Buying an overhead crane, gantry crane, or jib crane can be a difficult task. Buyers often know enough to get dangerous. In other words, decisions can be made to buy too much or too little of an overhead crane that will cost the buyer purchase money or repair costs. Smart buyers of bridge cranes and similar products follow the three-step method to obtain a technically correct bridge crane at the best commercially available price.
STEP ONE: Understand not only what the capacity of the bridge crane is, but what the duty cycle is. Duty cycle is a measure of the intensity of use of the bridge crane. In this sense, an overhead crane is like an internal combustion engine. Although the red line can be 7,000 revolutions per minute, the engine will not last if it runs on the red line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is best to find a worksheet or chart that can help to better understand the duty cycle in which the bridge crane should be classified. Proper duty cycle selection can easily save $ 20,000 in two years.
STEP TWO: Get an apples-to-apples comparison and get it in writing. Different crane manufacturers use different standardized and not so standardized systems to rate the duty cycle of bridge cranes. In recent years, I have seen the duty cycle expressed in the following ways: “Classification H”, which means H1, H2, H3, etc., “Classification M”, which means M2, M3. , M4 ??, and a letter classification, that is, A, B, C ?? It’s okay to use any of these, but have your three potential sellers put it in writing that the entire overhead crane has a certain type of rating. This includes mechanical, electrical, and structural. Some bridge crane manufacturers will sell a “class D electric.” overhead crane. This does not mean that it is Class D structurally or mechanically, and it makes the comparison not match significantly.
STEP THREE: Get competitive proposals for your bridge crane needs. Crane manufacturers abound. If you’re not dealing with one that’s completely helpful, timely, and knowledgeable, there’s one waiting to be all of the above. There is no need to take advantage of it due to the frequent changes in management, production schedules and components used by crane manufacturers.
CONCLUSION Buying a bridge crane, gantry crane or jib crane does not have to be a painful experience. To buy the technically correct crane at the best commercially available price, understand its duty cycle, get apples-to-apples comparisons, and get competitive proposals. The extra time invested will pay off both financially and mentally. Should an overhead crane be like a good truck? a tool that lasts for years and works as a trusted friend. [http://www.alliancewestern.com/cranehome.htm]