Tag Archive: material handling

1. How to Choose the Best Crane Service Provider for Your Application

   February 1, 2017 4:36 pm Leave a Comment

   Overhead lifting systems can yield major cost and space savings for manufacturers and material handling companies alike. To remain in continuous operation and comply with strict regulations, these systems demand proper crane service, routine maintenance checks, and regular quality inspections. American Crane & Equipment Corporation can provide these services for not only their own equipment but for other Overhead Equipment Manufacturer’s products as well.

   To ensure these standards are met, production is optimized and downtime is minimized — Buyers should keep a few key considerations in mind when choosing a crane service provider. Below, we’ve outlined eight important factors to take into account.

   8 Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Crane Service Provider

   1. OSHA Standards

   When crane maintenance crews conduct installations and repairs, OSHA’s strict compliance directives should always be at the forefront. Overhead and Gantry Cranes, specifically, have their own set of rules under OSHA 1910.179.

   2. Monthly and Yearly Crane Inspections

   While OSHA crane inspections are mandated; OSHA (1910.179 (j) inspection (ii)(b)), many companies don’t realize they must also maintain their cranes on a more regular schedule; OSHA (1910.179(j) inspection (ii)(R))  based on the duty cycle of the equipment. It is important to always have a service provider who is familiar with these OSHA requirements.

   3. Supply Parts on Short Notice

   It’s important to have access to a large inventory of top-name crane parts and components, especially since technicians work on all different makes, models, and sizes of cranes and hoists. This will prevent delays, as procurement and maintenance teams will not be scrambling to get machines back up and running after inspections.

   4. Versatile Technicians

   When a crane repair is needed, you’ll want to work with technicians who have extensive knowledge of different types of cranes across various industries, as well as a full understanding of the cranes used specifically in your facility. With this expertise, technicians will be able to offer valuable insight and provide easily interchangeable parts if necessary.  You should only use a company whose technicians meet or exceed the crane inspectors’ certification requirements.

   5. Load Testing

   To comply with OSHA crane safety standard 1910.179 (k) testing (z), test loads cannot exceed 125% of the rated load. Owners must show a historic record proving they are in compliance with this standard and respect the safe working load for the crane.

   6. Capabilities to Rebuild Existing Cranes

   When assembling your crane service team, look for partners who can provide a wide range of services — a team that can help out with minor headaches but also take full control of complex or involved projects, such as rebuilding existing cranes.

   The benefits of overhead cranes are only as good as the maintenance team ensuring their proper working order. To maximize run time, maintain OSHA compliance and outline the best possible project plans, plant managers should carefully select their crane service team.

   Additional Resources

   American Crane has been partnering with strategic resource managers for years as a third-party service team to ensure safe, smooth operation of all facilities. Whether these managers are looking for an expert in specialized crane systems or a generalist with broad industry knowledge, American Crane can help.

   To learn about what to look for when selecting a crane service provider, download our free Crane Buyer’s Guide.

   
   
   

2. Constructing Manufacturing Plants with Space Optimization in Mind

   July 11, 2016 7:37 pm Leave a Comment

   When contracted by material handling clients to build production facilities, construction and engineering procurement construction (EPC) companies play an important role in the client’s overall success.

   The design and layout of these facilities impacts the efficiency of and space available for inventory and employees, which has a huge impact on day to day operations. When it comes to manufacturing plant construction, the key to creating the ultimate production center is to optimize space.

   Not only do on-floor movers add costs by taking away floor space from inventory movement and storage, but they can also pose safety risks to operators. An innovative way to avoid these risks is to take advantage of the often overlooked ceiling space.

   Overhead Lifting Solutions

   There are many overhead lifting solutions and custom crane systems available to reduce clutter, enhance crane safety, and increase productivity within manufacturing plants. Overhead lifting systems, such as cranes, monorails, hoists, jibs, bridges, gantries, and trolleys, can all be operated manually, pneumatically, or electrically.

   Offering extreme precision and control, each type of overhead system maneuvers loads along three axes to an exact location while minimizing product damage during movement. The automation and built-in technology of these lifts also enables real-time data output on load info and run time, so plant managers always have an eye on production to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

   Most importantly, overhead lifting solutions help to prevent work-related injuries by reducing the number of obstacles on the floor and limiting the amount of manual lifting employees must do. These solutions offer the lifting capacity and precision required for high-efficiency production output, by keeping facility floors clear, thereby reducing the need for manual machine operation.

   By designing a manufacturing plant with these options in mind, EPC companies can help to create safer, space-optimized production facilities for their clients.

   Other Safety & Space-Saving Advantages

   If you are interested in learning more about the safety and space-saving advantages of overhead lifting equipment in your facility, we invite you to download a free copy of our guide, The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Overhead Equipment.
   
   

3. Optimize & Protect Your Production Team with Overhead Equipment

   December 2, 2015 9:20 am Leave a Comment

   Industrial material movers can be divided into two categories: on-floor and overhead. More and more businesses are discovering the advantages of replacing their traditional on-floor movers, such as trucks, forklifts, and fixed conveyors, with overhead equipment for material handling within facilities. Overhead movers include three main types: cranes, hoists, and monorails.

   Cranes utilize hooks, hoists, magnets, and other devices to transport loads. A crane’s operational range depends on the axes and rotational capabilities.

   Hoists are simple but adaptable pieces of machinery that use wires, ropes, or chains to move freely suspended loads. Hoists can be powered manually, electrically, or by air. Monorails operate like overhead conveyors; they run along fixed paths in the ceiling using a single circuit or network of routes.

   Compared to on-floor movers, each type of overhead material handling system provides the following benefits:

   • Reduced footprint — Cranes and hoists require some floor-based support structures, but these can be strategically placed at facility edges and corners to minimize their footprint. Monorails run on tracks installed directly into the ceiling and, therefore, leave no footprint on the floor at all.

   • Improved health and safety — Overhead movers reduce physical labor, which enhances ergonomics and removes employees from potential danger zones.

   • More power — Cranes, hoists, and monorails are typically stronger than on-floor systems. They have greater load capabilities and more lifting mechanisms to handle a variety of loads.

   • Increased productivity — Overhead movers allow for direct-path transportation, as opposed to on-floor movers that must navigate around various obstacles on the floor. The fixed monorail system reduces the opportunity for human error, which in turn lowers production losses.

   Traditional on-floor material handlers create many facility limitations. Bulky ride-on movers generate clutter and restrict floor space because they require wide pathways and intersections to maneuver. Even when they are not in operation, forklifts and ride-on movers take up a large amount of space on the floor and get in the way of production.

   On-floor machinery also depends on employee operation, making workers prone to long-term health risks and workplace injury. If a load is unbalanced or too heavy, forklifts can topple over.

   Impaired visibility on ride-on machinery can result in workers getting caught between walls or driving off of loading docks. Raised conveyor belts force employees to strain themselves reaching for objects and risking entrapment of clothing or limbs in machinery. Overhead movers minimize all these risks.

   American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO) is equipped with the resources to fit both standard and custom crane solutions. With over 40 years of experience, our team thrives on a problem solving culture.

   To learn more about the advantages of utilizing overhead equipment, we invite you to read our eBook, “The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Overhead Equipment.”