CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex training simulators, will feature a new Boom Truck Simulator Training Pack, Vortex Edge Plus and its full fleet of earthmoving and lifting equipment training packs at the Utility Expo Sept. 28-30 in Louisville, Ky., at booth N2008.
The event is on track to be bigger than in the past, due to a new outdoor layout with more space for utility equipment, allowing for more new product introductions and demonstrations. The event will host more than 900 exhibitors across 1.4 million sq. ft. of space, 85% of which is outdoors.
CM Labs' training packs excavator pipe placement.CM Labs
Earthmoving and Lifting Equipment Training Packs
CM Labs’ simulator training packs feature progressive learning programs and simulation. The company’s earthmoving equipment solutions include excavator, backhoe, wheel loader, dozer, motor grader and articulated dump truck training packs. Lifting equipment solutions include the mobile crane, crawler crane, flat-top tower crane, luffing tower crane and forklift simulations, along with the new boom truck training pack.
Self-guiding exercises allow operators to learn at their own pace, or simply refresh their skills as needed. The simulators capture operating metrics for continual and comprehensive scoring and reporting on trainee progress. Thanks to CM Labs’ Smart Training technology, every simulated machine delivers transferable skills that trainees take to the job site.
All training packs can be loaded on any of CM Labs’ simulators, which consist of the portable desktop Vortex Edge Plus, the motion-enabled Vortex Edge Max, and the highly immersive multi-display Vortex Advantage.
Highlighted here are several of the training packs most commonly used by utility contractors:
The New Boom Truck Simulator Training Pack features a certification exercise, including deployment of a digger derrick, as well as a virtual replica of the CCO course exercises.
The Mobile Crane Simulator Training Pack can be used to evaluate operator readiness for certification with an skills assessment exercise. This training pack is the only simulation solution that covers advanced lifting techniques, such as a blind lift, recovering from a load pendulum, girder lifts and more.
The Motor Grader Simulator Training Pack gives trainees the distinctive feeling of pushing soil. This allows operators to understand how to position and adjust the moldboard during an exercise. It incorporates real-time operator scoring, advanced earthmoving simulation technology and effects such as side-draft.
The Wheel Loader Training Pack delivers realistic bucket/ground interactions, which is critical for training operators how to position the bucket properly and understand the machine’s capacity. Trainees learn how to ensure a clear driving path for dump trucks, in order to prevent vehicle turnovers as well as how to use the machine’s quick coupler to change attachments. The training pack also includes a Grade Quality Sensor (GQS) that provides real-time visual feedback to the operator when digging or leveling.
Boom Truck training pack.CM Labs
Boom Truck Simulator Training Pack
The Boom Truck Simulator Training Pack allows operators to train with a digger derrick attachment, and features a certification exercise, as well as a virtual replica of the CCO course.
"This is an industry first,” says Julien Richer-Lanciault, product manager at CM Labs. “Attendees who visit our booth will experience a solution they can use to safely assess and improve the skill level of operators who often have little or no prior experience operating heavy equipment."
In addition to the boom truck training solution, the company will be showcasing its full fleet of earthmoving and lifting equipment training packs on the portable desktop Vortex Edge Plus, as well as the immersive, motion-enabled Vortex Advantage simulator.
Training packs include the excavator, backhoe, wheel loader, dozer, motor grader, mobile crane, and crawler crane, all of which can be run on a single simulator.
CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex training simulators, will be demonstrating a new Boom Truck Simulator Training Pack and other items, at the Utility Expo.CM Labs
Vortex Edge Plus
The Vortex Edge Plus runs CM Labs’ full fleet of earthmoving, lifting and forestry equipment training packs including the excavator, backhoe, dozer, wheel loader, motor grader, luffing tower crane, flat-top tower crane, mobile crane, crawler crane, forwarder and harvester. Its ease of transport makes the Vortex Edge Plus a hands-on tool for attracting talent at job fairs and career development events. It can also be used to quickly assess the skill level of new operators.
Hardware includes a laptop, monitor, industrial-grade joysticks and pedals, as well as a steering wheel to support specific earthmoving equipment.
"This really is the latest technology of simple, portable, accessible simulation training," says Julien Richer-Lanciault, CM Labs’ construction and forestry product manager. "With the construction industry doing absolutely everything it can to eliminate barriers to training, this is an ideal solution to getting the next generation of skilled labor exposed to the challenges and rewards of a construction career."
The Vortex Edge Plus runs on the same engineering-grade software that powers CM Labs’ immersive Vortex Advantage simulators, used by training schools and fleet owners internationally. This means that all simulated machine components behave as they do in the real world, whether operators are digging a trench, delimbing a tree or catching a swing.
In addition, the Vortex Edge Plus can be paired with an optional Instructor Operating Station (IOS) for instructor-led training. With the IOS, instructors can control the training right from their seat and do everything from launching exercises and manipulating the weather, to injecting machine faults, providing hand signals as well as customizing scores and generating reports. The Vortex Edge Plus can also connect to other Vortex simulators, for collaborative crew training. It complements classroom theory by simply making learning more engaging and efficient.
The Vortex Edge Plus can be easily transported in carrying cases and set up in minutes. This makes it ideal for classroom or on-the-go training.
Book a meeting with CM Labs at https://info.cm-labs.com/utility-expo-sign-up or visit booth N2008.
