Alimak Hek Group – a leading global supplier of mast climbing equipment and value-added services for both temporary and permanent installations - has recently upgraded its successful Alimak SE lift range with innovative technology to enhance comfort and control levels for its users.

“Over 1,000 units of the ground-breaking Alimak SE range have been delivered to clients around the globe since its launch in 1996, and the latest enhancements are a natural development. Not only does the new-generation frequency control (FC) upgrade performance and comfort while working, but the new intelligent Alimak Lift Control (ALC-II) system also ensures users benefit from improved efficiency and ease of use. The upgrade to the Alimak SE lift range is immediately available on all new orders,” says Andreas Magnusson, assistant market communications manager.
Although similar in overall design appearance to its predecessor, the new Alimak SE lift range has such refinements as the ALC-II, the FC and the new overload sensing device (OSS-4):

New lift control
The Alimak SE lift range is controlled and managed by the ALC-II, a microprocessor-based collective control system for up to 32 landings, which brings the efficiency and ease of use normally associated with hotel lifts to the construction industry, he says. However Alimak SE lifts with direct-on-line motor control can still be equipped with a relay control system.
“With the ALC-II, there is less stop time and greater availability for the lifts,” he explains. “The system ensures excellent stopping accuracy at landings and requires no limit cams at intermediate landings. It also includes a built-in fault indication programme with information via displays. A built-in battery back-up system ensures that no data is lost in case of a power failure. Other customer-friendly benefits include quick installation and a rigid and modular design.”
The ALC-II system is available with a wide range of optional features that can be supplied on request, including auto return, authorised drive, flood alarm, high wind speed and fire alarm.

Frequency control
Alimak SE lifts with optional FC provides comfort qualities that permit reduced starting currents together with smoother acceleration and deceleration. The new-generation FC with a closed-loop system, improves comfort levels even more, delivering very smooth starting and stopping, thereby reducing wear and tear on lift components such as the brakes, he says.
“Stopping accuracy has also been improved to +/– 3 mm. Another benefit is the ability to reduce speed during installation and inspection,” says Magnusson.

Overload Sensing Device
As an extra safety precaution, the lifts can be fitted with a digital overload sensing device (OSD-4), as in many global markets it is a regulatory requirement by legislation to have overload protection installed, he points out.
“The upgraded Alimak OSD-4 makes the lift even more user-friendly than its predecessor. It is quicker to install and easier to set-up with a digital display that shows the actual load or configuration. Another improvement is that the new OSD has wider weighing range.The system has three alarm outputs of over load, full load and negative load, where the full load control is managed in combination with ALC-II,” he adds.

Industrial lifts
Meanwhile, Alimak Industrial Lifts, which launched production of industrial cranes as a small retrofit business in the 1970s has seen this sector become a major market segment in numbers for the company. Last April, the total accumulated order intake of all years passed 2,000 units. The present Alimak market share of new sales is close to 70 per cent (China excluded).
Today Alimak container crane lifts are installed in 91 countries all over the world.
“Although there are no signs of the demand of new sales going down in numbers, one of the future challenges for our sales organisations and distributors is to develop the business, taking care of after-sales service as well as replacement opportunities, which in fact already have started for some of the earliest supplied units,” says Allan Leth, segment manager of Alimak AB head office in Skelleftea, Sweden.
“Even if the total number of units has decreased since the glorious days of the early 90s when bulk orders of 12 to 30 units were quite common, we are  very pleased with the size of our market share,” he adds.
Established in 1948 in Stockholm, Sweden, Alimek Hek currently provides cost-efficient, reliable, and flexible vertical access solutions for people and materials in the construction and general industry. Available in five continents of the world, the company’s product portfolio comprises construction hoists, industrial lifts, mast-climbing work platforms, transport platforms, material hoists as well as underground equipment for both temporary and permanent installations.