Learning More About Manufacturing

If you have decided to add an overhead crane to your factory floor to aid in transporting cargo from one section to another, you may wonder how you should go about selecting the right equipment for your industrial business. Besides making sure the crane meets all OSHA regulations, ask yourself the following questions to help you decide which overhead crane will serve your factory's needs.

What Types of Cargo Will You Be Moving?

One question to ask yourself when selecting an overhead crane for your factory is about the cargo you will be moving with the equipment. If your loads include heavy machinery, you will need to select an overhead crane that is made from reinforced steel, as well as order cables that can handle the extreme weight. 

Not only do you need to think about the size and weight of the loads, but you should think about how the cargo will attach to the hooks. For example, if you know you will be moving large pieces of equipment using nets and cables, the cables will most likely have loops that can fit directly into the crane's hook. In this case, you would not have to think about any additional attachments.

However, if your cargo loads include pallets of boxes wrapped with cellophane, you may need to make adjustments in how you connect them to the crane's hoist. You may need to purchase an attachment that allows you to connect the load below the hook. Or, you may need to special order a hook that has longer dimensions than the standard one.

What Type of Hoist Will Serve Your Needs?

After considering the types of loads the crane will be carrying throughout your factory, your next question to yourself should be about the type of hoist that will serve your needs. You also need to consider your factory's environment when making this decision.

For example, when choosing between an electric hoist and a pneumatically powered one, think about the amount of moisture in the building's air. If you have machinery that produces a lot of steam, an electric motor would not be an ideal option. The excessive moisture could blow the circuits and fry the wires, making constant, extensive repairs necessary that would cost you money and slow production.

However, since a pneumatic hoist works on an air-powered system, the steam from the factory's machinery would not adversely affect the hoist. It would last longer than the electric hoist, saving your money and productivity in the long run.

How Do You Want the Crane Controlled?

Another question you should ask yourself is about how you want the crane to be controlled by your workers. Depending on the locations of your employees' workstations and the loads, this decision can help save your workers time when operating the crane.

If the workstations are close to the cargo loads, you may want a crane that uses a stationary control panel. This type of controls can decrease the amount of extra wires and installation of the overhead crane system. 

However, if your workers' areas are scattered throughout the plant, a remotely controlled crane may be the ideal option for you. Since the controls are not confined to one area, your workers can load and operate the crane wherever they need it.

After going through the above tips, you may still have questions or concerns about selecting an overhead crane for your factory. If so, speak with the representative for the overhead crane service from which you plan to buy the industrial crane to discuss your options and have them guide you toward purchasing the right one for your business. For more information, visit websites like https://amquipinc.com/.