Palfinger has patented a new safety system that double locks stabiliser legs of truck loader cranes when they are stowed away for travel.
The new system is designed in such a way that the driver cannot make a mistake, since both locks are engaged simultaneously. In practice, some loader crane operators rely only on the secondary spring-type lock that engages automatically when legs are stowed, without bothering to insert the pin to engage the primary lock manually. This increases the risk of legs flying out when the truck is in travel. Fatal accidents have been caused this way, as reported last month.
The new stowage locking system are now standard on all Palfinger cranes, as of this month, to comply with the new European standard EN 12999.
