If you are considering the installation of an overhead crane in your factory for the first time, you should be alerted to the fact that this is no small task. You will need to hire a construction contractor who specializes in industrial and manufacturing equipment installations. Before you get that far, though, here are a few other things you should know or do before you make that final leap to purchasing and installing an overhead crane.

Overhead Cranes Need a Lot of Space

If you want an overhead crane installed permanently and for use in a particular area of your factory, it will need a lot of space. People tend to forget that these machines operate on a sliding platform overhead (thus the name) and while the crane claw itself does not need much space, the frame does. Before you get excited about new equipment that will make work easier and safer for the employees, be sure to measure the distance between walls and know the floor-to-ceiling measurements first. These measurements will determine how large your crane should be and how much power you can get from the hydraulics and the engine.

Overhead Cranes Require a Lot of Electricity and Electrical Wiring

Some factories, when they install their overhead cranes, opt to install a separate fuse box just for the crane. While these machines deliver a lot of power to the production line, they also consume a lot of electricity. To support that, you may want to consider a separate fuse box for your crane, and possibly a solar panel to collect energy and keep the crane going when it might otherwise short-fuse its own electrical source. Ask your electrical contractor your company's electrical engineer how you can make the crane a more energy-efficient option while still delivering the new production services you were hoping to incorporate into the factory.

Overhead Traveling Cranes Will Need Their Own Tracks Around the Building

If you are also considering a traveling crane (i.e. one that travels across multiple overhead rails), then you will need to install several support frames and several tracks all over the factory. If your work floor space is already cramped, you may need to expand, pushing the factory's exterior walls out several yards to accommodate this type of crane. The expansion may interfere with production in the short-term, but the addition of space and the traveling crane may improve safety and production in the long-term. Discuss the expansion costs and limitations with construction and electrical contractors to see if this is even a feasible option for your current building.

For more information, contact American Equipment Inc or a similar company.

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