Gantrex has partnered with structural health monitoring specialist Villari to introduce continuous crack detection and structural monitoring technology for cranes and other critical steel infrastructure. The partnership will add Villari’s wireless monitoring technology to Gantrex’s Crane Diagnostics portfolio, combining continuous structural monitoring with Gantrex’s engineering, inspection and lifecycle management capabilities. The solution is particularly targeted at container terminals and ports operating ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes and automated stacking cranes. Continuous monitoring of crane structures Villari’s technology uses permanently installed wireless sensors to continuously monitor steel structures for signs of fatigue crack initiation and propagation. According to the companies, the system can provide operators with earlier visibility of structural changes, allowing maintenance teams to move from scheduled inspections towards a more condition-based maintenance approach. Gantrex will provide engineering analysis of the monitoring results to help operators assess asset condition and determine whether inspections, repairs or other maintenance measures are required. The companies expect the combination to support maintenance planning while reducing the risk of unexpected downtime and extending the operational life of critical equipment. “At Gantrex, our objective is not only to provide our customers with data, but to help them understand what that data means for the reliability, safety, and performance of their assets,” said Frederik Leflot, CTO, Gantrex. “By partnering with Villari, we are strengthening our Crane Diagnostics portfolio with innovative monitoring technology while continuing to deliver the engineering expertise that our customers rely on,” he added. Targeting ports and heavy industrial assets Beyond container terminals, the monitoring service can be applied to s