Selecting the Right Overhead Crane

By: John E. Raulerson

Selecting the Right Overhead Crane

It has been nearly a month since I had the pleasure of visiting the MODEX Trade show for the material handling industry. I walked every mile of the show and was completely in “awe” of the new technology available in today’s market place. I visited booths that were featuring fully automated robotics guided by lasers, G-force lifting , & machines that make the perfect box for exactly what is being shipped. It was a true education. I brought back around 85 LBS worth of catalogs and brochures. My email box now fills up at a rapid rate from all of the great vendors that scanned my badge.I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Material Handling Industry educational tables for instance Georgia Tech Institute of Technology, Material Handling Industry (MHI), & Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA).

The CMAA published a great handout on the selection process of an Overhead Crane. This helpful publications is a great fact checker and guideline when helping clients in the selection process, after all an Overhead Crane is a major capital investment and an integral part of the manufacturing process at many steps in the supply chain. So making the right choice in quality and design is key to long term success. Many times I have encountered clients that are myopic in their vision to the bottom line only and skip right over the “meat & potatoes” of the design of the crane itself. Taking this short term approach and skimping on quality will cost  more money in repairs and replacements. “The selection of the proper overhead crane system is critical to the safe and economical operation of your facility. The owner is responsible for selecting a qualified crane supplier.”

Factors to be considered in proper overhead crane selection:

Application:

Material Handling, Single or Double Girder, Load Rating (capacity), Service Rating (freq. of operation), Control/Speed,

Top Running or Under Running, Electric/Air/Manual (Voltage/Air Capacity),

Facility:

Clearance Requirements, Building Width/ Crane Span, Building Length, Low Obstruction, Crane Hook Height, Runway Beams, Runway Rail Length, ASCE Rail, Column Support (placement location), Environment, Maintenance Access.

Installation & Start-Up of Your New Overhead Crane:

Proper installation, start -up and Testing of your new crane is vitally important for long term satisfaction with your crane investment.

Training:

All overhead crane operators must be trained prior to using any crane. Training should include familiarization with crane controls, Capacity of the crane and safe operating practices. Periodic operator”retraining” is strongly recommended.

Inspection:

OSHA standards (OSHA 1910.179) require cranes be inspected on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Additional inspections may be required due to hours of operation, environment and/or severity of service. The inspection requirements of ANSI (B30.2, B30.11 & B30.17) and the manufacturer must also be followed.

Maintenance:

OSHA regulations, 1910.179 and ANSI B30, require that all crane owners shall maintain their cranes in safe operating condition and retain appropriate maintenance records.

Consolidated Rigging is teamed with Gorbel and Cleveland Tramrail, who practically write the standards for crane quality. When considering your new crane project consider these helpful guideline tips and choose quality. We have helpful worksheets to help with the initial planning phase. Once we get the basic fact we can help you through the process and get the right crane.