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How to Buy an Overhead, Gantry or Jib Crane
Buying an Overhead Crane, Gantry Crane, or Jib Crane can be a tough task. Often, buyers know just enough to make the decisions to over-buy or under-buy an overhead crane that will cost the buyer either in purchase money or repair costs.
Wise buyers of overhead cranes and similar products follow a set method to getting a technically-correct overhead crane at the best price commercially available.
Understand not only what the overhead crane capacity is, but what the duty cycle is. Duty cycle is a measure of how hard the overhead crane is used. In this respect, an overhead crane is just like a internal combustion engine - although redline may be at 7,000 revolutions per minute, the engine will not last if it runs at redline twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It's best to find a worksheet or chart that can help better understand the duty cycle the overhead crane should be rated at. Proper duty cycle selection can easily save you huge amounts of money.
Get an apples-to-apples comparison. Different crane manufacturers use different standardized and not-so-standardized systems to rate duty cycle of overhead cranes. The duty cycle can be expressed in the following ways: "H-rating", meaning H1, H2, H3, etc..., "M-rating", meaning M2, M3, M4..., and a letter-rating, meaning A, B, C... It's okay to use any of these, but remember to get your seller to state what type of rating is being used. This includes mechanically, electrically, and structurally. Some overhead crane manufacturers will sell a "Class D electrical" overhead crane. This does not mean it is structurally or mechanically Class D, and makes for a significantly mismatched comparison.
Buying an overhead crane, gantry crane, or jib crane does not have to be a painful experience. To buy the technically correct crane for the best commercially available price, understand your duty cycle, get apples-to-apples comparisons. The extra time spent will deliver huge rewards.
This article was written by Lifting Gear Direct suppliers of all related lifting gear products
