Vortex Crane Simulator Investment by IUOE Local to Provide Unique Skills
CMLabs Press Release:
Vortex Crane Simulator Investment by IUOE Local to Provide Unique Skills
Training for Mobile Crane Operators
The Vortex Crane Simulator delivers a cost-effective solution that leads to
improved operator skills, reduced equipment costs and greener
heavy-equipment training.
April 16, 2010, Montreal, Canada - CMLabs, the training-solution company for
heavy equipment operation, announced today the acquisition of a Vortex Crane
Simulator by the Montana Operating Engineers (MTOE), affiliated with Local
400 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). MTOE will add
to their existing crane training program by providing simulation-based
training for union members, helping them acquire important and comprehensive
skills, which will result in more experienced operators and safer working
conditions. As well, the Vortex simulator allows students to gain easy
access to realistic machine training without the cost and environmental
impact of operating actual heavy equipment.
With the Vortex Crane Simulator, IUOE apprentices and operators will learn
how to use the equipment in increasingly challenging training exercises.
High-resolution virtual worksites, realistic crane and load dynamics,
authentic crane controls and challenging heavy-lift exercises provide
students with rich operational experience. To accelerate learning, exercises
feature navigation aids, performance metrics, and a playback review mode for
team evaluation purposes. Instructors can introduce equipment failures,
difficult weather conditions and other challenges to teach students to
properly and safely react to situations that may arise on a worksite.
"We are eager to provide simulation-based training to our members, so we are
pleased to be working with the Vortex team," said Quinton Farr, Director of
Training, Montana Operating Engineers Apprenticeship and Training. "The
Vortex Crane Simulator provides the benefits we targeted for our crane
operator program: to bring our training into the 21st century, to increase
operator safety, to green the program, and to do all this as
cost-effectively as possible."
"MTOE and the IUOE Local 400 have made an excellent choice with the Vortex
Crane Simulator," stated Arnold Free, VP Business Development at CMLabs. "It
represents the next generation of effective, safe and environmentally
friendly training solutions for the heavy equipment industry. Our simulator
provides the IUOE with a fully featured training environment that will have
immediate advantages for their program and crane operators. As well, the
simulator's portability will allow the Local to take it to career fairs and
other venues to promote the IUOE's training program and safe crane
operations."
Vortex Crane Simulator Highlights
. Practical and in-depth work exercises: Includes typical mobile crane
operations such as hook management, load handling, operating around
structures, pipe handling, concrete bucket manipulation, tower crane
erection and disassembly, and window cleaning.
. Promotes skills acquisition: Many features enhance learning, including
performance indicators, navigation aids, safe response to faults, and
scenario playback review.
. Immersive training environment: Features wide-screen HD display, actual
crane levers, pedals, and Load Moment Indicator (LMI) to prepare students
for real work conditions.
. Realistic crane mechanics: Accurately simulates dynamic behaviour of the
crane and hoisting systems, outrigger usage, the back drive from the load,
and engine power performance under varying loads.
. Flexible Instructor's Station: Allows trainers to monitor and evaluate
student performances, introduce faults and equipment failures, signal
operations, and manage the simulator environment.
About CMLabs and Vortex Simulators
The Vortex team provides simulation-based training solutions to companies
and training facilities in the construction, mining, oil and gas, port
operations and marine sectors. With a long history in simulation-based
heavy-equipment training, the Vortex team produces feature-rich immersive
environments that set the standard for interactive team-based skills
development. Vortex expertise and technology bring intelligent training,
operations planning, and virtual prototyping to life around the world.
Vortex customers include Honda, John Deere, L-3, Lockheed Martin, NASA,
Carnegie Mellon University, and over 100 other leading companies and
educational institutions.
To learn more about CMLabs and Vortex Simulators, visit www.vxsim.com or
contact info@vxsim.com.
About Montana Operating Engineers Local 400 and the IUOE
Montana Operating Engineers Local 400 of the International Union of
Operating Engineers represents crane and heavy equipment operators in
Montana's construction industry. Their offices and training facility is
located in East Helena, Montana. The IUOE is a progressive, diversified
trade union that primarily represents operating engineers, who work as heavy
equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors in the construction industry.
Founded in 1896, IUOE today has over 400,000 members in 138 local unions
throughout the United States and Canada. Over 100 state-of-the-art training
and apprenticeship programs ensure that IUOE members are the safest, most
productive, highly skilled craft workers.
To learn more about the IUOE, visit www.iuoe.org.
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