01.06.2025

GH Cranes develops AI projects

Spanish overhead and industrial crane manufacturer GH Cranes & Components is trialing six Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects which it hopes to integrate into its technology across its operations and products.

The company is automating invoice management using AI to read PDF invoices and extract accounting data. The company says the system will process around 3,000 invoices monthly which are currently handled manually by the administration department.

A virtual assistant project uses generative AI to support crane operators in troubleshooting and commissioning cranes. The assistant responds to voice and text queries using the company's technical documentation.

The third project uses data from GH's customer relationship management system to predict which quotations will convert to orders. The aim is provide insights into variables that influence order conversions.

Two projects focus on integrating AI directly into crane related products with the fifth using machine vision to identify object positions, such as coils, improving safety of automatic cranes.

The sixth project also uses machine vision to improve safety in crane working areas by picking up any people too close to an operating crane. The system issues alerts or stops crane operations when personnel are detected in dangerous zones to prevent accidents. The next phase of testing will involve more challenging environments including outdoor locations and areas with high dust levels.

Established in 1958 as a manufacturer of overhead cranes and lifting equipment, GH cranes is based in Beasain, Gipuzkoa, northern Spain. It has manufactured approximately 130,000 overhead cranes since its founding with its equipment used in different 70 countries.