Optidrive P2’s dedicated hoist mode delivers precise control for launching gantry in Indonesia

Cookie	Purpose	Typical Expiry
`.AspNetCore.Antiforgery.*`	Protects forms against CSRF attacks	End of session
`.AspNetCore.Session`	Maintains anonymous session state (e.g. preferences)	Session
`.AspNetCore.Cookies`	Authentication (when you log into secure areas)	Up to 14 days (or until logout)
`country`	Stores selected country for content localisation	1 year
`cookie_consent`	Stores your consent choice (required to honour it)	6 months

Problem

The existing variable frequency drives (VFDs) being used in the launching gantry were general purpose drives and did not have dedicated hoist functionality - this meant that performance was not always stable. The customer wanted to update to modern VFD’s with the latest technology and functionality specifically designed for hoisting applications to ensure constant smooth and stable performance.

Solution

The previous drives were replaced with three Optidrive P2 which offer dedicated hoisting functionality including a motor holding brake control algorithm, hoist speed optimisation and torque proving. The customer has reported that the gantry’s performance is now consistently stable thanks to the Optidrive P2.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies Indonesia

Launching gantry motor control

A large engineering and construction company wanted to retrofit modern variable frequency drives to replace the existing VFDs in a launching gantry being used on a civil engineering site in Indonesia.

The customer specialises in all types of public utility construction including railways, steel and concrete bridges, tunnels, and underground infrastructure for utilities such as water supply, electricity and communications. The company also delivers dams, retaining walls and other large-scale projects.

A launching gantry (also known as a bridge building crane) is a mobile gantry crane used in the construction of bridges. Launching gantries are used to lift and support segments of bridge or girders whilst being moved into position. The weights moved by gantry cranes mean that precise motor control to ensure consistently smooth movement is essential.

VFDs are used to regulate the speed and torque of the electric motors in these machines, providing better control and efficiency for this demanding application.

The Challenge

The customer was using a launching gantry which included VFDs not specifically designed with this type of application in mind. This meant that performance was not always stable – a critical requirement when significant loads are being lifted and dropped.

They were looking for VFDs with dedicated hoisting functionality and the latest modern technology and their research led them to Invertek Drives Limited.

The Invertek Drives Solution

Three Optidrive P2 (a 2.2kW, 15kW and 45kW – all IP20 rated with TFT displays) were retrofitted in the launching gantry control panel to replace the previous VFDs.

The high performance, easy to use Optidrive P2 range features advanced control algorithms that manage the hoist brake sequence securely and reliably - eliminating the need for a costly, failure-prone motor encoder.

Paul Pritchard, Key Account Engineer at Invertek Drives, elaborates, “The customer was looking for a high-performance drive capable of consistently delivering under demanding conditions.

“The Optidrive P2 features advanced control algorithms that manage the hoist brake sequence securely and reliably, eliminating the need for a costly, failure-prone motor encoder. This made it the perfect choice for this application.

“Other features include a dedicated hoist mode operation with motor holding brake control algorithm, up to 200% torque from zero speed in vector operation without encoder feedback, multiple preset speed or variable speed operation, and a built-in dynamic braking transistor which only requires an external resistor.”