When you have any crane in operation, you need to make sure that all parts are operating at their full capacity.

That includes the crane wheels. If your crane wheels show signs of flange wear or breakage, they need to be replaced. How can you tell what crane wheels are the best to buy?

Read on to find out.

1. Manufacturing Specs

The first place to start is with your crane’s manufacturer. They will have specs available as to what you need to replace the wheels. For example, Demag Cranes have a wheel range for their cranes.

Buying crane wheels outside of the specs could result in damage to the crane, or worse, accidents or injuries.

2. Operating Conditions

Your crane wheels not only need to meet the specs of the manufacturer, but they also need to meet the load and operating conditions of your business.

You want to make sure that the crane wheels will be able to withstand the load. If the wheels are overloaded, you’ll have to replace them much faster.

3. Order Fulfillment

For many crane wheel orders, there are unique customizations. There are also instances where you need crane wheel replacements in a hurry.

You want to make sure that the order can be fulfilled quickly. We have a large inventory and can handle these circumstances.

Prevent Crane Wheel Damage

When you do order and replace your crane wheels, you want to make sure that you maintain them and use them properly to extend the life of the wheels and minimize damage to your crane. 

Much like you’d rotate or replace the wheels of your car in pairs, the same principle applies to crane wheels. When you replace your crane wheels, you should replace them in pairs. That’s the case even if only one wheel has damage and needs to be replaced.

That can be due to a misaligned crane wheel or load imbalance Replacing two wheels at the same time will ensure that the crane wheels will be aligned properly. That will extend the life of the wheels and minimize other damage to your crane.

If you’re replacing your crane wheels due to cracked wheel flanges, it could be a sign of a misalignment issue. You want to make sure that your crane is inspected as you replace the crane wheels. This will prevent you from having to replace the wheels a short time later.

How to Pick the Best Crane Wheels

Your business largely depends on cranes operating at full capacity. Every part has to be in top shape to withstand the loads and working conditions.

When your crane wheels need to be replaced, it’s important to remember that your wheels should be following your manufacturer specs and be able to withstand the loads and conditions that you’ll put them under.

Are you ready to order crane wheels? Start by contacting us today to find out more about crane wheels.

Because of stiff competition in the market and rapid changes in technology, many companies across different industries have had to boost their production speeds through the use of overhead cranes, popularly known as bridge cranes. Bridge cranes assist in the transport of loads from one place to another over short distances. If you own a bridge crane, then you are familiar with the importance of equipping your machine with state of the art crane runway products that work to make your crane runway system a lot more efficient.

Here are three of the best crane runway products that you might need to add on to your machine if you want to bolster your business operations.

Crane Rails

Crane rails rank highly among the top crane runway products to add to your machine and are essential for loading heavy loads on to a railroad, especially where freight handling is involved. They are mainly used in shipyards, ports, and warehouses.

Crane rails are made of hardened steel, and the steel determines how the amount in weight the machine is capable of bearing. They vary across different types in diverse sizes and strengths such as special crane rails or the ordinary crane rails. Cranes that function from the ground use ordinary crane rails while overhead cranes tend to use special crane rails.

Crane Runway Beam

Crane runway beams are an integral part of any bridge crane. The crane runway beam component of a bridge crane may be either an I-section or a rolled I-section which is essential for the transport of horizontal loads. However, they can be used in suspended cranes functioning without a rail.

Crane rails are placed above the runway beams with the rail wheels moving right above the beams. The weight of the load that crane runway beams can bear is determined by various factors such as the weight of the hoist load, the weight of the crane, and the acceleration of the crane bridge. Due to its delicate functions and necessity, it is imperative that you look out for the best runway beams when conducting your crane runway search.

Crane Wheels

Bridge crane wheels are probably the most critical components of all runway products for cranes. They are made to carry hefty loads and to perform this function; the crane wheels are designed and manufactured from various steel alloys. Carbon and steel alloys are popular because the raw materials are available and cost friendly.

Various crane wheels are depending on the function required such as the non-flange crane wheels, the double flange crane wheels, and the single flange crane wheels. These wheels vary in durability depending on the hardness of the alloy, so they are quite vulnerable. The harder the crane wheel, the better it is at its functions.

Need Crane Runway Products? Start Here!

If you have been trying to find crane runway products, then look no further. Installing crane runway products is an investment not only on the efficiency of your business but on your employees as well. Feel free to contact us today so we can get you started!

When you make a significant investment in equipment like an overhead crane, you know that investment will last for years and pay off dividends.

Like with any machinery, technology evolves, and new features appear on newer cranes. Does that mean that you have to get a brand new crane? No, but you can upgrade or modernize your crane for far less money.

Keep reading to find out if it’s time for your company to upgrade your overhead crane.

1. Wear and Tear of Crane Components

Over time, the components of an overhead crane will experience wear and tear. Pads will get worn down, and ropes can start to fray.

For older cranes, you have to take into account lost time and production to have the crane out of service. You would be better off modernizing the crane, rather than have it out of service frequently for repairs.

2. Issues Discovered During Inspection

During daily or periodic overhead crane inspections, problems may appear. If there were issues discovered during the inspection, they need to be addressed before you put the crane back into service.

That could require part replacement or upgrade.

3. Change in Operations

Your business may be experiencing a change in operations, which means that your lifting requirements have changed, too.

For example, a crane may need to make more lifts each shift, or you need to lift different types of materials than before. These changes could impact the load factor of the crane and cause more wear and tear on parts.

You want to make sure that your overhead crane is upgraded to meet the needs of your changing business operations.

4. Replacement Parts May Be Discontinued

As cranes get older and manufacturers release newer overhead crane models with updated features, your crane may no longer be supported.

Manufacturers may stop making replacement parts for older cranes, choosing to focus on their current line of cranes.

In this case, you’ll want to upgrade your crane and stock up on replacement parts.

5. Make Safety Improvements

Safety is always a priority for your business and your workers. It may be time to perform an upgrade to meet changing safety standards.

Since the technology of cranes is improving, safety standards of various industry organizations like ASME change as well. You can upgrade your overhead crane to meet these changes.

Upgrade Your Overhead Crane

An overhead crane can be challenging to maintain, especially as it gets older. Crane technologies change, and new features are added all the time.

The ways you can tell if an overhead crane needs an upgrade is if there is wear and tear of the components, replacement parts are being phased out, or if you want to improve the safety of the crane.

Would you like to know more about overhead crane parts to upgrade your crane? Contact our sales team today.

On overhead crane is a significant investment that you want to see last for years to come.

Overhead cranes may seem indestructible, but they require inspection, maintenance, and repair, just like any other piece of equipment or machinery.

Not doing so can result in accidents and injuries. There are about 200 crane-related deaths a year, mostly due to a worker being hit by an object from a crane.

Read on to learn the top signs that your overhead crane is due for inspection.  

1. Poor Records of Crane Inspections and Maintenance

It can be challenging to run a construction operation and keep adequate records of your equipment. OHSA requires that you maintain records of your inspections for seven years.

If you find that your inspection records are inadequate, your best bet is to start over and schedule an overhead crane inspection.

Your company should have checklists that show daily inspections for excessive wear and deterioration. Monthly inspection checklists should check for wear as well as inspecting rope and connections for wear.

Your records should also include what precautions and remedies were taken if your inspections showed any signs of repair or wear.

2. OHSA’s Standards

OHSA has strict standards that you need to abide by when it comes to overhead crane maintenance and inspection. You need to comply with OSHA’s standards and show that you have made inspections daily, monthly, and periodically.

There are some variations as far as periodic inspection goes. It depends on how and often the crane is in use.

OSHA’s guidelines also say that a crane that has been out of service between 1-6 months has to be inspected before resuming service.

For overhead cranes that used in normal conditions, they can undergo an annual inspection. Cranes that see heavy service should be inspected twice a year. A crane used in extreme circumstances should have quarterly inspections.

3. Damaged Parts or Recent Repairs

Has your overhead crane show signs of wear and tear? If something shows up in the inspection, the overhead crane needs to be taken offline before the crane can go back into service.

If your overhead crane had worn parts replaced or you see that parts are starting to show signs of wear and tear, you should have your overhead crane inspected before it’s in service.

Anything that appears loose or damage, such as frayed wires or hooks need to be repaired and inspected.

Get Your Overhead Crane Inspected

In a busy construction firm, it can be easy to let things fall through the cracks or put off things like an overhead crane inspection.

The more you put this off, the more likely it is that there will be an accident. That can cause injury to your employees and bystanders.

It’s a necessity to have your overhead crane regularly inspected to meet OSHA’s safety guidelines and the guidelines of your crane’s manufacturer.

Contact us today to schedule an overhead crane inspection today.

You’re using an overhead crane to move a few heavy tools from one place to another in your facility. Suddenly one of the objects slips out of the sling and falls to the ground below.

Luckily, none of your employees were hurt — this time. Overhead cranes are an easy and effective way of moving items throughout your facility, but if you don’t take the correct safety precautions, using them could end in disaster.

Safety needs to be your top priority no matter what machinery you’re using. To help you keep your workplace safe for everyone, here are three critical overhead crane safety tips.

1. The Hoists Need to be Maintained 

The quickest way to experience disaster when using overhead cranes is neglecting to maintain your hoists. Without regular testing, you’ll never know how much weight your hoists can take at one time. 

It’s also a known fact that machines get old. Moving parts do wear out after a while. Without maintenance, you won’t be aware when these parts start breaking down. 

To avoid danger, take care of your machines and get them checked regularly. 

2. The Slings or Attachments Should be Secured 

A lot of accidents involving overhead cranes could have been avoided if the slings had been appropriately secured. When you fail to make sure everything is secure, the heavy items could slip out and go crashing to the ground. You can only guess what happens if there were a bunch of employees in the way. 

Some hoists use a hooked latch. If you don’t close it all the way, the items can slip out like in the example above. While you’re at it, make sure any other attachments for the hoist are appropriately sized and are nice and secure on the hook saddle. 

3. Notify Your Employees of the Possible Risk

The easiest thing that you can do to avoid risk is to keep your employees informed of the danger at all times. Place “hoist danger” signs around the area, so that workers are aware that lifts are swinging above their heads. 

Training is also essential. All employees should be aware of necessary safety procedures like not walking under a full load. The employees in charge of operating the crane should know not to hover heavy items over the workers on the ground. 

Overhead Crane Safety Tips to Keep in Mind During Every Job 

While using an overhead crane to transport heavy items in your facility can be convenient, it can also be dangerous if done incorrectly. Use these safety tips to keep yourself and your employees aware so that you can avoid disaster in your workplace. 

Part of keeping your employees safe is making sure all your machine parts are up to date. Contact us to ask us questions about our products or request a quote!