3 Rising Crane Industry Trends to Watch in 2021

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!

How to Choose the Right Crane For Your Project

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.

 

A Closer Look at the New AC 450-7 All Terrain Crane By Demag

Expanding your business with an all terrain crane is challenging. Taking an in-depth look at cranes’ features helps to understand which one is safe and right for your business. 

If you haven’t heard about the Demag AC 450-7, it comes fully loaded. Its engineers say they kept a focus on setting new standards in this seven axle beauty. To learn more about it, continue reading below. 

All Terrain Cranes by Demag

When your business needs smart lifting technologies, Demag goes above and beyond. Construction professionals like your business know that finding a seven axle crane that delivers high performance in a compact design is challenging. 

When you choose a crane from Demag, you are getting the experience of the company’s experience that has a tradition of working to make the job of lifting efficient, safe, and straightforward since 1827. 

The crane market has been growing steadily in many areas. Many say that by 2025 global shipments will exceed 35 thousand annually

Introducing the Demag AC 450-7

When the engineers at Tadano Demag began work on the AC 450-7, the idea was to keep it compact while making it a powerful alternative to their six-axle models. Most say they’ve been successful in developing a crane that is the size of other six-axle models. Besides, its lifting capabilities have exceeded most expectations. 

Still, you may wonder why a seven axle crane? According to Michael Klein, the Product Manager at Demag, for the crane to Demag’s goals of more extensive lifting capacities and a more extended boom necessitated seven axles. Some of the Demag AC 450-7’s features include:

  • 80-meter main boom and can lift up to 195.5 tons
  •  It uses two system dimensions to make it easier to transport the luffing jib
  • Safe, quick, and simple set up due to the patented luffing jib rigging system 

What’s more, the new superlift design is providing a more powerful performance. Besides, it allows for better handling and functionality. 

Demag All Terrain Crane

If you are new to Demag all terrain cranes, you may be surprised with their superior design, engineering, and technology. Experts rely on these machines to go anywhere and help them handle the most challenging jobs almost effortlessly. They come in many sizes, and the cab design is ergonomic and intelligent. 

The Demag AC 450-7 is ready to support your next project. The 27.7 ft. outrigger base is at the same level as a six-axle crane. What’s more, the AC 450-7 comes with five different outrigger widths. Besides, this means the Demag crane has more site flexibility, specifically when in confined areas of construction sites.

All Terrain Cranes 

You know, finding all terrain cranes that can lift the capacity needed and fit in tight spaces for your next job can be a challenge. We have experts ready to answer any question you may have regarding Demag and the AC 450-7. Just contact us today

How It Works: All Terrain Cranes

It doesn’t matter if the weather is wild or you need a crane that drives effortlessly on uneven construction sites and landscapes; all terrain cranes have got your back no matter the construction project you are working on. You could say an all terrain crane is the crane for any terrain! 

There are many advantages to using all terrain cranes because it is essentially a combination of a mobile truck crane and a rough terrain crane. This makes it easy for the all terrain cane to navigate both public roads and the versatile landscapes of a construction site. 

You may be thinking about upgrading or modernizing your crane — before you do, read on to see the power and optimization an all terrain crane can offer you and learn how it works. 

Driving 

The all terrain crane uses all-wheel drive and can be powered by one or two engines. This crane can reach average driving speeds on public roads and gives you optimum mobility for on and off-road construction projects. 

Transportability 

An all terrain crane can independently move 40 to 1000 tons of material through sand, gravel, or paved surfaces at up to 55mph. The crane can even reach up to heights of 500 feet! 

Crane Design 

The all terrain crane’s design is compact because it is the aforementioned combination of truck and rough terrain crane. This crane is built for handling the conditions of a potentially harsh worksite, helping the operator carry out their job with less strain. 

Adaptability 

Using a hydraulically powered telescopic boom allows the all terrain crane to power its primary lifting mechanism. Because of this feature, an all terrain crane has many uses on a construction site. 

Efficiency

You’re on a time crunch, and your team is tired. You need a crane that optimizes efficiency, so you have increased productivity in a shorter amount of time. An all terrain crane includes attached booms attached to the crane, allowing them to travel with the crane. 

Safety 

On any job site, safety should always be a priority. In 2019, there were over 195,600 workplace injuries connected to construction work. The all terrain crane’s ability to reduce the operator’s fatigue reduces the risk of injury due to exhaustion. 

To optimize safety, pick the right crane for the job. Since the all terrain crane can transport itself to a job site, it’s a good option for navigating all sorts of terrain. 

All Terrain Cranes for You

All terrain cranes effortlessly navigate bumpy roads and awful weather while simultaneously being a powerful, efficient, and safe crane with all-wheel drive and two engines. 

It’s highly adaptable and a great crane for transportability. 

If you decide to become the proud owner of an all terrain crane, just know that we have your back when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and modernizing its parts. Contact us for a quote!

How It Works: All Terrain Cranes

It doesn’t matter if the weather is wild or you need a crane that drives effortlessly on uneven construction sites and landscapes; all-terrain cranes have got your back no matter the construction project you are working on. You could say an all-terrain crane is a crane for any terrain! 

There are many advantages to using all-terrain cranes because it is essentially a combination of a mobile truck crane and a rough terrain crane. This makes it easy for the all-terrain cane to navigate both public roads and the versatile landscapes of a construction site. 

You may be thinking about upgrading or modernizing your crane — before you do, read on to see the power and optimization an all-terrain crane can offer you and learn how it works. 

Driving 

The all-terrain crane uses an all-wheel drive and can be powered by one or two engines. This crane can reach normal driving speeds on public roads and gives you optimum mobility for on and off-road construction projects. 

Transportability 

An all-terrain crane can independently move 40 to 1000 tons of material through sand, gravel, or paved surfaces at up to 55mph. The crane can even reach up to heights of 500 feet! 

Crane Design 

The all-terrain crane’s design is compact because it is the aforementioned combination of truck and rough terrain crane. This crane is built for handling the conditions of a potentially harsh worksite, helping the operator carry out their job with less strain. 

Adaptability 

Using a hydraulically powered telescopic boom allows the all-terrain crane to power its main lifting mechanism. Because of this feature, an all-terrain crane has many uses on a construction site. 

Efficiency

You’re on a time crunch, and your team is tired. You need a crane that optimizes efficiency, so you have increased productivity in a shorter amount of time. An all-terrain crane includes attached booms attached to the crane, allowing them to travel with the crane. 

Safety 

On any job site, safety should always be a priority. In 2019, there were over 195,600 workplace injuries connected to construction work. The all-terrain crane’s ability to reduce the operator’s fatigue reduces the risk of injury due to exhaustion. 

To optimize safety, pick the right crane for the job. Since the all-terrain crane can transport itself to a job site, it’s a good option for navigating all sorts of terrain. 

All-Terrain Cranes for You

All-terrain cranes effortlessly navigate bumpy roads, awful weather while simultaneously being a powerful, efficient, and safe crane with all-wheel drive and two engines. 

It’s highly adaptable and a great crane for transportability. 

If you decide to become the proud owner of an all-terrain crane, just know that we have your back when it comes to replacing, maintaining, and modernizing its parts. Contact us for a quote!

Your Guide to Tandem Cranes and Critical LIft

A tandem lift is a tricky, dangerous operation. The critical crane lifts require planning, experienced supervision, and precise execution. Without proper planning and execution, an operation can quickly turn into an OSHA statistic

Keep reading to learn about the engineering specifics involved in a critical lift. 

Planning a Critical Lift

Cranes and hoists working in tandem are like poetry in motion. When a plan goes right, the cranes move smoothly, with operators and supervisors working in a beautiful rhythm. 

Before the lift, though, much planning takes place. 

Anytime a hoisted load nears a crane’s maximum capacity, the load qualifies as a critical load. Maximum capacity refers to 70% to 90% of a crane’s capacity. 

More than weight capacity qualifies a lift as a critical lift. A lift is critical if the lift:

  • Hoists personnel.
  • Hoists hazardous materials.
  • Requires two or more cranes.
  • Occurs on a floating barge.
  • Occurs near power lines.
  • Occur in a blind spot, out of the view of the operator. 
  • Involves technically difficult rigging arrangements.
  • Occurs in congested areas. 
  • Involves flipping or turning a load. 
  • Involves an unknown load weight. 
  • Occurs in unknown ground conditions or poor soil. 
  • Involves unstable pieces. 

Any time that environmental conditions make the lift dangerous or any time a crane operator believes the lift is critical, the lift can qualify as critical. 

All crane lifts require pre-lift planning. Because the potential of crane failure or catastrophic loss is much higher with a critical lift, critical lifts require a thorough lift plan. 

Parts of a Critical Lift Plan

An experienced supervisor will be able to complete a critical lift plan with ease. It must have the following information in it: 

  • The position and configuration of the crane or cranes involved. 
  • A description of the lift. 
  • Height of the lift. 
  • Load radius. 
  • Boom angle and length. 
  • Percent of the crane’s rated weight capacity. 
  • Size and weight of the load.
  • Rigging plan. 
  • Personnel involved. 
  • Communication method. 
  • Environmental conditions, including the ground conditions. 
  • Inspection procedures. 

Each of these elements ensures a safe lift in critical conditions. Without proper planning, the critical lift can turn deadly. 

The Feat of Tandem Cranes

Cranes working in tandem are responsible for the architectural and engineering feats we take for granted every day.  The beautiful hospital on the horizon of our city or the multi-tiered freeway we take to work is all a result of skilled engineers and crane operators working in tandem to put the pieces together.

Because a tandem lift is a critical lift, it requires the same kind of lift plan. However, because two cranes are working together, the tandem lift plan has more requirements.

Critical crane lifts involve tandem crane operations must have a written lift plan with the following details to ensure a safe lift: 

  • Crane positioning
  • Lift sequence
  • Load movement including the exact measurements of the longest radius of each crane)
  • Load distribution and transfer
  • Boom clearance
  • Clearance and weight of obstructions
  • Environmental considerations
  • The rated capacity for each crane involved
  • Angle indicators for each crane
  • Wind speed limitations
  • Rigging details
  • Maximum hoist line
  • Maximum crane travel speed
  • The need for and the position of signalers

Because of the complexity of having multiple cranes working on a single operation, you need an experienced supervisor. The supervisor may not operate the powered lifting equipment. 

Big Beautiful Builds

The key to a successful critical lift is communication, reliable equipment, and knowledgeable supervisors. The results are some of the most amazing human-made structures on earth. 

For the best cranes out there, contact us. Our reliable equipment can help you with your next critical lift. 

 

The Art of Heavy Lifting with Demag

The global crane market was worth $33.84 billion in 2019. Despite challenging conditions in 2020, analysts expect continued steady growth.

Is it time for a crane solution for your manufacturing, materials handling, construction, or infrastructure application? If so, it’s time to look at Demag.

Demag is a leader in the global crane market. Recent news stories demonstrate the value of the Demag hoist. Find out what Demag engineering can do for you.

Demag Cranes

Demag is a German heavy equipment manufacturer with over 200 years of experience building industrial cranes. These crane solutions include overhead cranes and mobile cranes.

Overhead Cranes

The primary uses of overhead cranes are in manufacturing and materials handling.

Demag offers single- and double-girder overhead traveling cranes as well as suspension cranes. Options include welded box-section girders and rolled steel sections. Wall-mounted traveling cranes and crane sets are also part of the Demag line of universal cranes.

Demag can design and build process cranes to the client’s specific requirements. This individualized approach ensures a high level of efficiency and safety.

Demag also offers a modular light crane system. The KBK light crane system can create various configurations that will adapt quickly to your specific requirements. The KBK light crane system can handle loads up to 3,200 kg.

Mobile Cranes

Demag offers several types of mobile cranes. All-terrain cranes have excellent maneuverability and come in a variety of boom lengths. City cranes are more compact but still offer powerful performance.

Crawler cranes have more lifting capacity than the other types of mobile cranes. They use a crawler track instead of tires and wheels. Crawler cranes are very maneuverable under heavy load.

Mastering the Demag Hoist: Tandem Lift

A Demag all-terrain crane (Demag AC 500-2) successfully participated in a tandem lift with a Tadano ATF 400G-6 in December 2020. The two cranes lifted a pressure vessel off a roll-on/roll-off pontoon and onto a self-propelled modular transporter. Tandem lifts are difficult to execute and are defined as critical lifts.

The pressure vessel weighed 138 tons and had a length of 12.8 meters. The Demag AC 500-2 has a capacity of 500 tons. It was equipped with 140 tons of counterweight to lift its load portion of 88.5 tons at a radius of 15 meters.

The Tadano ATF 400G-6 has a capacity of 400 tons. It had 98 tons of counterweight to lift the remaining 49.5 tons and a radius of 15 meters.

The joint lift enabled the self-propelled modular transporter to carry the pressure vessel to its destination by land. The pressure vessel reached its destination safely. After a period of temporary storage, it received maintenance and was placed on its foundation.

Demag Crane Success: All-Terrain in Mumbai

A Demag AC 1000-9, the largest Demag all-terrain crane, successfully lifted a 100-ton tunnel-boring machine from below ground up onto the middle of Mumbai’s surface. The lift was part of construction on the Mumbai Central Metro station.

To lift the tunnel-boring machine, the AC 1000-9 used its full 228-ton counterweight at a radius of 20 meters.

The restricted space in the city center and the project’s tight timeline required exceptional preparation and execution. The crane service provider had to move the AC 1000-9 from their workshop to the worksite on multiple trips overnight. They avoided the traffic in Mumbai and could get the crane and its equipment into the job site.

The team completed the challenging lift precisely and within the project time frame.

Putting Demag to Work for You

When you need exceptional performance, safety, and reliability in an industrial crane, you need Demag. Kor-Pak is an authorized Demag dealer. We offer the full Demag overhead crane product portfolio and repairs, inspections, engineering, and other technical services.

Contact us today to put the Demag hoist to work for you.

Load Testing and the Requirement for Overhead Cranes and Hoists

Overhead cranes are an impressive piece of industrial machinery. The largest payload ever lifted by an overhead crane was over 20,000 metric tons. While your equipment might not have that lifting power, it still needs to be operated safely.

Load testing is an integral part of keeping your crane well-maintained and in safe working order. But what is load testing, and how is it relevant to your equipment? This informative guide has all the information you need.

Load Testing Defined

Load testing is the process of inspecting a crane’s lifting abilities to ensure all parts are in working order. This is often done by lifting a load or applying pulling pressure to the crane using load testing tools. The performance results are then analyzed.

This simulates actual day to day crane lifting operations. It is essential to get load testing done on all overhead cranes. Chain hoist, electric hoist, and engine hoist cranes should also be load tested before use and at regular intervals.

Each of your crane’s components will be evaluated during the load test. If any of these individual components fail, your crane as a whole will fail as well.

Why Should I Get My Crane Load Tested?

Getting your crane load tested is imperative to protecting the safety of your employees. If your crane isn’t load tested, it is more prone to failure. In the case of industrial machinery, most failures are catastrophic. Loss of life and limb can occur.

Load testing for overhead cranes and hoists are also required by law. If your company is caught operating a crane without first having a load test, you can face a hefty fine or other penalties.

Contacting a professional is usually your best bet if you don’t have the right load testing tools on hand at your facility. You can get your crane load tested as part of your regular crane inspection routine. 

If your crane fails the load test for whatever reason, it is far better than failing in the field during normal operations. Load tests act as a buffer for the safety of your employees and the wellbeing of your equipment.

You should conduct load tests regularly following local, state, and federal laws. You can contact OSHA for more details about load testing standards and any other laws applicable to your industrial equipment.

Can Your Overhead Crane Pass the Test?

If your overhead crane is unable to pass a load test, it should not be used in day-to-day operations. Load testing is an integral part of maintaining safety in the industrial workplace.

Without load tests, there would be many more deaths and injuries attributed to cranes. The lifetime of overhead cranes would also decrease as well due to an increase in mechanical breakdowns. Get your overhead crane load tested today!

For all of your other industrial machinery and heavy equipment information, make sure to check out the rest of our blog.

How to Ensure Your Overhead Crane Operator is Up to Spec

In 2019, the rate of nonfatal occupational injuries among employees was 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers. Any business should keep their employees safe, but it can be challenging for industries that work with heavy machinery. Luckily, there are things you can do to ensure your operators are working safely.

Read on to learn about how your overhead crane operator can be up to spec.

Require Proper Training

An overhead crane operator should have the proper training and certification to operate the equipment safely. Training includes knowing the right procedures and measures to take at any moment.

For the best overhead crane safety, a company should provide training that includes classroom and hands-on instruction. A variety of topics that should be covered are hazard identifications, safety, safe maneuvering, and safety features.

Overhead crane training should also implement proper start-up and run-down procedures. A crane operator that can understand how to lift loads and know the machine’s capacity will be safer in the business.

Training should not be a one-time thing. When working with dangerous machinery, it is essential to provide operators with refreshers when needed.

Look out for workers who may be operating equipment incorrectly and using it for an unintended purpose. This is a telltale sign that an operator requires retraining. Only those trained to operate equipment should do so.

Inspect Before Use

An overhead crane inspection should be done before using it every single time. This will help ensure that the machine is in the proper operating condition.

Overhead crane service inspections should include checking for wear and damage, checking fluid levels, and other components for cracks. Before starting up the machine, an overhead crane operator needs to check the engine oil and hydraulic fluid levels.

After doing an outside check, start the machine to ensure the gauges and lights are working correctly. The operator should also check the alarms.

Listen for any odd sounds or smells coming from the machine. If there are any signs of damage, do not use the equipment. This could lead to further damage and safety issues for the entire staff.

Teach Proper Entering and Exiting Techniques

With many work injuries suffered each year, it is essential to know how to avoid an injury at all costs. This includes teaching your operators about how to enter and exit heavy machinery the right way.

Similar to climbing a ladder, an operator should get into equipment by maintaining three points of contact. Make sure hands are free as nothing should be carried while entering an overhead crane.

When exiting, an operator should not jump out or off of the machine. This should go without saying, but equipment that is in operation should not be entered or exited.

Before exiting, an overhead crane should be completely shut off, and the brakes should be on. Always put the keys in a safe place to ensure there is no unauthorized use.

Keep an Overhead Crane Operator Safe

Ensuring your overhead crane operator is up to spec begins with you. Before allowing them to use the machine, make them go through the proper training. Keeping your operators and other workers safe can be done by using this guide.

For more information on overhead crane safety tips, inspections, and other services, contact us today.

 

Industrial Equipment Maintenance 101: Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes require constant maintenance to operate safely. They’re always doing our heavy lifting. They need someone to lift them every once and a while as well.

You need to have a preventative maintenance program in place. A maintenance program like the one we’ve linked will help you space out your daily and less frequent inspections into a pattern that’s both manageable and logical.

How to Use This Guide

We’ve broken this guide down into four easily digestible sections:

  1. We define the kinds of inspections and equipment maintenance you should be doing daily.
  2. We define the kinds of maintenance you should be doing monthly and yearly.
  3. We break down the checklist building process for each of those time frames.
  4. We have a guideline you should follow to determine when your equipment is too old to keep functioning safely.

In addition to this guide, we also advise you to look up your specific crane manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines.

Once you follow these steps, you’ll be in a great position to care for your companies’ assets and guarantee your warehouses’ overhead crane safety!

1. Daily Maintenance

Daily maintenance of your overhead crane usually comes down to checking in on your crane’s critical safety features. That means you will be checking travel stops, engine health, and the hook or chain hoist that attaches to the item you’re moving.

When you’re checking the limit switches or stopping blocks on your crane’s track, check the following.

  1. Make sure the switches are secured tightly to the track.
  2. Make sure no ropes, tubing, or wiring is in danger of kinking or is showing signs of wear.
  3. Before using a chain of any kind, check the links for deformation, corrosion, or other damage.
  4. Listen for unusual noises from your crane’s engine and bearings.

If you notice anything abnormal, then contact an OEM service technician immediately.

2. Less Frequent Maintenance

Less frequent types of maintenance that you should be doing are called scheduled maintenance. Care like this applies to monthly or yearly industrial equipment maintenance and inspections by OEM service techs.

Other instances include regular lubrication of the crane’s moving parts, replacing damaged parts, and not preventing your overhead crane operator from regularly lifting overcapacity. You should also check in on your crane’s clutch and brake pads every six months or so.

You can obtain information about scheduling each of these activities by reaching out to your overhead crane manufacturer.

3. How to Develop a Maintenance Checklist

Maintenance checklists are an essential part of any preventative maintenance program. This article is an excellent resource for the preventive maintenance guidelines you should be adhering to daily.

Next, map your checklist out on a calendar so that you can include checkboxes for less regular maintenance activities that you perform on your cranes.

Mapping out your maintenance on a calendar will help you visualize the steps you need to take to keep your equipment operating as it should.

Also, keep an equipment maintenance log for the less frequently occurring check-ins and part replacements to stay timely.

4. How to Know When to Replace Your Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes often have a lifespan of 10 years as a minimum. If you properly maintain your crane, you can expect up to 50 years of continuous operation.

However, if you don’t maintain your crane, then a 10-year lifespan might be a bit optimistic.

So, how do you know when the lifespan of your overhead crane has come to an end?

You can look at a few factors.

  1. If the crane costs more to maintain, than it generates revenue (by moving material and allowing your employees to do efficient work).
  2. If your crane breaks down more often than it’s functioning, you might also want to consider an upgrade.

Both of these symptoms can signal an unsafe work environment. Schedule yearly checks for these signs in your company meetings.

Get Lifting!

For more useful tips on maintaining your companies assets, head over to our blog!