Lift Your Bottom Line with NexStar Crane Management Technology
The power to get more done — total proportional control in the palm of your hand
With the patented Auto Crane® NexStar crane management system you don’t have to sacrifice safety for speed or precision for productivity. The system delivers independent proportional control of every function with 100% capacity. Further safety is delivered when combined with the full stability of Titan bodies and outriggers as seen by this mechanic rotating a 7,100 lb engine to the side of his truck. This allows mechanics to precisely move load in and out of tight spaces and not have to worry about rotating the load to the side and tipping the truck.
Stop overloads, take the guesswork and operator field calculations out of the equation.
NexStar 4 – Next Gen Control System
The NexStar 4 is equipped with a rugged multi-function remote control transmitter that is 70 percent lighter than pistol grip handhelds. The interface receiver LCD clearly displays more crane/load information in readable English — no codes to memorize or look up.
Improved Productivity
Automated Deploy and Stow
Auto Crane has another industry first… AutoDeploy™ as well as AutoStow™ to make it faster to put your crane into use and put away after a long day. We’ve made the crane so easy to run that kids can run the crane like a veteran field mechanic. (Note: available on EHC-5 / HC-5 and larger cranes)
When activated, AutoDeploy automatically brings the crane out of the rest and rotates the boom around to the right side of the truck and then releases the hook
AutoStow parks the crane just above the rest by simply squeezing the trigger. A final hoist-up and boom-down command by the operator completes the sequence. (Note: the crane must be retracted and the traveling block resting on the open hook attachment)
Improved Operation
Auto Crane was the first to introduce automated speed to slow the crane when loaded when NexStar was first introduced over 10 years ago. We’ve improved on this capability. Improvements to the control were made to the operation of the crane to both speed-up and smooth the operation. You have to run a crane to see for yourself.
Rugged Remote
We’ve designed the new remote to withstand even more punishment, keep what mechanics like, deliver what they asked for and more:
- Field-proven ruggedness and lighter weight
- Better ergonomics for one-hand operation alleviating fatigue
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery
- 12 hours of use
- Tether cable (included with crane) also charges the internal battery and cuts the wireless link when working in areas like mine sites
- Larger color LCD with simplified interface
- A bar graph quickly tells you how much capacity remains before an overload occurs
- The message area tells you the status of the crane in plain text
- Intuitive symbols make the the values stand out
- Lower cost repairs and faster repair service
- Docking station (included with crane) quickly charges the remote and doubles as a missing remote indicator
- Operators can be reminded with a chime when they’ve left the remote at the job site and out of the docking station when the parking brake is disengaged (chime kit sold separately)
Remote Troubleshooting
Auto Crane was the first to introduce remote troubleshooting with telematics capability. We’ve extended the capability with an alternate means of connecting with your smartphone. This is the “IoT” that everyone has been hearing about. Dealer service techs or Auto Crane can remotely access NexStar cranes in real-time using an optional Bluetooth dongle and a mechanic’s smartphone. The as-needed connection is a low-cost option for those who do not already utilize a fleet telematics solution.
- Diagnose problems before arriving with mobile service
- Change settings and tuning parameters
- Update software remotely without special tool or trip
Dealers have additional access to settings and tuning parameters that can be adjusted without the need for a special service tool and laptop.
Fleet Management
Improved data logging is focused on the metrics that fleet managers want to see:
- Crane utilization
- Incident recording (“black box” type recording of several incidents)
NexStar Earlier Models
NexStar 3 – Wireless Remote Control System
- 100% proportional control
- Pistol grip with proportional trigger or joysticks and LCD screen on the remote (up to 100 hours crane operation on four AA batteries)
- Receiver with large-format LCD diagnostic/status message screen
- Integrated hydraulic valve bank
- Boom-mounted LED crane status light
- Tri-axis boom/truck level crane load management sensors
- Optional tether for remote control
- Available with: HC-5, HC-6, HC-7, HC-7x, HC-8, HC-8x, HC-9, HC-10, HC-12S, HC-12 and HC-14
NexStar 2 – Wireless Remote Control System
- 100% proportional control
- Added 12-button handheld remote with engine start/stop, high idle and aux controls (up to 100 hours crane operation on two AA batteries)
- Receiver with large-format LCD diagnostic/status message screen
- Integrated hydraulic valve bank
- Boom-mounted LED crane status light
- Tri-axis boom/truck level crane load management sensors
- Optional transmitter with cable for tethered remote control
- Available with: HC-5, HC-6, HC-7, HC-8, 8406H, HC-9, HC-10, HC-12S, HC-12 and HC-14
NexStar 1 – Wireless Remote Control System
- 100% proportional control
- Full-featured 8-button handheld remote in either wireless or tethered (up to 100 hours crane operation on two AA batteries)
- Receiver with LED status
- Integrated hydraulic valve bank
- Boom-mounted LED crane status light
- Tri-axis boom/truck level crane load management sensors
- Optional transmitter with cable for tethered remote control
- Available with: 3203EH and 4004EH
