorporated into the main air supply. For all hoists over 1 tonne capacity, overload protection is provided as standard. Controlled load lowering in the event of total power loss can also be provided. The products are compact and based upon a modern design which minimises protruding parts which could be susceptible to damage. They offer fail-safe starting with a low maintenance vane motor. A planetary gearbox incorporates long-life grease lubrication while gears are manufactured from tempered or hardened high-grade steel. Load chains and hooks are also high tempered with a breaking strength of 5 x the nominal loads. An Ex classification according to EC Directive on Hazardous locations 94/9/EEC is provided as standard to levels Ex II 2 GD IIA T4 / II 3 GD IIB T4, or with increased spark protection to Ex II 2 GD IIC T4.
For general lighter duty lift operations, the JDN Mini series hoists can be ideally utilised. With load capacities of 125, 250, 500 and 980kg, these handy, flexible products are universally deployable as a general tool for shipyard operations. Their compact, lightweight construction ensures easy operation, while the products provide the same degree of performance, reliability, durability and safety as the heavier duty Profi range. A Mini Manipulator version allows loads to be lifted, manually traversed and positioned using only one hand, and an explosion rating Ex II 3 GD IIA T4 is ensured.
Other marine related products that can be supplied include hoists for underwater operation which have successfully been deployed for the removal, repair and eventual replacement of a damaged 50 tonne rudder on a fully loaded bulk cargo vessel while moored off the coast of Venezuela, a project that was featured on the National Geographic Channel's 'World's Toughest Fixes' programme. Other specialised equipment include hydraulically powered hoists designed for operation at extreme temperatures down to -45°C.
