Equipment Upgrades & Rebuilds

Eventually, your crane will show signs of wear and tear, or become increasingly out-of-date as innovative features are rolled out in newer models. Keeping your cranes in top shape is critical to ensuring the safety of workers and extending the life of your equipment. Being proactive with your equipment’s care and maintenance will help avoid costly downtime, providing a positive impact on your bottom line over the long-term. 

American Crane and Equipment Corporation (ACECO) can provide crane evaluations, crane upgrades, and crane rebuild services to make sure your equipment keeps on serving your needs for years to come.

Crane Evaluation Services

Even if your crane is starting to feel dated, you’re likely hesitant to purchase new equipment due to the high upfront costs. This is when crane upgrades or rebuilds become particularly attractive. They allow you to modernize your equipment and extend its life at a fraction of the cost of a full equipment replacement. 

In the process of crane upgrades and rebuilds, you’ll also be minimizing potential future breakdowns and reducing the risk of costly accidents and OSHA violations. ACECO uses a simple but effective four-step process for crane evaluations:

1. Equipment Evaluation

Our highly trained and experienced technical staff begins with a thorough evaluation of your crane to assess its current condition. This step includes identifying ways to increase the crane’s operational reliability, improving safety, and identifying any relevant opportunities for enhancing crane capacity.

2. Condition Report

A condition report will be assembled for your review. The report will outline any identified deficiencies, concerns, and OSHA violations, providing full details on each identified issue, and recommendations for what actions must be taken to properly address them. Special attention will be given to helping our clients resolve outstanding OSHA violations as soon as possible.  

3. Proposal, Cost Estimate, and Schedule

The condition report will be accompanied by a proposal containing a detailed cost estimate for all recommended changes and actions. We will go over all these details with you in order to devise a plan of action.

4. Completion of the Work

Once the final scope of work is established, an implementation plan will outline how the work will be accomplished, along with the responsibilities of both ACECO and the customer. When the work is completed, ACECO will fully test and recertify the crane.

Signs That You Need a Crane Upgrade

Buying a brand new crane isn’t always the most cost-effective choice, so getting an evaluation first is essential to your bottom line. ACECO’s crane rebuilding services may significantly extend the life of your crane. Our crane rebuilds focus on upgrading the following parts:

  • Air Chain Hoists
  • Below-the-hook attachments
  • Brake Assemblies
  • Electric and Wire Rope Hoists
  • Hoist Drums
  • Wheel Assemblies

The following signs may indicate that you need to replace or upgrade your crane:

  • You’re considering purchasing a new crane.

If you’re thinking about buying a new crane, obviously there are problems with your existing model. However, modernizing one or more component systems may be enough to resolve whatever problems or shortcomings you are experiencing.

  • You want to improve safety and efficiency.

If you’re concerned about OSHA violations or safety risks, it’s essential to upgrade your equipment’s control systems. For example, you might consider replacing the crane’s cab with a remote controls, enabling your operator to work from the ground where they have a clear view that enables identification of hazards or obstacles. 

  • You can’t find replacement parts.

If your crane is older, at some point it will become difficult – or impossible – to find the parts necessary to keep your equipment running properly. At this point, it may be possible to upgrade the problem components to more modern and easily accessible parts, or you may just need to replace the crane. 

 

  • Your inspections keep revealing problems.

 

You should have a regular inspection schedule in place, and if your crane continues to develop new problems frequently, it may be a sign that it is near the end of its service life. Upgrades could potentially stave off replacement if addressed soon enough.

  • Your lifting requirements have changed.

Whether there has been a change in materials, scheduling, or the need for faster operation, you may be able to upgrade your equipment to meet the new requirements without making a new purchase, or you may need to replace your crane with a model that can handle your new requirements.

  • You’re paying for frequent repairs and service.

Service and maintenance costs add up over time. Track the cost of service calls, replacement parts, and downtime caused by your crane breaking down, and weigh those costs against the cost of upgrades or new equipment. A professional technician can help you determine the best course of action.

American Crane and Equipment Corporation is passionate about solving complex material handling and lifting problems, and our catalog features more than 40,000 hoists and cranes, trolleys, rigging, lifting devices, and spare parts to meet the needs of our customers. 


Contact our service department to see how we can help modernize the crane in your operation.