How Radio Remotes Increase Safety and Efficiency in the Lights and Signs Industry

In a typical two-man sign install job, distractions can be everywhere. With one man on the ground and one working traditional controls at the base of a crane, communicating over the noise of the machinery can be a challenge. Add in additional challenges that come with working on a potentially active jobsite and the potential for unsafe situations increases.

To combat these situations and help operators work more efficiently, Altec offers radio remotes for its sign crane product line, which includes the LS49, LS60, LS63 and LS87 models.

Improve operator safety and communication

The radio remotes connect wirelessly and allow an operator to get close to a pick, instead of being confined to lower controls at the base of the crane. The controls are metered for precise movement, and the range covers most all jobsites making them easy to connect and use even for newer operators.

“When you’re installing a free-standing sign, you have someone on the ground and someone on the controls working the basket or the crane. You have the roar of the generator going on—there are so many distractions in the field that can strain someone’s focus and cause something potentially unsafe,” said Ryan Drury of Pacific Neon Company. The Sacramento, California, based company fabricates signs that are installed locally or distributed nationwide. “The radio remote allows the person on the ground and the operator to be together and really have communication that improves safety on the jobsite.”

Increased efficiency and flexibility

Being closer to the pick not only improves communication and safety, but also allows operators to work more effectively as they can get the best vantage point of the jobsite. Especially in tight jobsites, the lower controls may not always offer the best view. Improving that vantage point means operators can see exactly where to place the load and get a better feel for the job.

“As far as the effectiveness of the handheld radio, it gives you more than two position options when you’re setting a sign or up in the air doing service,” said Brandon Harbin, production manager at Pacific Neon “It’s not always ideal to be up in the air with the sign, nor on the deck yelling down to someone with noise. The remote gives you a ‘third person’ aspect where you’re there right in the middle in the perfect spot.”

Innovation to improve the industry

The equipment used in the sign industry is pretty straight forward, Drury said, which most operators view as a positive. When innovation comes, it has to be well thought out to be a success. Radio remotes are easy to connect and easy to use functionally, making them a successful innovation in the sign industry.

“Remote control in the sign industry is very cool,” Drury said. “You don’t have a lot of frills in what we do—it’s very simplistic and cut and dry. To have that ability is really next generation for the sign industry.”

For more information on how radio remotes can benefit your fleet, contact your account manager, visit us online, or call 1-877-GO-ALTEC