About Purchasing of Crane 

How to buy a right crane for your application at lower overall cost?

1.  Understanding your application

The best way is to check with the user how does the crane fits into the production or fabrication process. 

2. Knowing the Safe Working Load without oversizing the capacity of the crane

Find out the heaviest load to be lifted. You don’t need to add a safety factor, because we will do it during our design and component selection. Example, buy a 3 ton crane if the heaviest load is slightly less than 3 tons.

3. Measure the key dimensions

Measure the key dimensions of your building and lifting load if the crane is to be installed on existing building or simply provide us the following dimensions if the crane is to be installed on a new building under going or under planning. 

The key dimension includes:

Maximum height the load must be lifted. Inner width of building. Height of the lowest obstruction from the ceiling. (Obstructions include things like the ceiling joist, sprinkler systems, hanging lights, duct work etc.) Dimensions of of the lifting load.

4. Buy a single girder crane instead of double girder crane

A common misconception is that double girder cranes are more durable! Based on DIN / FEM standard, both single and double girder cranes are equally rigid, strong and durable. This is because single girder cranes use much stronger girders than double girder cranes.

The difference between single and double girder cranes is the effective lifting height (highest possible lifting height the hoist can achieve). Generally, double girder cranes provide better lifting height. However the difference is much lesser with the use of R. Stahl's 'Low headroom design' hoist for single girder crane.

However, not every crane can be a single girder crane. Generally, If the crane is more than 12.5 ton or the span is more than 30m, a double girder crane is a better solution.

Again, the common misconception is that wire rope hoist is stronger than chain hoist!  New technology has transformed chain hoists into a rugged and durable product. Example, Today's load chain can lasts up to 30 times longer than standard wire rope, it greatly reduces the down time and operational costs.

Duty ratings stated in DIN / FEM standard are a better indicator of the durability of hoist type (chain or wire rope). Therefore, when purchasing a crane, focus on lifting speeds, headroom and features, less on the type of hoist.

6. Select correct crane duty (FEM) , crane structure and mechanical components 

Find out the following information from the user, we will do the rest.

Average lifts and trolley and bridge movements were made in an hour.

Average length of each movement. 

Estimate the load lifted each time.

Total operating hour per day.

The past maintenance records will pinpoint likely future problems. Check with the users and the maintenance personnel to learn what are the common problems and the maintenance carried out during the past ten years, if any. The most possible problem areas are:

Check with the user and the maintenance personnel when was the last time they changed the oil of their crane? Most companies do very little preventive maintenance, especially to crane that was installed more than 6 metres above the ground.

If you are planning to install a crane into your new building. Remember to include Rotomatik in the design process, because we are able to provide you the best solution to minimize the cost of the runway and building. Besides saving a great deal of money, we also help to improve the floor space and headroom utilization.