Faun crane control systems are no longer in production. The Faun brand exited the crane manufacturing sector decades ago, meaning new Faun crane control systems have not been available from the original manufacturer for many years. For operators still running Faun-equipped cranes, this raises practical questions about spare parts, ongoing support, and what replacement options exist.
This article works through the most common questions surrounding Faun crane control systems, from the brand’s history to your best path forward in 2026.
Who manufactured Faun crane control systems?
Faun crane control systems were manufactured by Faun, a German industrial vehicle and machinery company with roots stretching back to the early twentieth century. Faun produced a wide range of heavy equipment, including mobile cranes, and the control and safety systems fitted to those cranes were either developed in-house or supplied by specialist third-party manufacturers integrated into the crane’s design.
Faun cranes were widely used in construction, infrastructure, and industrial lifting applications across Europe and beyond. The control systems on these machines handled critical functions including load moment indication, rated capacity management, and operational limiting, making them central to safe crane operation rather than peripheral accessories.
Because Faun produced cranes across multiple decades and product generations, the control systems fitted to their machines varied considerably. Earlier models used electromechanical systems, while later generations incorporated more sophisticated electronic load moment indicators and microprocessor-based controllers. This variation means that identifying the exact system fitted to any individual Faun crane requires checking the specific model and year of manufacture.
What happened to Faun’s crane division and its product lines?
Faun’s crane manufacturing division was sold and restructured through a series of ownership changes during the 1990s and early 2000s. The crane production side of the business was ultimately absorbed into what became the Tadano Faun brand, with Tadano, the Japanese crane manufacturer, acquiring the European operations. Tadano Faun continues to operate and produce cranes, but the original Faun identity as an independent crane manufacturer effectively ended with these transitions.
The control systems and safety electronics that were fitted to original Faun cranes were not carried forward in the same form under the new ownership structure. Tadano brought its own technology platforms and supplier relationships, meaning the legacy Faun control system product lines were discontinued rather than updated. This is a common outcome when major industrial brands change hands: the new owner standardises on its own technology stack, and legacy systems lose active development and production support.
For operators of older Faun cranes, this transition is significant. It means the original equipment manufacturer no longer supports the control systems fitted to those machines, and the supply chain for genuine original parts has effectively closed.
Are Faun crane control systems still being manufactured today?
No, original Faun crane control systems are not being manufactured today. As of 2026, there is no active production of new Faun-branded crane control or safety systems from any successor manufacturer. The product lines were discontinued as part of the brand’s corporate restructuring, and no manufacturer has continued producing them under the original Faun specifications.
This does not mean that cranes originally fitted with Faun control systems are unserviceable. Many of these machines remain in operation, and the crane safety industry has developed robust pathways for replacing discontinued control systems with modern equivalents. The key distinction is between sourcing original Faun components, which is increasingly difficult, and fitting a technically equivalent or superior replacement system, which is entirely achievable.
Operators should also be aware that continuing to run a crane on an unsupported, discontinued control system carries increasing risk over time. As components age, calibration drift, sensor failure, and software incompatibility become more likely, and without manufacturer support, fault diagnosis becomes harder. Proactive replacement planning is the responsible approach.
Can you still get spare parts and support for Faun systems?
Spare parts for original Faun crane control systems are difficult to source and becoming increasingly scarce. Because production ceased years ago, the supply of genuine original components depends entirely on remaining old stock, salvaged parts from decommissioned machines, or third-party reverse-engineered alternatives. None of these channels offer the reliability or traceability that safety-critical crane systems require.
What parts are hardest to find?
The components most likely to fail on ageing crane control systems are also the hardest to find for discontinued platforms. These include:
- Load moment indicator display units and processors
- Angle sensors and boom length transducers
- Pressure transducers and hydraulic sensing components
- Proprietary wiring harnesses and connectors
- Control software and firmware for electronic systems
When these components fail on a Faun system, the absence of manufacturer support means there is no official repair path. Specialist repair companies can sometimes refurbish circuit boards or fabricate replacement sensors, but this is not a long-term solution for safety-critical equipment.
What support options remain available?
Practical support for Faun crane control systems in 2026 comes from independent crane safety specialists rather than any original manufacturer channel. These specialists can assess the condition of an existing system, perform calibration checks, identify failing components, and advise on whether repair or full replacement is the more cost-effective route. For operators who need to keep a Faun-equipped crane running while planning a system upgrade, this kind of independent technical support is the most realistic option available.
What are the best alternatives to Faun crane control systems?
The best alternatives to Faun crane control systems are modern safe load indicators, load moment indicators, and rated capacity indicator systems from specialist manufacturers that can be retrofitted to the existing crane structure. These systems replicate and typically exceed the functionality of the original Faun equipment, and they are designed to work across a wide range of crane makes and models rather than being proprietary to a single brand.
When evaluating alternatives, the key criteria are:
- Compatibility with the crane’s existing sensor mounting points and hydraulic interfaces to minimise installation complexity
- Certification to current standards, including EN 13000 for mobile cranes and relevant national regulations in the operating country
- ATEX certification if the crane operates in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as offshore or petrochemical environments
- Data logging and remote monitoring capability to meet modern fleet management and compliance requirements
- Ongoing manufacturer support, including firmware updates, calibration services, and spare parts availability
Modern crane safety systems also offer capabilities that were not available on original Faun equipment, including anti-collision systems for multi-crane worksites, wireless load cell integration, and cloud-based data logging accessible via mobile applications. Replacing a discontinued Faun system is therefore not simply a like-for-like substitution but an opportunity to bring the crane’s safety technology up to current standards.
How do you replace a discontinued crane control system safely?
Replacing a discontinued crane control system safely requires a structured process that treats the installation as a safety-critical engineering project rather than a straightforward equipment swap. The replacement must be planned, documented, and verified to ensure the crane performs within its rated parameters under the new system.
The process typically follows these steps:
- System assessment: A qualified specialist inspects the existing crane, documents the current control system configuration, and identifies the crane’s load chart, structural limits, and sensor interface points.
- Replacement specification: Based on the assessment, a replacement system is specified that matches the crane’s rated capacities, boom configurations, and operational environment. This is not a generic selection but a crane-specific engineering exercise.
- Installation: The new system is installed by qualified technicians, with particular attention to sensor positioning, wiring integrity, and integration with the crane’s existing hydraulic and electrical architecture.
- Calibration: The replacement system is calibrated against known loads to verify that its readings are accurate across the full working range. Calibration must be traceable and documented.
- Commissioning and testing: The crane is tested under controlled conditions to confirm that the new control system correctly limits operation at the rated capacity and that all warning and cut-off functions operate as designed.
- Documentation and certification: The completed installation is documented, and the crane’s safety records are updated to reflect the new system. Depending on jurisdiction and crane classification, third-party inspection may be required.
Throughout this process, the involvement of a specialist with experience in crane safety system retrofits is essential. Replacing a load moment indicator or rated capacity indicator is not a task for a general electrician or crane mechanic working from a product manual alone. The calibration and commissioning phases in particular require specialist knowledge and equipment to perform correctly.
How Pat-Kruger helps with Faun crane control system replacement
We specialise in exactly the kind of work that operators of Faun-equipped cranes need: assessment of ageing or discontinued control systems, specification of modern replacements, and complete installation, calibration, and commissioning support. Our team has experience working across a wide range of crane makes and models, and we design replacement solutions that are tailored to the specific crane rather than applying a one-size-fits-all product.
Our services for operators replacing Faun crane control systems include:
- Safe load indicators, load moment indicators, and rated capacity indicators configured to match the crane’s load charts and operational parameters
- Tailor-made force sensors and load cells, from load pins to compression load cells, fabricated to fit existing mounting points
- ATEX-certified systems for cranes operating in hazardous environments, including offshore and petrochemical sites
- Anti-collision systems for multi-crane worksites where proximity management is required
- Data logging and remote monitoring via secure cloud access, with mobile app readout for real-time operational visibility
- Calibration services to ensure precision and traceability from day one of operation
- Worldwide maintenance and repair support to keep systems performing reliably throughout their service life
Whether you are managing a single Faun crane that needs a system upgrade or a fleet of older machines requiring modernisation, we can provide a complete solution from initial assessment through to certified commissioning. Contact Pat-Kruger to discuss your crane’s requirements and find out how we can bring your safety systems up to current standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out which specific control system is fitted to my Faun crane?
Start by locating the crane's original documentation, including the manufacturer's data plate, commissioning records, and any maintenance logs. The control system manufacturer and model are often labelled directly on the display unit or control box. If documentation is missing or illegible, an independent crane safety specialist can inspect the system and identify it based on hardware characteristics, wiring architecture, and component markings — this is a common starting point before any replacement project begins.
Is it legal to keep operating a crane with an unsupported or discontinued control system?
In most jurisdictions, the legal requirement is that the crane's safety systems are functional, accurately calibrated, and capable of performing their intended protective functions — not that they are from a currently supported product line. However, if a discontinued system can no longer be reliably calibrated, repaired, or certified, it may fail to meet those functional requirements, creating both a compliance and a liability issue. Operators should consult their local regulatory framework and have the system independently assessed to confirm whether it still meets the required safety standards.
What is the typical cost of replacing a Faun crane control system with a modern equivalent?
Replacement costs vary significantly depending on the crane's size and complexity, the number of boom configurations, the type of system required, and whether ATEX or other specialist certification is needed. A straightforward safe load indicator retrofit on a smaller crane will cost considerably less than a full rated capacity indicator system on a large mobile crane with multiple boom and jib combinations. The most reliable way to get an accurate figure is to request a site assessment and tailored quotation, as generic pricing rarely reflects the crane-specific engineering work involved.
Can a modern replacement system use the existing sensors and wiring from my Faun crane?
In some cases, yes — but this needs to be evaluated on a crane-by-crane basis. Some sensors, such as pressure transducers and angle sensors, may be compatible with modern control systems if they are still within calibration tolerance and in good condition. However, sensors on ageing Faun cranes are often worn, drifted, or no longer traceable to a calibration standard, and reusing them can undermine the accuracy of the new system. A thorough pre-installation assessment will identify which existing components can be retained and which should be replaced as part of the upgrade.
How long does a crane control system replacement typically take from assessment to commissioning?
For most crane control system retrofits, the process from initial assessment to completed commissioning takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the crane, the availability of the replacement system, and whether any custom-fabricated components such as bespoke load pins or mounting brackets are required. Scheduling the crane out of service for the installation and calibration phases is essential, so early planning gives operators more flexibility in managing operational downtime.
What happens if my Faun crane's original load charts are missing or incomplete?
Load charts are essential for correctly configuring and calibrating a replacement control system, as they define the rated capacities across the crane's full range of radii, boom lengths, and configurations. If original load charts are missing, a specialist may be able to source them from crane registry databases, technical archives, or Tadano Faun's historical records. In cases where charts cannot be recovered, a structural engineering assessment may be required to establish safe working limits before a new system can be properly calibrated — this adds time and cost to the project but is non-negotiable for safe operation.
What is the most common mistake operators make when replacing a discontinued crane control system?
The most common mistake is treating the replacement as a straightforward product swap — selecting a broadly compatible system and fitting it without completing a proper crane-specific calibration and commissioning process. A control system that is installed but not correctly calibrated to the individual crane's actual load charts and sensor outputs may display plausible-looking readings while being dangerously inaccurate. The calibration and commissioning phases are not optional finishing steps; they are the point at which the system is proven safe for the specific crane it is fitted to.