Cranes

Introduction A $60,000 overhead crane purchase looks like a $60,000 decision. It is not. It is a $150,000 to $280,000 decision spread across 10 years — depending on which crane you buy. The crane’s purchase price is the most visible number. It is also, for most production cranes, the smallest component of the 10-year total […]

Introduction Every time an overhead crane stops, the load keeps moving. The hook decelerates. The load swings forward. The pendulum begins. A 500 kg automotive component on a 4-metre rope swings ±180mm after a standard contactor-controlled stop. The crane operator waits for the swing to damp below ±30mm before attempting precision placement. That wait takes […]

Introduction A full gantry crane has two legs. Both legs travel on ground-level rails. Both legs need foundations. Both legs need ground-level clearance for travel. A semi-gantry crane has one leg. It travels on a ground-level rail on one side. On the other side, the crane bridge hangs from a wall-mounted or column-mounted elevated runway […]