A well designed, cost effective material handling solution is critical to streamlining workflow and maximizing the productivity of your workers. Ceiling mounted workstation cranes are very common and popular options in today's marketplace. Also called "overhead bridge cranes," ceiling mounted cranes are inexpensive and efficiently move by the worker's own power. They are also the ideal material handling solutions for many companies because they can be installed at little additional cost.
Many manufacturing floors have limited work space. Overhead crane systems are a perfect solution for floors with little space because they can provide necessary coverage without the use of support columns, which can take up valuable floor space. Many ceiling mounted systems can also be linked together with a monorail or another crane that uses interlock sections, making them a welcome addition to any floor already performing efficiently.
Overhead crane systems are supported by the existing building structure instead of requiring support columns. Consult with a qualified architect or engineer for the first step in deciding if an overhead crane system is the right solution for your company. These professionals are the right people to determine if your building structure is able to support the crane system.
When choosing an overhead crane for your workshop, there are several factors to consider. Crane capacity is the first point to consider. Buying higher capacities than required creates extra load weight and leads to dead weight on the bridge. This requires more weight for the operator to move a load, though typically only one percent of the actual force weight is required for movement.
Three major points of consideration for companies considering an overhead crane solution are length, height, and width. The length of a crane runway is determined by the specific area requiring coverage, while height is measured from the floor to the point from which a hoist is suspended. The length of the bridge between the centers of two runways determines the width.
There are many different types of overhead cranes that fit the custom challenges of most manufacturing workshops, in addition to different sizes. Overhead cranes create easy, ergonomic movement for most operators if your company needs a crane solution for load transportation. Because they tend to operate more quickly, companies that have a fast paced working environment could find manual overhead cranes to be a better solution than motorized cranes.
Motorized systems can be used effectively if the application requires moving heavier loads in comparison to manual cranes. A motorized system should be considered for any manufacturing floor that requires its crane to transport 1000, 2000, or 4000 pound objects. The need for a motorized system also comes up when bridge travel across an inaccessible area is required.
Overhead cranes are the best solution for workshops that require cost effective solutions for handling materials. Proper consultation should be done before shopping for a solution as there are many overhead crane options. Make sure the solution you select is the best for your manufacturing jobs.
