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Mecanum Omnidirectional Lifting & Extending Platform for Railway Coupler Alignment | 3-in-1 Mobile Lift

POSTED: 6/10/2026

Overview

Project type: Mecanum‑wheel omnidirectional mobile lifting & extending platform
Client: A mechatronics technology company (supporting railway equipment manufacturing)
End user: A workshop of CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation)
Industry: Railway vehicle manufacturing (coupler installation, maintenance, alignment)
Key functions: Omnidirectional movement (Mecanum wheels) + lifting (800‑1900mm) + extending (0‑1000mm)
Key features: Wireless remote control, LiFePO₄ battery (≥8h endurance), rail‑crossing ability, PLC bus control, IP54 protection
Case ID: ZD‑CLQ2025122501
Sales engineer: Chang Liquan

On‑site photo of conventional forklift used previously for handling

Client Background & Industry Pain Points

This equipment is used in a CRRC workshop to assist precise alignment of couplers with mounting holes. Couplers are critical connecting components for railway vehicles (high‑speed trains, metros, locomotives). Installation requires lifting a heavy coupler (several hundred kilograms) to a specific height and fine‑adjusting its position to align with mounting holes on the vehicle body. Traditionally, forklifts are used to handle couplers, but they have several drawbacks:

  1. Inflexible movement: Forklifts have a large turning radius, making it difficult to position accurately in narrow workshops.
  2. No multi‑directional fine adjustment: Forklifts can only move forward/backward and lift – they cannot translate sideways or extend laterally. Aligning holes often requires repeated repositioning of the vehicle.
  3. Difficulty crossing rails: Workshops are crisscrossed with rails (rail width ≈7cm). Standard forklift tyres cannot cross rails smoothly, often slipping or jamming.
  4. No extension function: The coupler mounting position may be deep inside the vehicle body; forklift forks have limited length and cannot reach deep.
  5. Inconvenient control: The forklift operator sits on the machine, with a limited view of the alignment process from the side.

Core Specifications

ParameterValue
Overall dimensions (L×W×H)≤1500×1000×800 mm
Rated load500 kg
Lifting range800 – 1900 mm (net lift 1100 mm)
Extension range0 – 1000 mm (extending platform width 500 mm)
MobilityMecanum wheels (4‑wheel independent drive), omnidirectional
Rail‑crossing abilitySmoothly crosses rails up to 70mm wide
BrakingIndependent wheel brakes + parking brake
ControlWireless remote (frequency‑hopping anti‑interference)
Control functionsTravel (F/B/L/R), outriggers (extend/retract), lift (up/down), extend (out/in)
BatteryLiFePO₄, endurance ≥8 hours
Motor typeBrushless DC / servo
PLCSiemens (Profinet) or equivalent
SensorsOmron or equivalent, IP54
Electrical protectionIP54
Safety featuresOutriggers, emergency stop, low‑battery alarm
ColourNot specified (standard industrial yellow/grey)
Order dateDecember 29, 2025

Solutions

3.1 Mecanum‑wheel omnidirectional chassis

  • Wheel type: Mecanum wheels – enable forward/backward, lateral, diagonal movement and zero‑radius turns.
  • Rail‑crossing design: Wheels use high‑wear‑resistance polyurethane with high friction coefficient. The wheel width is sufficient to span 7cm rails. The wheel layout ensures at least three wheels contact the ground at all times, preventing jamming in rail gaps.
  • Braking: Each wheel has an independent brake; can be locked when stationary or on slopes.
Mecanum wheel

3.2 Lifting & extending dual platforms

  • Lifting system: Scissor or hydraulic cylinder lift, stroke 800‑1900mm (net lift 1100mm), rated load 500kg.
  • Extending platform: Mounted above the lifting platform, extends forward 0‑1000mm along the vehicle‘s longitudinal direction. Extending platform width 500mm. Driven by electric actuator or hydraulic cylinder, infinitely adjustable.
  • Coordinated control: Independent remote buttons for “up/down” and “extend/retract” – can be operated separately or simultaneously.

3.3 Wireless remote & anti‑interference

  • Remote controller: Industrial‑grade wireless remote, supporting actions: travel (forward/back/left/right), outriggers (extend/retract), lift (up/down), extend (out/in).
  • Anti‑interference: Frequency hopping or dedicated band to avoid conflict with other wireless devices (e.g., crane remotes) in the workshop.

3.4 Power & endurance

  • Battery: LiFePO₄ battery pack sized for ≥8 hours of full‑load operation. Quick‑change or fast‑charging capability.
  • Motors: Brushless DC or servo motors for travel, lift and extension – high efficiency, low noise.

3.5 Precision control & electrical configuration

  • PLC: Siemens or equivalent, with Profinet bus – closed‑loop control for travel, lift and extension.
  • Sensors: Omron or equivalent, used for position detection, limit switches, overload protection.
  • Protection rating: All electrical components (control box, motors, sensors) IP54 – dust‑proof and splash‑proof.
  • Micro‑movement mode: A “jog” mode on the remote allows 1‑2mm step movements for fine alignment.
Control panel

3.6 Overall dimensions & manoeuvrability

  • Size: ≤1500×1000×800mm (L×W×H) – compact to suit workshop aisles.
  • Weight: Self‑weight approx. 300‑400kg, payload 500kg; total under 1 ton to avoid damaging floors.
Forks fully extended position

3.7 Safety & auxiliary features

  • Outriggers: Four stabiliser legs can be remotely extended before lifting or extending to increase stability and prevent tipping.
  • Emergency stop: Both on the remote and on the vehicle.
  • Battery indicator: Remote displays battery level with low‑battery alarm.
Telescopic outrigger

Details

Product Certificates

FAQ

Ordinary polyurethane or rubber wheels slip or jam when crossing rails. We use high‑friction polyurethane Mecanum wheels with a profile wide enough to span 70mm rails. The wheel layout ensures at least three wheels contact the ground at all times, preventing the platform from dropping into rail gaps. In tests, the platform crosses rails smoothly and quietly in any direction – no transition plates needed.

Longer forklift forks increase the leverage and tipping risk dramatically, and they are harder to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Our telescopic platform is an independent second‑stage motion: the chassis stays stationary while the upper platform extends 0‑1000mm forward. This provides deep reach without compromising stability. The 50cm wide telescopic platform fits perfectly into the coupler installation space.

We use frequency‑hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology – the transmitter and receiver constantly hop channels in sync. Even if several crane remotes, AGVs or other wireless devices operate simultaneously, there is no interference. The remote has a range of ≥50m and a “jog” mode that moves 1‑2mm per press for fine adjustment. An emergency stop button and battery level indicator are also provided.

The LiFePO₄ battery provides ≥8 hours of continuous heavy‑duty operation – enough for a full shift. It supports 1.5‑hour fast charging to 80% – just plug in during lunch break. The battery management system (BMS) provides over‑temperature, over‑current and short‑circuit protection, with a safe cycle life of 2000 charge/discharge cycles.

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