Hoists boosted by Flybrid

17 May 2023

PUNCH Flybrid is finding new applications for its flywheel system which stores surplus energy from a generator for release when heavy loadings are detected. 

“Contractors have used it successfully in their fleet with tower cranes and now with hoists,” MD Tobias Knichel tells me. “One is using the Flybrid at a site in Coventry with two hoists that would normally each require a 200kVA generator. We were able to replace them with one 100kVA machine to power both.

“So we downsized the power requirement by a factor of four and as a result have achieved fuel savings of 71 per cent for the client. 

“The hoists use simple direct online motors, which have a startup power requirement that can be six times more than that needed during normal running. The flywheel provides the extra power for starting the hoist without stalling the generator, which which is appropriately sized for normal running.” 

The PUNCH Power 200 Flybrid is typically used with generators from 100kVA to 1000kVA. For larger power requirements, units can be linked together.