IEN: What are the major machine and worker safety issues facing industry? How can they be addressed?
Egenton: The demand for higher efficiency has resulted in automation of the attachment changing on construction excavators. This is particularly important in rental fleets where there is an increased requirement for working time on excavators. The design of a quick coupler has enabled efficiency improvements in excess of 35% as a result of the increased efficiency in attachment changing.
Early designs of quick couplers required the use of safety pins as a failsafe way of preventing injury as a result of attachments falling off the excavators in the event of hydraulic failure on the excavator. Dromone has invented a mechanical front automatic locking Quick Coupler for the construction market. This technology is fully automated with a mechanical interlock that prevents attachments from falling off in the event of failure of the excavator systems.
IEN: Where are strides being made: In ease of integration? Flexibility and scalability? Safety management? Personal injury prevention? Risk management? Safety design? Emergency response? Hazard controls? Elsewhere?
Egenton: The automatic locking coupler is fully integrated into the excavator''s hydraulic system. Dromone has a range of these couplers for all the major manufacturers of construction excavators in the industry.
For the U.S. market, Dromone worked closely with manufacturers of attachments for the construction industry to ensure the design features meet the market requirements. These companies include CWS in Vancouver BC, and H & H, Burlington Ontario.
The primary objective of the automatic locking mechanism is to prevent the loss of attachments, which may result in personal injury. The mechanism is mechanical and depends on a set procedure from the machine operator to release the attachment.
IEN: What innovations are in store for users in machine safety, protective technology, ergonomic design, safety equipment and systems, environmental equipment, software, training, and other areas?
Egenton: The locking mechanism is mechanical and hence does not depend on any auxiliary hydraulic or electrical systems.
The locking mechanism is on the front hooks and hence it is visible to the operator at all times. This is particularly important in rental fleets where the turnover in operators is higher.
The Dromone automatic coupler is fully supported with certification, support documentation, training, and after-sales service.