In previous articles we have introduced some examples of cranes being refurbished by customers. Although refurbishing a crane can save customers a lot of money, sometimes it is more cost-effective to purchase a new crane. The specific choice needs to be judged according to the actual working conditions. Today Dongqi Crane shares a case of an Australian diversified steel trading and distribution company purchasing an overhead crane. Improving productivity at its Adelaide factory with purchase of new overhead crane technology

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The cost-effectiveness of new bridge cranes

The latest crane system complements the three existing cranes used in the Australian operation, which are used to lift and move steel. The company supplies a range of products including plate, sheet, tube, structural and commercial rod.

The company originally wanted to upgrade an old shop crane, but after in-depth research, cost-benefit analysis and business impact assessment, they concluded it was more cost-effective to install a new crane. Crane companies have extensive expertise in the steel industry and chain hoist cranes are aimed at customers who require a combination of performance, safety and reliability in their lifting processes, with capacities ranging from 500kg to 5 tonnes.

The system includes durable components and a variety of technical features to ensure smooth, accurate load handling. John Jackman, branch manager for the Northern Territory and South Australia, explained that for “optimal cost effectiveness” the manufacturer provided them with a rigid beam structure. Cost savings were achieved due to the use of inverter lifting to reduce shock loads common on steel warehouse cranes.

He added: “As the variable speed control stops the operator from over-inching, the guaranteed reduction in ongoing maintenance costs for things like couplings and brakes justifies the additional purchase price of inverter lifting.

“In addition, the extended speed range (ESR) will increase the speed of no-load cycles or light lift cycles, helping customers move more steel safely.” The chain hoist has a compact aluminum frame for easy operation during maintenance . Additionally, the crane is equipped with new magnetic brakes capable of handling over one million operations, which will essentially serve the entire life of the actual crane.

Brake and slip clutch overload devices are also designed to prevent load dropping or micro-slip in the event of clutch failure or unexpected external hazards.

“My cycle times have improved with the new crane and my operators love it. Importantly for us, they are also supported by efficient Konecranes service,” he added.

The new system is also specified using the manufacturer’s latest LED lighting system. This is said to help reduce power consumption and improve lighting around critical lifting operations.

“These additional features really help the operator. For me it’s all about safety and efficiency, but comfort and ease of use are also important for the crane operator and I’m pleased that the manufacturer has catered for all requirements,” Trowbridge concluded.

What can we learn from this

As heavy mechanical equipment, cranes need to operate stably in various complex working environments, which places higher demands on the technical capabilities of crane suppliers. From this case, we can see that the customer chose to purchase a new crane between the two options of refurbishing the crane and purchasing a new crane, while praising the crane manufacturer’s expertise in the steel field. This reflects from another perspective the importance of experience in manufacturing cranes in different industrial fields. Dongqi Crane still has more experience to learn in terms of gaining customer trust. We can simply boil it down to the following points:

• Technological innovation capabilities: Crane suppliers should have strong R&D and design capabilities and be able to develop crane products with strong adaptability and stable performance for different working environments and needs. This includes technological innovations in optimizing the structure of the crane, increasing load-bearing capacity, improving operating performance, and reducing energy consumption.
• Product quality assurance: The quality of cranes is directly related to work efficiency and safety, so suppliers need to establish a strict quality management system to ensure that the quality of each crane meets relevant standards and customer requirements. This includes strict screening of raw materials, fine control of the production process, and comprehensive testing of products before leaving the factory.
• Customized service capabilities: Different industries and different projects have different demands for cranes, so suppliers need to have strong customized service capabilities and be able to provide personalized crane solutions according to customers’ specific needs. This includes customizing the crane’s structure, function, size, etc., as well as providing supporting installation, commissioning, training and other services.
• After-sales service system: Cranes have a long service life, and failures or maintenance will inevitably occur during use. Therefore, suppliers need to establish a complete after-sales service system that can respond to customer needs in a timely manner and provide effective technical support and maintenance services. This includes setting up a professional after-sales service team, establishing a rapid response mechanism, and providing regular inspections and maintenance services.
• Environmental adaptability: Complex working environments may include harsh conditions such as high temperature, low temperature, moisture, dust, etc. Crane suppliers need to ensure that products can operate stably in these environments and have sufficient durability and reliability.

To sum up, crane suppliers need to have multi-faceted capabilities to ensure that their products can adapt to various complex working environments and meet customer needs. Through continuous technological innovation, quality improvement and service optimization, suppliers can provide customers with better and more reliable crane products and win market recognition and trust.

Installing A New Crane Is Sometimes More Cost-Effective Than Upgrading The Crane