According to a recent study by Market Research Future, predictive maintenance tools will save companies $6.3b by 2025.

By investing in tools, companies can reduce downtime and unexpected operating costs that may negatively impact their bottom line in the future.

Do you want to learn how to save your business valuable time and funds?

Keep reading if you want to find out what tools you need to keep your cranes operating.

What Are Predictive Maintenance Tools?

Predictive maintenance is the use of technology to intercept potential machinery failures. It focuses on the early observation of changes, which is more reliable than preventative maintenance. These issues can be fixed before the machine breaks.

Therefore, predictive maintenance is very valuable for safe working conditions and reducing downtime. 

Tools To Implement

There are a few types of technologies we can implement. These include sensors to gather data and tools to analyze this data. It may also be important to invest in scheduling tools to organize these processes.

Sensors

Sensors enable the detection of small changes in your machinery. They use multiple sensors and specific analytics so that you can detect a greater range of issues. This allows you to get a holistic understanding of how your machine works.

Sensors for vibration analysis detect indications of stress and wear through frequencies. If machines deviate from their usual vibration, this may indicate potential failure. These changes occur because a machine’s parts have reached the end of their lifespan.

Thermal imaging sensors check for excessive heat in interacting machine components. Catching these abnormalities early reduces one of the biggest threats to electric motors. This reduces costs, but it also prevents potentially dangerous working conditions.

Oil and lubricant sensors can expose potential leaks, excess metal, dirt, or sludge. This is important to examine how well your machine prevents moisture, dilution, or oxidization. It may also reveal grinding parts if metal shards are found in the oil.

Analytics

Now that we have sensor data, we need comprehensive analysis and machine learning. Predictive maintenance occurs as these algorithms analyze patterns against past trends. Through advanced algorithms, they can detect potential failures before they happen.

You will then have to understand whether the part is a repairable or replaceable system. This is easier when using analytic software because it can identify trends. It can then suggest the best course of servicing.

Scheduling

It is also important to use tools to schedule predictive maintenance. This is important if you intend to use it in conjunction with preventative maintenance. That is, where you undergo regular, scheduled inspections of equipment. 

How We Can Help

At Kor-Pak, we provide crane inspections and equipment repair services. These can be used as predictive maintenance tools to catch potential issues early.

If you want to understand more about implementing maintenance schedules, you can contact us. Don’t forget to share if you found this article useful.

If your business involves heavy lifting, having a crane provider you can trust is a big deal. On average, one crane “upset” happens every 10,000 machine hours of equipment usage.

While your crane falling over may not be the most common thing, conducting preventative maintenance should be. Only a qualified crane provider and maintenance specialist can service your crane the way it deserves.

This guide will give you all the tools you need to find the best crane provider for your crane services. Keep reading to learn more.

Inspections

There are many aspects of preventative maintenance for cranes. It all starts with a proper inspection. Getting an overhead crane inspection is an important part of keeping your crane safe and in good working order.

An inspection allows you to find problems before they become major issues. Cranes are complicated pieces of machinery with multiple moving parts. Every component has its maintenance regimes.

Preventative Maintenance 

Every part of your crane should be serviced and inspected regularly. This includes crane controls such as variable frequency drivelines. It also encompasses mechanical transmission components such as gearboxes.

Like your automobile, cranes need preventative maintenance to keep them from breaking down at inopportune times. Preventive maintenance also increases a crane’s equipment lifespan.

Rather than fix things retroactively, use preventative maintenance to stay ahead of the curve.

You can find the proper preventative maintenance regimes for your crane by contacting the manufacturer. Do not neglect regular preventive maintenance. Your crane’s safety and operational capacity will be affected as a result.

More than 5,000 fatal occupational injuries occurred at worksites in 2019 alone. To help avoid your employees becoming another statistic, you must conduct proper preventative maintenance. 

Find a Specialist for Crane Services

When selecting a specialist in crane services, you want to find a name you can trust. Pick a company that is known as a leader in the industry. Make sure that they have the full package of services that your organization needs.

This means that they can conduct inspections, provide crane services, conduct preventative maintenance. It also means they can carry out repairs and operate in all the sectors your company does business in.

Find a company that can do everything in-house. That way, you are not dealing with a patchwork of different crane services. Using a single company for your crane services needs increases accountability.

Additionally, you want to make sure the company you select has a specialization in dealing with your specific machinery types. 

There are many different makes and models of cranes. The worst thing that can happen is to hire a crane services specialist with little or no familiarity with your type of equipment.

Keep Your Cranes Serviced

A well-serviced crane is a safe and functional crane. Finding an organization that specializes in crane services can keep your workers safe and your equipment operational.

In the dangerous world of industrial machinery, this is what matters most. Contact us today to schedule a service estimate for your equipment. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your cranes are in good hands.

Maintaining the integrity of your business equipment is something that cannot be overlooked. Not only does faulty equipment result in less efficient work, but it could also cause safety hazards for your employees and customers.

For this reason, predictive maintenance is a practice that business owners frequently implement. This is especially true with more complex equipment, such as cranes.

Let’s explore everything that you need to know.

So, What Exactly Is It?

As the name suggests, predictive maintenance is a proactive measure that involves estimating when certain equipment parts are likely to fail. Research and data are used to determine the average length of time before a failure will occur.

An automotive manufacturer might conclude that a particular vehicle part is likely to fail after 36 months. To prevent this scenario, the part is either replaced or repaired before this time.

Why Does It Matter?

As previously mentioned, predictive maintenance is essential to both productivity and overall safety. If a failure does occur, your business could easily experience a large handful of adverse consequences.

Faulty construction equipment, for example, could cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. Or, it could result in a significant amount of injury to a large number of people.

In the latter scenario, it’s not uncommon for victims to file a lawsuit against the company responsible for handling the equipment.

Predictive maintenance will go a long way in protecting your company’s reputation. It will also allow you to prevent multiple issues that would otherwise arise.

How Can I Get Started?

Before you can implement predictive maintenance, you need to understand when your equipment is likely to require repair. This is accomplished through consistent research and analysis on the behavior and performance of the equipment.

For example, you could use an electronic sensor on a crane that details the stress that equipment experiences while under load. When this crosses a certain threshold, the equipment would be at risk of failure.

You could use this data to make the necessary repairs or replacements before this value is reached.

Without this type of monitoring, your only alternative would be to service the equipment at specific intervals. For instance, you might choose to repair parts of your equipment every six months to prevent mechanical failure.

The issue here is that problems are likely to arise early on in the process since you won’t know precisely when you should maintain your equipment. So, keep this in mind when developing a method to do so.

Predictive Maintenance Might Seem Complicated to Implement

But the above information will make the process far smoother. From here, you’ll be able to Predictive maintenance to ensure that your equipment operates exactly how it’s supposed to. 

Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.

It is estimated that factories lose between 5% and 20% of productivity due to downtime. This can translate into millions of dollars worth of revenue loss.

Would you like to learn how to reduce downtime and increase productivity in the competitive crane market?

Keep reading to learn more about how downtime could be affecting your business and ways to improve crane efficiency.

What is Downtime?

Downtime causes inefficiency and monetary value loss for your business. This is because both the costs of labor and equipment costs are being paid without the equal output being created.

Often, companies don’t account for the different types of downtime. Unplanned downtime includes failures such as operator errors, hardware errors, or poor performance. This is compared to planned downtime such as upgrades or regular maintenance, which can be easily controlled.

Calculating the Cost of Downtime

One of the reasons why it is so difficult to negate the negative impacts of manufacturing industry downtime is because 80% of companies cannot accurately determine their downtime. Naturally, you can’t fix something that you aren’t aware of. Therefore, it is important first to calculate the dollar value loss of downtime to reduce it.

When calculating, include occurrences such as:

• Low staff productivity
• Rescheduling
• Unexpected repairs
• Customer relations

Reducing the Downtime of Machinery

Unplanned downtime can be reduced in part by ensuring the predictive maintenance of machinery. This will lower the number of unexpected breakdowns. In turn, unplanned downtime and lost production time will reduce.

Predictive maintenance may include booking regular crane inspections. We at Kor-Pak offer crane inspections as well as crane modernizations and upgrades.

It is also important to know that if you invest in cheaper machines initially, it may require more maintenance down the line. This can further increase downtime. Therefore, it may be worth investing more to increase long-run productivity.

Further, you can use tools such as risk audits to check the quality of your machinery.

Having explicit knowledge and budgeting for potential downtime will also help you avoid any unexpected production errors. It will also help you justify to stakeholders the importance of predictive maintenance and initial investment.

Reducing the Downtime of Labor

A large portion of downtime is a result of unproductive workers. For example, one of the leading causes of downtime is operator errors. 

If you can change workers’ mindsets, you can empower your employees to become incredibly effective and productive. Ultimately, these good operators will be able to diagnose and fix their own machinery. They will also be on top of maintenance schedules and documentation, allowing them to prevent future potential losses.

You can empower workers through company incentives or skills training. Another way is to include workers in the innovative process, making them feel like they are working toward a bigger vision.

How Kor-Pak Can Help

We at Kor-Pak have a range of maintenance, repair, and modernization services. These types of predictive maintenance can help you reduce millions of dollars worth of monetary losses due to the high cost of downtime. 

You might also be unsure about what service is right for your business. If this is the case, you can also contact us directly for more information.

In the third quarter of 2020, there were 257 cranes in active use across North American cities. Every time construction workers use one of these machines; they must complete a routine crane maintenance check. Sometimes, though, they’ll find problems that they cannot fix without the help of an inspection and repair service—like crane alignment issues. 

Even though this is one of the most common crane problems, it is dangerous, which is why you should be able to identify when it is happening to your machine. To learn about the symptoms of an unaligned crane and why you should get it inspected frequently, keep on reading. 

Crane Alignment Benefits

Cranes and their parts already cost a lot to produce, rent, and buy. By performing routine crane maintenance checks, your company is going to save a lot of money.

An unaligned crane could result in a derailment or an accident. The amount of downtime it could take to repair the crane alone isn’t cost-efficient, either.  

Fortunately, in 2017, crane-related injuries were at the lowest they had been in seven years. To contribute to this downward trend, you should be on the lookout for these issues, as you’ll want to have your crane serviced as soon as possible to ensure you and your worker’s safety. 

Lifespan Gains

The most prominent sign that you have an alignment issue has to do with the wheels on your crane. Listen for screeching or crashing noises when they move. These sounds indicate that the wheels are floating or slipping off the rails. 

Additionally, the wheel flanges can break if the crane is misaligned, even though they should keep it on track when the rails bend or the machine moves too fast. Wheels are expensive, and for this reason, you should invest in ones made of steel. They’re durable and can be reconditioned for further use to save you money in the long-run. 

Efficiency Gains

You should also pay attention to how much energy it takes to operate the crane. A standard electric tower crane usually uses about 800 amps. Knowing this baseline will make it easier to identify when something is wrong and saves you from paying a higher electricity bill. 

Another way you can create more efficiency gains for your company is to upgrade to an automated crane. These machines need less time to finish a project, allowing your company to complete more tasks than usual and reducing the amount of energy you need to run it. 

Get a Crane Inspection

If you’re having crane alignment issues and need an overhead inspection, look no further than Kor-Pak Corporations. We’ll look at all its components and devices to find the root of the problem. We’ll also give you a quote for the repairs. 

Contact us today to schedule an inspection date. We’ll get it back up and running on those rails in no time. 

The future of the construction industry can, at times, hinge on the future of the crane industry. Advancements in crane tech can determine the efficiencies of this year’s work sites. And evolutions in the crane market can determine the tools available for construction projects across the world.

It goes without saying, then, that we must understand what’s next for the cranes in 2021. So, let’s jump in and take a look at what we predict will shape the crane industry this upcoming year, from battery-powered cranes to construction backlogs due to COVID-19 and beyond.

Major Factor #1 — Battery-Powered Equipment

In 2020, we saw the birth of the world’s first battery-powered crawler crane. And it packs a punch. It’s quieter than typical cranes, fast-charging, and as strong as a standard crane. 

Plus, batteries provide a cleaner energy source than typical fossil-fuel-based products. As a result, battery-powered cranes are more energy-efficient, better for the environment, and release fewer harmful emissions. 

Why does any of this matter for 2021? Well, in years past, battery-powered cranes were the goal. But now they’re the reality. And with on-the-job benefits like reduced noise, great charge time, and real-world toughness — as well as their climate-friendly features — they’re sure to be the way of the future, paving the way for an electric future.

Major Factor #2 — Technological Advancements

Along with the engineering advancements listed above, 2021 also promises to be an exciting year of ever-evolving technological innovations.

In 2020, the construction industry saw an increase in new tech, making life easier on the job site. From all-new sensors making data collection easier to the artificial intelligence systems making sense of the data — the everyday worksite has taken a big leap into a more connected and digital future.

As a result, we see an increased push and emphasis on streamlined business processes and increased day-to-day efficiencies.

Why does this matter for 2021? Because with increased digital connectivity, there will also come a whole host of new products and tools optimized for improved speed, quality, and precision — cranes included. 

Major Factor #3 — COVID-19 Backlogs

Last but not least, let’s address the elephant in the room.

2020 hit the economy in a problematic way. And the construction industry was no exception. As a result, heading into 2021, there’s been a recognizable decline in the backlog for many companies and firms worldwide.

It’s no surprise, then, that this issue of the backlog will be a major factor in 2021 crane usage and play a key role in shaping overarching 2021 crane industry trends.

For instance, it’s been reported that many construction firms are chasing jobs well below their average financial ranges. And, what’s more, with so much sickness having spread via COVID-19, many individuals and companies haven’t been as eager to return to the job site. 

Why does this matter for 2021? Unfortunately, many firms aren’t as eager to purchase new equipment if they cannot anticipate or project steady incoming business and cash flow. As a result, this impacts the production, sales, and distribution of cranes across the globe.

Things to Know About the Crane Industry in 2021

While many serious factors affect the crane industry globally, there are still many major trends to be excited about. From technological advancements to the birth of a battery revolution, 2021 promises to be an inspiring new year for cranes — albeit challenging at times, we’re sure.

Now more than ever, it’s important to stay up-to-date on this year’s crane news and forecasts. So, be sure to visit our site and look for the latest! And for any of your construction, production, or crane industry needs — you know who to call. 

Contact us any time, any day. We’re here for you!

As someone who works in construction, you know that several different types of cranes are available to you for each job.

There are so many different crane types because other jobs call for various equipment; if only one type of crane were needed for all jobs, then only one type of crane would exist. 

Therefore, for optimum efficiency and your workers’ safety, you must choose the correct type of crane for each specific situation. 

If you aren’t sure how to determine which crane is right for your job’s lift plan, read on. The following factors should all come into play when you make your decision. 

1. Load Weight

The most obvious and most important factor to consider when choosing the type of crane for a job is the load weight you need to lift. A smaller crane will do the job for a smaller load, but if you plan to lift something heavy, you’ll need a more robust crane. 

You might be tempted to use a large crane for any size job, but this will waste time, energy, and money. Cutting corners with a less powerful crane can lead to damage to your materials or, worse yet, injuries or fatal accidents. 

Take time to think about the loads you plan to lift and their weight ratings, and use that information to choose the correct crane for the situation.

2. Lift Height

Of course, another crucial factor to consider when choosing a crane is how high you need to lift the load. The higher you plan to lift your materials, the longer the boom on the crane will need to be. 

This is another area in which the wrong decision on your part can quickly lead to a dangerous situation. Don’t try to lift an object higher than your chosen crane can handle, or you may drop the load or flip the crane. This is not only extremely dangerous, but it will be a costly mistake as well.

3. Terrain

To lift a heavy weight, you need a stable base. When it comes to lifting things with a crane, you need to make sure the crane base is stabilized firmly on the ground. 

If the ground around your project is uneven, you’ll need to choose a crane with a broad support width. However, if the base surface is flat and firm like concrete, a truck-mounted crane should do the trick.

Regardless of the terrain, you should also consider the weather when choosing a crane. Excessive wind or water from rain or snow can cause a crane to become unsteady. Be sure to choose the safest option for your project with these factors in mind.

The Best Type of Crane Depends on Your Job

Remember, the best type of crane for each specific job may differ from past jobs you have completed. It can seem overwhelming to choose the correct crane, but the job, your materials, and the safety of you and your workers depend on it. Make sure you take the time to choose carefully so you can experience the best results without delays, loss, or tragedy.

If you experience difficulty when choosing a crane, please contact us. We’d love to help you make this important decision for any job so you can be both safe and efficient when working on your projects.