Customer	LUDWIG SYSTEM
Product	LudwigHook — radio-controlled load hook system for crane operations
Industry	Crane technology · construction safety equipment · industrial IoT
Scope of work	Embedded electronics & firmware — technical concept, followed by revision
Approach	Structured concept phase (4 work packages) before implementation
Engagement horizon	Into January 2028, with further product lines under discussion

 

About the LudwigHook

LUDWIG SYSTEM's LudwigHook is a radio-controlled load hook system that lets crane operators rig loads directly at the crane hook, removing the need for ladders or lifting platforms on the jobsite. Depending on the variant, it handles loads of 2.5 t (standard) or 5.3 t (XL), communicates over an 868 MHz radio link with a working range of roughly 50 metres, and runs on a rechargeable battery with its own charging station. It is used across mobile cranes, tower cranes, and harbour cranes, indoors and outdoors, and multiple hooks can be combined for heavier loads.

Product specifications as publicly documented by LUDWIG SYSTEM (ludwigsystem.com).

The Challenge

The electronics and software inside the LudwigHook had grown historically over the years — extended feature by feature, without a consolidated architecture or structured documentation to tie it together. That is a common state for a successful product that has been on the market for a while, but it makes every new feature harder to add safely, and every handover to a new development partner harder to do well. A previous external development engagement on a pure time-and-material basis hadn't given LUDWIG SYSTEM the outcome they needed. What they were looking for wasn't just more development hours — it was a partner who would first understand and document the system properly, and build a solid technical foundation, before writing a single line of new code.

Our Approach

Rather than quoting a large-scale redesign blind — a common way electronics projects overrun both budget and timeline — we deliberately started small and structured. We scoped a concept phase into four clearly defined work packages, each with its own deliverable, so LUDWIG SYSTEM could see exactly what they were getting and decide, package by package, whether and how to continue:

• Hardware concept — mapping the LudwigHook's electronic architecture at block level: power supply, sensing, radio module, and the interfaces between them, so future component choices trace back to a documented requirement rather than legacy habit.
• Software concept — defining clear module boundaries and interface contracts within the firmware, replacing years of ad-hoc extensions with a structure that can be maintained and extended with confidence.
• Internal communication protocol — specifying exactly how the electronics inside the hook itself exchange data between subsystems, reliably and predictably.
• Radio protocol — specifying how the hook, remote control, and base station communicate over the wireless link, so the connection stays robust in the outdoor, industrial-site conditions the LudwigHook actually operates in.

This gave LUDWIG SYSTEM full transparency into the technical status quo and a concrete, costed decision basis for implementation — before committing to it.

The Solution

Building on this concept, we are now revising the LudwigHook's embedded electronics — step by step, following the structure the concept phase defined, rather than the historically grown structure that came before it. Each of the four work packages feeds directly into the revision as its own validated foundation, so the product's next stage is built on documented decisions rather than inherited assumptions.

Impact & Results

The concept-first approach did more than de-risk this one project: it built enough trust that LUDWIG SYSTEM now intends to commission the revision of further parts of the product — and, perspectively, the entire product portfolio. The joint project horizon between the two companies now extends into January 2028.

Customer Feedback

The customer has expressed that they are very satisfied with the collaboration and the results achieved through the project. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LudwigHook?

A radio-controlled load hook system from LUDWIG SYSTEM that lets crane operators rig loads directly at the crane hook, removing the need for ladders or lifting platforms. It's used on mobile cranes, tower cranes, and harbour cranes, with standard and XL variants rated for 2.5 t and 5.3 t respectively.

Why did LUDWIG SYSTEM bring in TO Electronic Solutions?

The LudwigHook's electronics and software had grown historically over the years, without a consolidated architecture or structured documentation. A previous external development relationship on a pure time-and-material basis hadn't delivered the outcome LUDWIG SYSTEM needed. They wanted a partner who would build a solid technical foundation first — before writing a single line of new code.

Why start with a concept phase instead of a full redesign?

Committing to a large-scale redesign before fully understanding the existing system is a common way electronics projects overrun budget and timeline. Splitting the concept phase into four defined work packages gave LUDWIG SYSTEM full transparency into the technical status quo and a concrete, costed decision basis before committing to implementation.

What do the four concept work packages actually cover?

Hardware concept, software concept, internal communication protocol, and radio protocol. Together they map the LudwigHook's electronic architecture, define clear boundaries between firmware modules, and specify how the hook electronics, remote control, and base station exchange data reliably — including over the radio link.

What's next for the partnership?

Building on the trust established in this project, LUDWIG SYSTEM plans to commission the revision of further parts of the product, and perspectively the entire product portfolio, with a joint project horizon into January 2028.

Who should I contact about safety certification, or about LudwigHook units already in the field?

This case study covers TO Electronic Solutions' engineering work on the LudwigHook's electronics and firmware. Product certification, compliance, and questions about specific units already deployed on jobsites are the responsibility of LUDWIG SYSTEM as the manufacturer — please contact them directly.