The 7 reasons to replace the lighting on your cranes now?

1.Cost and energy savings

2.Less maintenance and more reliable

3.Immediately at full power

4.Sustainability

5.Government requirements

6.Better light increases labour productivity and safety

7.Business continuity

Cost and energy savings

Whether it concerns harbour cranes, overhead cranes, gantry cranes, or construction cranes, all these cranes are usually equipped with relatively large and heavy luminaires that use a high wattage of electricity. Usually this concerns 400W High Pressure Sodium (SON / NAV) or Metal Halogen (HPI / HQI), but just as often 1000W or in some cases even 2000W. With modern LED lighting, enormous savings can be made on the energy consumption of the lighting and thus on the costs. LED lighting often saves more than 50% of power compared to conventional light sources.

2. Less maintenance and more reliable

In addition to cost savings, maintenance and reliability are perhaps even more important arguments for switching to Yourlight’s high-quality and reliable LED luminaires. When a crane has to be active during nighttime, it is crucial that it works accordingly, otherwise the costs will turn out to be much greater. Because cranes always vibrate when operating, vulnerable gas-discharge light sources often die by vibration before they are at the end of their life. They must then be replaced, with all the costs and hassle involved. Especially for cranes that are in the outdoor space, it is quite a hassle to replace light sources in wind and weather and often at a great height. It is simply not easy to reach on many cranes. Apart from the costs of renting an aerial work platform, you have to deal with the costs of wages. Luminaires on outdoor cranes are often difficult to open for changing a light source, because the screws are stuck due to corrosion. This is particularly the case on harbour cranes that are located by the sea and have to deal with salty conditions. If a ballast is also broken and needs to be replaced, that can be quite a task. Replacement of lamps in a luminaire at height therefore often takes a lot of time and therefore money. Yourlight luminaires do not require maintenance, are extremely robust, vibration-resistant and seaworthy, which saves a lot on maintenance costs and guarantees operational reliability.

6. Better light increases labor productivity

Various scientific studies have shown that better visibility leads to an increase in labour productivity. People see their work better and work faster because of this. It has also been shown that with a higher light quality and therefore better visibility, people make fewer mistakes.

The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is particularly important to determine the quality of light. The right colour temperature (K) also influences the light quality and is important in industrial environments.

The luminaires that are part of Yourlight’s (industrial) lighting solutions all have a CRI of Ra > 80. Depending on the application and in consultation with the customer, we deliver the optimal colour temperature.

Conventional gas discharge light sources, such as High Pressure Sodium (SON / NAV) or Metal Halogen (HPI / HQI), usually have a reflector. The special (port) crane luminaires from Yourlight are equipped with a (prismatic) lens. The big advantage of this is that the light is projected very accurately by using lenses. In the case of lighting on, for example, a container crane (STS / QC), the light must be on, especially with the new Super Panamax cranes that often have a beam at a height of more than 60m, bridge a distance to the deepest hold of the ship of up to 100m. For this you need very narrow radiant luminaires. However, if a ship is fully stacked, the top containers can get close to the main beam. In this place, the crane operator needs luminaires that radiate very wide, otherwise there will be spots on the containers and therefore he cannot do his job properly.

Yourlight has optimal lighting solutions to adequately deal with such a problem, so that crane operators have an optimal view of their work at all times, whether on the crane, or elsewhere on a terminal.

A good light level and good light quality are very important for safety on cranes. People who work on or near cranes are always at risk of being hit by the crane or the lifting load, for example. Scientific studies have shown that better light leads to safer working conditions. After all, there is always interaction between man and machine, on and around cranes. Therefore, it is important that the visibility is good. Wearing a safety helmet, vest and – shoes has long been common place on or near cranes company sites. However, there is often no question of a safe light level.

On many cranes, where old conventional lighting still is placed, , the light level was adequate at the time of purchasing this lighting. However, over the years the light output of the lamps decreases. In the case of gas discharge lamps such as SON and HPI, this can decrease to only 50% of the original light output. In addition, luminaires become dirty due to environmental contaminants, such as rain, insects and salty air. Dust and dirt burns in the reflector, which turns brown and no longer reflects properly and the cover glass becomes dirty. Therefore, the efficiency of the luminaire can decrease sharply.

The luminaires for (port) cranes that are part of Yourlight’s lighting solution are always dust and splash-proof (IP66 or IP67). In addition, the lenses we use, or the cover window glass, are always made of tempered glass that is made anti-static during the production process. As a result, unlike covers of Polycarbonate (PC) or Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with which the vast majority of LED luminaires are equipped, it does not attract dust and insects. As a result, our luminaires maintain their high efficiency. In addition, we always use the highest-quality LEDs and electronic drivers from A-manufacturers. These LEDs only decrease by about 20% in light output during their lifetime, which these manufacturers can also demonstrate.

We recommend that companies that want to create safe working conditions for their employees join European lighting standards. For outdoor lighting in the outdoor area, this is EN 12464-2. Insurers also look strictly at the lighting conditions in the unfortunate case that an emergency with (human) damage occurs. We are very well aware of the standards and can provide excellent advice in this area, so that you offer your employees safe working conditions and also meet the requirements of insurers.

7. Better light increases safety

Partly because governments no longer allow certain light sources, such as mercury vapor lamps (HPL / HQL), these light sources are no longer readily available. HPI / HQI and SON / NAV will follow soon. Because they are so inefficient and environmentally harmful, these lamps will disappear completely over time. Large manufacturers such as Philips, Osram and GE have already largely stopped producing these types of lamps. The ballasts required for starting and burning are also increasingly difficult to obtain. These conventional devices have already disappeared or will disappear completely from the market in the short term. Lighting on industrial sites is often a critical condition for production and / or use. If the lighting fails and is no longer available, business continuity is at stake.

To prevent this, Yourlight has high-quality, reliable and attractively priced lighting solutions.