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Konecranes Training Institute unveils new campus

Konecranes Training Institute has raised the level of its game in a major way with a move from the original location of 43 years to a new 13,000-square-foot facility adjacent to Konecranes service branch in New Berlin, Wis. Konecranes also has its nuclear and modernization groups located nearby.

According to general manager Jim Lang, the new campus represents the next generation of technical capability for an organization that trains more than 10,000 crane professionals every year. Improving safety at customer facilities is at the forefront of the curriculum at Konecranes Training Institute.

“With the new facility, we focused on building everything to enhance the customer experience,” says Lang. “All of our new classrooms are as big as the largest in the old facility. Every part of the new campus is task-specific and professionally designed. Our interactive audio-visual equipment is state-of-the-art, high-resolution and easily compatible with all computers, specified to enhance the learning experience for our students.”

Lang says the Institute’s 7,500-sq.-ft. lab has 50 per cent more space plus a 30 per cent higher ceiling than the former facility, giving students much more room to experience the challenges and capabilities of the equipment they train on.

“Our new lab will feature a 5-ton top-running, double-girder Smart CXT crane with the full gamut of available Konecranes Smart Features for safety and productivity,” says Lang. “Students will be able to train in programming protected areas, and become familiar with active sway control, target positioning, hook centering, snag prevention and other more unique modalities for crane efficiency.”

A typical class at Konecranes Training Institute usually lasts three to four days, with class sizes normally including about 10 trainees, with a maximum of 15.

“Our classrooms are large enough to accommodate more people, but we want to maintain a good student-to-teacher ratio,” says Lang. “We have gotten very positive comments from customers who have been through our first few classes in the new facility. The students really appreciate being in a building that has been designed just for them.”

Director of training Joe Otten noted that the new campus represents a substantial investment from Konecranes, with an estimated $700,000 dedicated to the project to date. “We have three other Konecranes divisions in our new location totalling 70,000 square feet,” he stated. “This allows us to more easily have other Konecranes experts available to meet with students when needed.”

Konecranes Training Institute teaches 35 different courses offered year-round at the new campus. The most popular, including Overhead Crane Inspection, Inspection Refresher, Crane Safety Management, Rigging Fundamentals and Operator and Rigging Train-the-Trainer courses are also offered at six regional centers in Sudbury, Ont.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Mobile, Ala.; Springfield, Ohio; Indianapolis Ind.; and Miami Fla.; as well as a rotating schedule of 40 cities nationwide. More information on all courses and locations is available at www.cranetrainingu.com.