From launching whole new vehicle movers to tweaking existing models—safety is a key driver in Stringo’s product development. In this article, Stringo’s CTO Magnus Grafström walks us through some innovative features and how they contribute to a safer automotive manufacturing environment.
“To our customers, our vehicle movers are seen a safety investment. Keeping both people and vehicles safe is really at the heart of what we do at Stringo,” declares CTO Magnus Grafström.
Innovations that improve vehicle-moving safety
Below are some examples of popular features designed to protect both the operator and surrounding staff in a hectic automotive industry setting.
Safety lights
Stringo offers various lighting options for additional safety while the vehicle mover is being operated, including:
- Flood lights illuminating the area under the vehicle, improving visibility when checking your positioning and that the vehicle is loaded correctly.
- Warning lights alerting people that the vehicle mover is on the way.
- Blue spotlights at the front and back, extending the visibility of the machine when turning around a corner.
- A green confirmation light letting the operator know when the vehicle has been fully loaded onto the machine, to avoid the risk of setting off too early.
Press arm sensors
In the case of an accident, the potential damage caused by a vehicle mover carrying a car is significantly larger than if the machine only carries the operator.
“That’s why we’ve developed a sensor that detects the position of the press arm. When the position indicates that a vehicle has been loaded onto the machine, an automatic speed reduction kicks in to slow down the machine,” Magnus explains.
Additional safety features powered by new product platform
With the S5 model, launched in early 2024, Stringo introduced a new product platform, marking the beginning of a more flexible and modular approach to the designing and manufacturing of vehicle movers. In the process, several new safety features have been added. Below are some examples.
Steer-by-wire
The S5 is the first Stringo vehicle mover that uses steer-by-wire technology, instead of mechanically linking the handle and the drive wheel. Safety and ergonomics were our main motivations for this, Magnus explains:
“Using steer-by-wire reduces the turning angle, which means less effort is required to manoeuvre the machine. For example, if you turn the handle of the S5 by 45 degrees, the drive wheel turns by 90 degrees.”
The technology also enables automatic speed limitations when the machine is turning.
“When you make a steering input, the vehicle mover slows down automatically. This means you can't drive it at full speed while making a turn, which minimises the risk of falling off the ride-on platform. Similarly, if you start the machine with a steering input, acceleration is also limited.”
Remote-controlled operation
With the S5 model, Stringo also introduces an agnostic CAN bus architecture. This allows external software systems to connect to the vehicle mover’s control system, for example, to enable remote-controlled operation.
“This sets a new standard for staff safety in situations where you want to keep the operator at a safe distance from the vehicle, such as during the EV testing process, or enable safe maneuvering in tight spaces,” Magnus tells.
Display interface
Another big upgrade in Stringo’s new product platform is the intuitive display interface. This new feature enables high-impact graphics and an extensive library of functions, error codes and safety alerts.
“For example, if you're charging the S5 but forgot to open the battery compartment to ensure sufficient ventilation, you’ll immediately get alerted via the display. The display opens up almost limitless possibilities for effective safety communication, including texts and images,” says Magnus.
Code lock
Instead of a key, the operator can use a code to start the S5 vehicle mover. Magnus explains how this improves safety:
“Keys can be lost, or left in the machine, with the risk of an unauthorized operator starting the vehicle mover. With a code, you can link the access to the training level of the operator, to make sure no one drives a machine they’re not able to manoeuvre correctly.”
Extension cover plate
The telescopic extension of the S5 is fitted with a cover plate to protect vital components and reduce the risk of crushing.
Onboard charging with cable storage
With both the charging plug and cable integrated into the machine, these key components are safely tucked away to reduce the risk of damage.
Side arm support
New side barriers further improve operator safety while on the on the ride-on platform.
“The new platform helps us develop additional features in close collaboration with our customers, as well as integrate existing safety options more easily into upcoming models”, Magnus Grafström concludes.
Safe vehicle-moving—industry challenges and how to overcome them
Want to learn more about how Stringo's R&D team continuously develops new features to prevent workplace accidents, as the automotive industry keeps evolving? Don’t miss our article about vehicle moving that prevents harm.
