What is an Overhead Crane?
Also known as a bridge crane, factory crane, or a workstation crane, an overhead crane is a piece of machinery that lets you lift, lower, and transport heavy materials horizontally through the overhead space to improve employee safety and reduce the workload on your workforce. In this manner, an overhead crane can be said to be an efficient and cost-effective piece of equipment that provides added flexibility by improving material handling safety, efficiency and streamlining workflow.
This type of crane is often found in industrial environments where it is used for manufacturing or maintenance applications such as storage, loading, or unloading activities, among others. It can also be used for the same purposes outdoor in a yard, at a railway, or shipping port, thanks to its capacity to enhance the material handling process. The overhead crane utilizes a runway system to maximize safety, machine life, and to improve productivity. The lifting device is known as a hoist.
What Does an Overhead Crane Manufacturer Make?
Overhead cranes are an excellent material handling solution that facilitates industrial activities. Consequently, manufacturers of an overhead crane aim to produce tools that serve as the perfect lifting solution for manufacturing and metal fabricating operations.
The systems are made using steel. The kind of steel used in producing an overhead crane and the crane design depends on the nature of the structure it will be used in as well as the weight it will need to lift and move. For instance, carbon steel is the dominant substance used in manufacturing overhead cranes that are intended for structures that do not require very high strength. The amount of carbon present in carbon steel can vary anywhere between less than 0.015% to more than 0.5%. Carbon and iron consist of around 98% of the properties of the carbon steel.
On the other hand, high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steels are used in manufacturing cranes that are intended for use in environments that require very high strength. Such machines are designed to lift heavier materials than those that are made from carbon steel. HSLA steels contain around 0.05% of carbon. The steel also includes elements such as chromium, vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, niobium, and titanium, which are added to strengthen the system.
Their engineering intelligence allows overhead crane manufactures to provide custom lifting solutions that fit with any facility and operation, all of which is done to facilitate lift activities and alleviate transport challenges.