Meyer Turku strengthens crane safety with Access_Ctrl 

The Finnish shipyard has chosen Åkerströms’ radio remote control solution with the digital service Access_Ctrl to ensure that only authorized operators can control cranes in one of Europe’s largest shipbuilding facilities. 

Safety is a top priority at Meyer Turku Oy, one of the world’s leading shipbuilders. To ensure that only authorized personnel can operate its cranes, the shipyard has implemented Åkerströms’ radio remote control solution with the digital service Access_Ctrl. By combining robust radio remote control with intelligent access management, Meyer Turku has taken another important step towards safer crane operations. 
 
Building the cruise ships of the future 
Meyer Turku designs and builds the world’s most advanced cruise ships. With decades of experience, cutting-edge technology and a strong focus on innovation, Meyer Turku continues to drive the shipbuilding industry towards a more sustainable future. 

Operating more than 100 cranes across the shipyard, Meyer Turku depends on safe and reliable crane operation every day. Around 2,300 employees work directly for the company, while an additional 3,000–4,000 subcontractor personnel representing numerous companies and nationalities are active on site during ongoing projects. 

In such a large and dynamic industrial environment, ensuring that only trained and authorized personnel can operate cranes is essential. 

Access management – the key to safer crane operation 
Like many large industrial workplaces, Meyer Turku continuously works to improve workplace safety. With more than 100 cranes and thousands of people active across the shipyard, the company was looking for a solution that would provide greater control over who could access and operate its cranes. 

At the heart of the solution is Access_Ctrl – Åkerströms’ digital service for access management. Fully integrated with the radio remote control system, it ensures that operators must authenticate themselves before the transmitter can be activated. Only authorized and trained personnel are granted access, providing Meyer Turku with complete control over who operates each crane. 

For companies with large workforces, multiple subcontractors and demanding safety requirements, access management has become just as important as the radio remote control itself. By combining both in one integrated solution, Meyer Turku gains not only reliable crane operation but also improved control, traceability and support for a safer working environment. 

From pilot project to long-term rollout 
The project started with a pilot installation on two cranes. Working closely together, Åkerströms, and its Finnish distributor Esbecon Oy and local system integration partners introduced Access_Ctrl as part of crane modernization projects. 

Following a successful evaluation and a few adaptations to meet Meyer Turku’s specific requirements, the solution proved highly successful. The pilot installation was followed by an order for nine additional cranes, with further installations already in the pipeline. 

Meyer Turku is also evaluating the possibility of extending the same access management concept to other potentially hazardous machinery, such as drilling equipment and hydraulic hammers. 

“We chose Åkerströms’ Access_Ctrl system to ensure that the cranes are only operated by people who have completed Meyer Turku’s own crane training and therefore know how to use them correctly and safely. In my opinion, safety has improved, and users operate the cranes better and more carefully, helping to keep them in good condition. Overall, we have seen improvements in both safety and economic benefits. Access_Ctrl is easy to use and has potential that we have not yet fully utilized. In the future, we believe the system can further improve crane usability and support predictive maintenance based on usage data,” says Tuomas Hölttä, Foreman, Factory Maintenance at Meyer Turku. 

Partnership driving success 
The successful implementation has been made possible through close cooperation between Meyer Turku, Esbecon, Åkerströms and local system integration partners. 

By combining expertise from all parties and maintaining a clear understanding of the customer’s operational needs, the project has progressed smoothly from the initial pilot installation to a broader rollout across the shipyard. 

A safer and smarter way to operate cranes 
By ensuring that only authorized personnel can activate the radio remote control, Access_Ctrl adds an important layer of safety to daily crane operations. Every login is authenticated, creating full traceability of who operated each crane and when. 

For a workplace where thousands of people are active every day, this provides greater operational control and supports Meyer Turku’s ongoing commitment to workplace safety. 

As the rollout continues, Access_Ctrl is becoming an increasingly important part of the shipyard’s strategy for creating a safer, smarter and more digitally connected industrial environment. 

A long-standing partnership 
The collaboration between Meyer Turku and Åkerströms extends beyond crane safety. Around six to seven years ago, Meyer Turku also implemented Åkerströms’ SESAM L99 radio remote control system for industrial doors, supplied through Esbecon. 

Today, SESAM continues to provide reliable control of numerous doors throughout the shipyard, demonstrating the long-term partnership between Meyer Turku, Esbecon and Åkerströms. 

Persons in the picture are (from left): Tuomas Ekström, Sales Manager Esbecon Oy; Magnus Kenger, Business Developer Åkerströms Ab; Tuomas Hölttä, Foreman, Factory Maintenance Meyer Turku Oy; Jaakko Riuttamäki Maintenance Engineer Meyer Turku Oy.