Category Archive: Uncategorized

One-Stop Shopping for All Your Crane Component Needs

E-commerce and online shopping exploded during the pandemic to the tune of $4.2 trillion U.S. in 2020. And why not? It’s an easy, convenient way to find virtually anything you need (or don’t need: Chip Fingertip Protectors anyone?).

The trick, of course, is being able to find what you need. That’s not always the easiest thing to do. Take American Crane’s Online Store. It’s been up and running for the better part of a decade and used by many of our customers. Based on their feedback, however, we realized we could foster a better shopping experience by making a few key changes, which we’ve recently implemented.

Accessible via the yellow clickable button at the top of every page on americancrane.com—or by navigating one of two choices (parts and new equipment or custom manufactured equipment) at the bottom of the slider image window on our homepage—you will find our freshly revamped Online Store. It incorporates a variety of enhancements designed to make it much more intuitive and easier to find exactly what you’re looking for. These include new functions for keyword searches for filtering by brand, crane type (jib or gantry), lift height (10, 15, 20, or 30 feet), or by three primary product categories: parts, new equipment, and new old stock/used inventory.

Both the parts and new equipment sections include products from key crane, hoist, and monorail brands, including Duct-O-Wire, Columbus McKinnon and its different product families. Also Listed in the parts section is a huge selection of off-the-shelf replacement and service items for maintenance and repair, organized by category.

By browsing the new old stock/used inventory section, you’ll find ready-to-ship items ranging from electrical and mechanical components to full hoists and below-the-hook devices. We’re also listing refurbished and used equipment here as well, both manufactured by American Crane and by others.

With more than 40,000 separate items listed, the new search and filtering functions are a huge help for those who are searching for something specific. Already have a part number? There’s also an express ordering function that allows you to plug in the specific part—or parts—needed. In case you’re wondering, no, we do not physically stock every part sold via our online store. Many are shipped directly from the manufacturers themselves, often from the distribution center with the closest geographic proximity to your location to minimize shipping time.

For those who need a bit more guidance or have questions as they’re searching for exactly the right component, American Crane’s parts team is available for personal assistance via email at parts@americancrane.com or phone call at 610-385-2950. They can be reached between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday. Existing customers can also sign into the store to access their order history for repeat orders.

Finally, and as always, if you can’t find what you’re looking for in a standard, off-the-shelf model, American Crane can design, engineer, and manufacture virtually any crane or material handling equipment or system required. Our custom overhead lifting equipment is used widely across multiple industries—such as aerospace, nuclear, hazardous, cleanrooms, and more—to lift, lower, and transport critical loads. And we look forward to bringing that expertise to your next project!

We welcome you to check out our new online store as you’re looking for your next overhead material handling part or component. Have additional ideas about how we can make it even better? Contact us.

ACECO Leverages the IoT, to Create Smart Crane Technology

Ever since the rise of personal computers and portable phones in the ’80s, humanity has been on the fast track of innovation; seldomly slowing to take a breath, but as we find space and take time to bask in all we’ve created, among the many algorithms and blue light screens, it seems hard to figure out where we’ll end up—likely a healthy mix between Ready Player One, Orwell’s 1984, and Blade Runner. I guarantee real-life Sci-fi has found its way into your life. Smart technologies have already begun to dominate our lives, just look down at your Apple Watch, or tell your Google Home to play Spotify, shout Alexa and ask her to buy more toilet paper for your stockpile, or toss on your VR headset and instantly travel to a destination on the other side of the globe.

Past the blockbuster drama and sea of LCD screens, it is an inevitable fact that humans become more and more intertwined with technology every day. The machines we use are smarter, faster, and communicate more efficiently. 

American Crane is utilizing those advancements and building upon them in our Innovation Lab to better merge the world of overhead lifting and digital technology. One of our latest cutting-edge solutions: the new ACECO Smart Crane System, leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to continually collect machine status data for analysis.

What is the IoT? In the simplest terms, it’s an extension of internet and network connections to different sensors and devices embedded within industrial equipment and machinery. And its use is on the rise. According to the most recent MHI Annual Industry Report, IoT solutions are currently deployed by 21% of material handling equipment owners and are poised to be adopted by 80% of them within the next five years. Further, the report found that 45% of those surveyed believe IoT has the potential to disrupt the industry in a positive way or create a competitive advantage among those who use it; 39% say IoT supports ongoing operational improvements.

To support and utilize those findings, our ACECO Smart Crane System is designed and engineered to support real-time, wireless IoT communication with overhead handling equipment. This enhanced data exchange allows overhead handling equipment owners and operators to gain access to a variety of information about their systems, and to benefit from:

 

  • Detailed remote monitoring information about travel, lift, and speeds; load weights; limit states; amperage ranges; and drive fault status.
  • Collection and analysis of long-term, historic usage data for comparison and evaluation of trends in the Cloud.
  • Detection of, and alerts about, unsafe conditions.
  • Alerts to key personnel with event-based notifications via email or text when a pre-determined threshold has been reached.
  • More accurate timing for scheduling predictive and preventive maintenance or repairs based on actual usage.

 

Customizable and scalable, the ACECO Smart Crane System can be provided with a new crane system or retrofitted into existing equipment. Its system architecture interfaces with any crane system equipped with variable frequency drives (VFDs) for motor control and can be integrated into nearly any sensor embedded within the overhead equipment system. It consists of two separate solutions: 

  • SmartCrane loT – This system provides remote asset monitoring, improved performance, predictive maintenance and minimization or elimination of downtime through Cloud-based analytics. 
  • MachineHealth loT (MHloT) – Also AI- and XR-enabled, this machine health system monitors currents, vibrations, and temperature for cross-field industry applications. This comprehensive system allows for remote monitoring and Cloud-based predictive analytics to optimize performance, maintenance, and diagnostics.

Data collected by both of American Crane’s IoT solutions can be accessed in a centralized dashboard by both local and remote users via web browser or app. The Cloud-based dashboard offers graphical chart and table views of a broad range of data points. These include determination of Crane Manufacturer’s Association of America (CMAA) usage-based service classification (Class A-F); monitoring and more accurate predictions of component life spans based on speed, run time, and loading; precise scheduling of preventive maintenance and repair based on actual usage; trends in operation and function; and access to crane-specific design documentation, inspection reports, and user manuals.

Additionally, application of the ACECO Smart Crane System is not limited to overhead lifting. It can also be adapted to work with any other material handling equipment utilizing VFDs for motion control and operation. That allows users to gain the same monitoring and preventive maintenance benefits on other machinery within their facilities.

If you’re ready to have a more intelligent system communicate with your overhead lifting equipment, we’d love to make that happen. Connect with us today to learn more and Let’s step into the future together!

Bringing GRIT to MHI’s Board of Governors

Just a couple of months ago, in December 2021, I was honored to be named to the MHI Board of Governors. Established in 1945, MHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics, and supply chain industry for more than 75 years. The organization offers education, standards development, networking, and solution sourcing for its members, their customers, and the industry through programming and events — including the MODEX and ProMat tradeshows.

Leading MHI is its appointed Board of Governors. This group consists of the Officers and Board Governors of MHI plus the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of the corporation. The Board of Governors serves as the Board of Directors for MHI.

In American Crane’s 50 years of operation, participation in MHI has always been important to our company. As a forward-thinking, innovative company, taking leadership within the material handling field as a whole has been part of our organization’s vision from the beginning.

I was particularly honored to discover that I am only the second woman to ever have been appointed to MHI’s Board of Governors. It’s no secret that the material handling field — like many industries — has long been dominated by men. As a woman who grew up in this industry, I feel that increasing diversity among all levels is critically important to its continued success. For that reason, I was delighted to join MHI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee when it was first formed a year ago.

Creating inclusive and diverse workplaces brings different perspectives together on the same team. That variety of viewpoints and experiences allows companies — and industries — to solve problems more effectively. It’s a perspective we embrace fully at American Crane. It’s been a delight to share our company’s vision with other MHI members as they work to create an environment that fosters the appreciation of all employees’ creative diversity through trust, respect, and openness.

Further, American Crane has proudly served as a long-standing Executive Member of Crane Manufacturer’s Association of America (CMAA). An independent trade association that is affiliated with MHI, CMAA’s vision is to be the most trusted knowledge resource for overhead cranes. It works to achieve that objective through its mission: to deliver technical specifications and resources that promote safety in the design, operation, and maintenance of overhead cranes. CMAA’s engineering specifications are widely recognized as the preferred design standard for overhead traveling cranes, integrated crane systems, and crane components.

My father, Oddvar Norheim — American Crane’s past President and CEO — believed strongly in MHI, and in CMAA’s mission in particular. Not only did he serve a term as CMAA’s President, but he also assisted in the development of those recommended standards and specifications by dedicating several of American Crane’s own engineers to help in their development. Today, that tradition continues as I, too, have been heavily involved in CMAA since I joined American Crane two decades ago. Currently, I serve as CMAA’s President.

My involvement in these industry groups was among the reasons MHI CEO John Paxton cited when announcing my new Board of Governors role. He writes:

Karen provides clear, direct, and results-focused leadership of the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA). She brings her leadership experience as the President and CEO of American Crane and applies that to raise the Overhead Crane industry for all members. Based on her success leading CMAA, Karen was recently elected to the MHI Board of Governors’ where she provides those same leadership skills into the MHI strategic planning process.

In addition, she is a member of the MHI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. I really enjoy working with Karen. She is a collaborative leader who is direct, to the point, and has a passion for delivering results. Her company mantra is “GRIT Matters,” and she brings that GRIT to the MHI Board. We really appreciate her time as a volunteer supporting several MHI initiatives.

I look forward to continuing to give back to the industry while helping to chart its course for the future as a member of the MHI Board of Governors.

 

When It Comes To Best Practices In Overhead Lifting Safety, Pay Attention To The Details

As with so many things in life, it’s the little things that make a big difference. The same holds true of overhead lifting equipment and its operation: paying attention to the small details can have a big impact on the safety and productivity of a facility.

That’s why the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), an organization dedicated to promoting the standardization of crane design and operation — as well as uniform quality and performance — works hard to meet its mission. That is, to deliver technical specifications and resources that promote safety in the design, operation, and maintenance of overhead cranes.

Even after poring over those specifications, standards, and resources, owners and operators of cranes often still have questions. Many of those questions surround some of the key details that should be taken into consideration when buying, operating, maintaining, and inspecting overhead lifting equipment.

For that reason, CMAA — along with its partners in MHI’s Overhead Alliance, the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI), and the Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA) —worked together to develop their latest publication, the Overhead Lifting Best Practices Guide. The document was written in collaboration with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The Overhead Lifting Best Practices Guide gives owners and operators of overhead lifting equipment a comprehensive, single-source reference about some of the key tools and techniques — including the little details — that contribute to a safer operation. As the current President of CMAA and having worked in the industry myself for 20 years, I have seen the operational safety and productivity benefits that result from following these guidelines and standards. The 18 best-practice topics include:

  • Qualifications of overhead crane and hoist operator to ensure that personnel have been properly trained to safely use the equipment.
  • Fall protection for crane structures, specifically lifelines and harnesses that have been properly designed to prevent or stop the accidental fall of workers and their tools while working at height.
  • Capacity markings on cranes, hoists, and monorails to indicate to an operator the maximum rated load the system was designed to handle.
  • Safety signs — such as decals, labels, placards, cord tags, or other markings — indicate hazards and the safety precautions that should be taken to avoid them.
  • Audible and visible warning alarms that indicate to the operator and other personnel in the area of the crane’s operation that the equipment is in use.
  • Load tests to verify that the equipment will perform all functions (lift, lower, travel the length of the bridge and of the runway) while supporting a test load equal to the maximum rated capacity of the equipment. These are performed at commissioning, after any modifications are made, and during certain inspections.
  • Conductor bar systems, specifically bare uninsulated copper wire conductors positioned along the length of a runway to supply power to overhead equipment, and a fourth, unpowered bar for grounding the system.
  • Conductor bar guards and how to attach and maintain them so that they prevent inadvertent contact of power wires with hoist ropes, block, or load.
  • Upper limit switches are designed to cut off the power automatically at (or near) the maximum limit of travel for a crane motion, such as lift/lower, trolley traverse, or bridge traverse. This prevents damage to the overhead equipment that may result in a load drop.
  • E-stops and safety disconnects, their location, accessibility, and how they are to be used to cut off the power to the overhead handling equipment outside of the regular operating controls in the event of an emergency or loss of control.
  • E-stops for powered, below-the-hook devices that attach a load to the hook, such as vacuum lifters, electro-magnets, and grippers. These E-stops operate independently of the overall crane system, allowing the operator to disengage the power solely for the below-the-hook device if an emergency or malfunction occurs.
  • Runway disconnect switches provide a backup to an E-stop as a second means to disconnect power to the crane if a malfunction or emergency happens.
  • Rail sweeps, mounted in front of the wheels on bridge and trolley end trucks, ensure that any debris or obstructions in the travel path are bumped off the railway. They prevent damage to crane wheels, axles, and bearings, as well as stop objects from passing between the rail and wheels, which could cause a derailment.
  • Trolley and bridge bumpers made of rubber, polyurethane, springs, or a hydraulic device that minimizes the force of an impact when a trolley or bridge reaches the end of its permitted travel or contacts the rail end stops at a high rate of speed. They prevent structural damage to the crane, runway, and building and should be routinely maintained and inspected.
  • Bridge and trolley brakes for slowing, stopping, holding, and controlling motion. Operators should be trained in their proper use. They save wear and tear on the bridge and trolley, as well as prevent a load from running into and damaging equipment or injuring personnel. They should be routinely maintained and inspected.
  • Guards for couplings and line shafts, whether fixed or removable, serve as a safety barrier that prevents access to dangerous areas. Any moving parts of a crane or hoist that might pose a hazard during normal operation must be guarded to prevent injury.
  • End stops limit trolley or crane bridge travel. Typically mounted to a fixed structure, they prevent damage to the equipment and are designed to engage the full surface of a bumper. They should be maintained and inspected regularly.
  • Chain containers capture and store slack hoist chains on the no-load side of the load sheave. Their use is recommended when an excess load chain is likely to interfere with the load or to create a hazard to operations or personnel.

Many of the 18 topics discussed are covered by requirements outside of those from CMAA, HMI, MMA, and OSHA. Pertinent standards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the National Electrical Code (NEC) are also included. Each topic has a list of best practices for how to interpret those requirements, as well as how to implement or follow their directions, to create the safest overhead lifting environment possible.

Overhead Lifting Best Practices Guide is offered as a free download. I encourage you to add a copy to your library of resources. If you have any questions about the topics it covers — or about any other best practices in the safe operation and maintenance of your overhead handling equipment and its numerous safety features and devices — don’t hesitate to connect with American Crane. Our online Resources Library includes a collection of informative eBooks, videos, CAD drawings, photos, and a crane glossary.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us. We’re happy to help. 

Building Quality: Ensuring the Safety and Productivity of Your Operation

Ensuring the Safety and Productivity of Your OperationEnsuring that every customer’s crane and hoist solution over-delivers on operational safety, productivity, and longevity is the foundation of American Crane’s mission. In fact, the very first pillar of our mission statement is: “We are passionate about delighting our customers. Our mission is to make their lives easier. We do what we commit to do, do it well and do it on-schedule.”

A massive part of that commitment is our dedication to the core value, “Build Quality.” As explained in our values: “What we do, we do well. We strive to provide excellence and value in our products & services.” Every member of our team recognizes that if our products aren’t manufactured to the highest quality standards, the safety and integrity of each customer’s operation is jeopardized.

How We Build Quality into Every Crane We Make

At American Crane, we’ve taken a number of steps to ensure our people, processes, technologies, and equipment meet or exceed the most stringent industry standards and certifications. These include:

Training and Certifications. All of our manufacturing personnel, including machinists, welders, fabricators, and assemblers, are trained and re-trained annually (or more often). Continuous education, sourced internally and through certified third-party instructors, hones and improves their skills while meeting our highest quality standards. Additionally, many members of our welding team are certified by American Crane to both American and Canadian welding standards:

Manufacturing Capabilities. American Crane’s products have always been proudly Built in the USA, primarily to guarantee that each overhead handling solution we manufacturer is over the highest quality. We continuously invest in our own manufacturing capabilities, including state-of-the-art technologies such as:

  • A computer numerical control (CNC) machine shop.
  • In-house electrical panel shop, including the ability to manufacture UL508 certified control panels.

Engineering Capabilities. No two crane and hoist applications or solutions are ever the same. To ensure that every unique overhead lifting system we manufacture exceeds our customers’ expectations, American Crane’s in-house engineering department is equipped with a broad range of design, modeling, and analysis capabilities, including:

  • AutoCad, MathCad, Solidworks, SAP2000, and ANSYS software.
  • Design of machinery and machine components, mechanical systems, control systems, automated systems, and software.
  • Design, analysis and seismic qualification of structures, failure modes and effects, and more.
  • Engineering studies of existing equipment, specification review and development, and conceptual development for unique applications
  • “Smart” crane systems that provide enhanced protection and maintenance data.

Inspection and Testing Capabilities. To verify the safety and integrity of our products before delivery and installation at a customer location, American Crane’s in-house quality assurance group performs a variety of inspections and testing procedures. These include:

Quality Assurance Verifications. American Crane offers several graded quality assurance programs to match each customer’s specific requirements, including those of the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and the nuclear industry. These include:

  • Standard Quality Program (SQP-96) is utilized for standard commercial cranes and other material handling equipment and is implemented in accordance with controls identified in the SQP-96 Standard Quality Manual.
  • Augmented Quality Program (ASQP-96) is offered to customers who require additional quality controls than committed to in SQP-96. American Crane provides a cost-effective way to obtain these additional controls without invoking its highest level QAM-96 Quality Assurance Manual (described below). For augmented quality controls, SQP-96 is used to provide baseline commitments. Additional controls required by the customer’s contract will be achieved by invoking additional, applicable procedures (APs). Any APs to be invoked are jointly determined by the VP, Quality & Performance Improvement and the Project Manager and documented in a Fabrication, Inspection, and Test Plan. Where required by contract, the combination of implementing SQP-96 with the appropriate AP procedures the intent of ISO 9001 can be met.
  • Nuclear Quality Assurance Program (QAM-96) is available for contracts requiring a comprehensive, documented quality assurance program. QAM-96 was developed to meet the quality assurance program requirements of 10CRFR50, Appendix B; ASME- NQA-1; and ANSI N45.2. Because this program is intended when safety related cranes or material handling equipment is being procured for nuclear related applications, this program is typically not economical for non-nuclear contracts because of additional required activities and associated costs.

At American Crane, GRIT Equals Quality

The American Crane commitment to Build Quality in every product we make is fully embraced by our entire team, notes the members of our quality assurance team. They include Lester Dice, Broc Emery, and Mike Lamparella.

“Build Quality, for me, means the effort that we all put in at American Crane. The final result really pays dividends,” says Dice. “We do what we say we’re going to do and live up to the expectations of the company and of our customers.”

Emery adds, “Build Quality also means craftsmanship, and caring about what you do. I believe it’s vital to our customers to show that we care about what we’re building and that we produce good work.”

“By following our Build Quality systems, we make American Crane one of the top crane manufacturers in the country,” explains Lamparella, who notes that customers frequently comment on how impressed they are with the final quality of their crane, particularly those with the most challenging and complex requirements.

Safety. Productivity. Longevity. Because we only Build Quality at American Crane, our customers can be assured that every custom overhead crane solution we manufacture will check each of those boxes. It’s just one of the many components of our mantra: GRIT Matters. To learn more about how we put Perseverance, Heart, and InteGRITy into our high-quality products, contact us.

6 Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Crane and Hoist for Your Application

Choosing the Right Crane

In a previous post, I discussed some basic details about cranes and hoists, and how they work together. As promised, here are some thoughts about the different factors that should be considered when specifying a crane and hoist combination.

I’ve essentially grown up in the overhead handling industry, so I know how complex and time consuming it can be trying to figure out what equipment will best match an operation’s unique overhead handling needs and budget requirements. There are a lot of manufacturers who make a variety of cranes and hoists to handle different kinds of loads, capacities, frequencies of use, and environmental conditions across different industries. Just figuring out where to begin can be daunting. I get it.

That’s why I recommend considering the following six factors as you begin your crane and hoist investment journey. Understanding and having insight into each of these areas and how they impact the overall specification and buying process will help you to make a more informed decision.

  1. The Load. All crane and hoist manufacturers need to know what you’re lifting, as well as its dimensions, total weight, surface characteristics, uniformity (or not) of shape, material, construction, and fragility. Also, if the load will be wet, dry, dusty, oily, or in some other condition as it’s handled. Further, it’s important to note if more than one type of load needs to be handled by the crane and hoist. Depending on how different each load is from another, more than one combination of overhead lifting and handling solution might be recommended.
  2. The Frequency of Use. How often and at what percentage of its maximum load capacity the crane and hoist will be used — also known as Duty Cycle Requirements — has a significant impact on the service class an application requires. There are six crane and hoist service classes. Specifying equipment engineered to meet the appropriate class for your application will ensure its safety and longevity. Briefly, the six classes are:
  • Class A: Standby or Infrequent Service. These are often applications where precise handling of equipment at slow speeds with long idle periods between lifts occur.
  • Class B: Light Service. Light use, low speed applications, with loads ranging from none to full rated capacity at a rate of two to five lifts per hour averaging 10 feet per lift.
  • Class C: Moderate Service. Loads average 50% of the rated capacity with five to 10 lifts per hour at an average of 15 feet.
  • Class D: Heavy Service. Loads approaching 50% to 65% of rated capacity are handled constantly and at high speeds, with 10 to 20 lifts per hour at an average of 15 feet.
  • Class E: Severe Service. Near continuous use with 20 or more lifts per hour at or near 100% of the rated capacity, often in harsh environments.
  • Class F: Continuous Severe Service. Continuous use in harsh conditions at near 100% of the rated capacity. These cranes may be custom designed for high reliability in critical operations.
  1. The Required Speed. How quickly the crane must travel and hoist must lift and lower in order to keep up with production processes is critical to ensuring overall operational efficiency. A system that is too fast or too slow can compromise safety.
  2. The Operating Environment. Cranes and hoists are used both indoors and outside; either environment can have its own specific challenges including temperature, hazardous conditions, dust, heat, humidity, liquids, oils, fibers, corrosive chemicals, and more. Depending on the application, a custom crane and hoist combination may be recommended to increase reliability and service life.
  3. The Expected Longevity. Routine maintenance is a must for all cranes and hoists to ensure they operate safely and reliably throughout their entire lifespan. How often (or not) an operation wants the equipment to run between servicing, to replace key components, or to replace the entire system is an important consideration when designing and specifying a crane and hoist.
  4. The Budget. While it can be tempting to pick the crane and hoist combination priced the lowest of all options, chances are that system will not be engineered to meet the actual requirements of the application. A properly engineered system likely will not be the least expensive, but it has a better chance of operating for a longer period of time with fewer operational issues, less downtime, and a higher degree of safety. Further, there are costs associated with all capital equipment investments beyond the initial purchase price. Be sure to account for installation, spare parts, maintenance agreements, service contracts, and desired level of field service team responsiveness to issues when totaling up the costs of the equipment.

Other Resources to Help You Specify the Right Crane and Hoist

Beyond the considerations outlined above, there are a variety of buyer’s guide resources available. These are intended to help novice and experienced buyers of overhead lifting systems better evaluate their options and determine the optimal crane and hoist solution for their application.

The definitive resource is published by the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), an independent trade association affiliated with MHI. CMAA’s member companies are the world’s top providers of overhead traveling crane equipment and related products. As the leading advocates for the safe application and operation of overhead handling equipment, CMAA develops, publishes, and routinely reviews and updates design safety standards and specifications for a variety of crane systems and components. (Fun fact: I happen to be currently serving as the association’s President).

The CMAA Buyer’s Guide — available as a free download in American Crane’s online Resource Center in the eBooks section — is actually a collection of four documents:

  • Below-the-Hook Lifting Device contains a series of questions to be answered about the loads the device will handle (weight, dimensions, symmetry, fragility, material, surface conditions, and more); operating conditions; description of current handling process; and more.
  • Top Running & Under Running Single Girder Electric Traveling Cranes Utilizing Under Running Trolley Hoists includes key design and engineering questions to ask when vetting potential suppliers about their manufacturing processes specific to CMAA Specification 74; an inquiry data sheet which includes a series of questions about the space in which the crane and hoist will operate; operating conditions; desired speeds; load(s) to be handled; and more. It also includes an overview of crane service classifications to help buyers identify the actual conditions in which the crane and hoist will operate, and a series of recommended bridge, trolley, and hoist speeds based on the system’s total load capacity.
  • Top Running & Gantry Type Multiple Girder Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes features the same inquiry points in the Single Girder version, only specific to CMAA Specification 70.
  • The Buyer’s Guide Companion pertains to both the Single and Multiple Girder Buyer’s Guides. It offers detailed explanations of why it is important to ask potential suppliers each question about adherence to CMAA Specifications 74 and 70, and how those answers may impact the safety, function, operation, and lifespan of the selected crane and hoist combination.

Additionally, at American Crane, we’ve developed two separate publications that supplement CMAA’s guides: How to Choose the Right Crane: A Crane Buyer’s Guide and How to Choose the Right Hoist: A Hoist Buyer’s Guide. Both of these documents are also free downloads located in the eBooks section of our online Resource Center. Whereas the CMAA documents are more engineering focused, our publications offer a broader, less technical perspective on key crane and hoist selection considerations, as well as an overview of the types of solutions available.

Finally, I urge you to leverage the knowledge of an experienced crane and hoist equipment professional, including suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors. While publications are a great resource, nothing compares to partnering with a company that has the breadth of expertise in designing and engineering a broad range of crane and hoist solutions. American Crane’s experts are always available to help you better evaluate your overhead handling options, as well as determine the optimal solution for your needs. Connect with a project specialist today.

The Basics of Cranes and Hoists: Your Overhead Lifting Dream Team

Great partnerships are timeless. Peanut butter and chocolate. Jordan and Pippen. Seagulls and French fries. Like Frank Sinatra sang, “You can’t have one without the other.”

The same goes for cranes and hoists. Impossible to separate, the two are integral parts of overhead lifting and handling of large, heavy, and bulky loads that can’t easily be maneuvered or elevated by ground-based equipment. They’re relied upon throughout a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, shipping, energy, construction, transportation, food processing, and many more.

There are several different types of crane and hoist combinations. At their most basic, an indoor overhead crane is built to cover three axes, transporting a load side to side, backwards, and forwards as directed by an operator via manual, wired pendant, or remote controls. Two fixed runways, positioned parallel to each other, support a perpendicularly placed bridge beam known as a girder. 

The bridge girder spans the distance between the two runways and rides on end trucks. It moves the load forward and backward. Depending on the application requirements, the bridge may be mounted on top of the runways (called a top-running crane) or suspended from the bottom flange of the runways (called an under-hung or under-running crane).

Suspended from the bridge is the hoist, which is attached to a trolley that rolls across the bridge girder. The trolley moves the load side to side, while the hoist provides the lifting and lowering function as directed by the operator. Hoists are outfitted with wire rope or chain and are operated manually, electrically, or pneumatically.

Different Types of Cranes

Cranes themselves come in a variety of configurations. These include:

  • Single Girder Crane – A crane with a single bridge girder mounted between and supported by end trucks at each runway.
  • Double Girder Crane – A crane with two bridge girders mounted between and supported by end trucks at each runway.
  • Gantry Crane – A crane similar to an overhead crane except that the bridge for carrying the trolley (or trolleys) is rigidly supported on two or more legs running on fixed rails or a runway embedded in the floor.
  • Jib Crane – A crane design whereby the bridge girder (often called a boom) is fixed at one end, typically mounted to a wall or a post (free standing) via a hinge to allow rotation of 180 to 360 degrees around the axis. This design enables the opposite end to cantilever over the load. The fixed end generally is hinged to allow rotation.

Specifying a Crane/Hoist Combo

To ensure the proper combination of crane and hoist will serve a unique application, the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) and Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI) have each developed a list of service classifications. These are based on a variety of performance capabilities, including speed, lift cycles, and travel distance, as well as operating conditions, load magnitude, and standard maintenance requirements. 

CMAA crane classifications range from Class A – Infrequent Use to Class F – Continuous/Severe Service. Likewise, HMI’s list of service classifications for self-contained or packaged “off-the-shelf” hoists ranges from H1 to H5. HMI hoist classifications generally align with CMAA’s crane service classifications, with Class A cranes typically using H1 hoists, and so on. The exception is Class E and Class F cranes typically require a custom-engineered hoist. To help companies determine the best fit for their application, American Crane has published an eBook on “How to Choose the Right Crane,” and a separate eBook on “How to Choose the Right Hoist.”

Based on the requirements of an application, it’s critical to specify the right pairing of crane and hoist to ensure the safety of those working with and around it, as well as to maximize the functional lifespan of the system. Some situations are suitable for a standard, off-the-shelf combination of the two; others require custom design and engineering of both components to match the load movement needs. 

I’ll be discussing how to select a crane and hoist in my next post. In the meanwhile, American Crane offers a comprehensive library of in-depth educational resources — including more eBooks, brochures, and a glossary of crane terms — to help you better understand and assess the options. Plus, our experts are always available to help you determine the optimal solution for your overhead handling challenge. Connect with a project specialist to discuss your application today.

Logistics of Crane Delivery & Project Management

It can be challenging to move a massive crane to a facility. With nearly 50 years of experience, American Crane has the skills and knowledge to cover everything from manufacturing to delivery and installation of the crane. Project management and various other factors play a crucial role in transporting a crane from the manufacturing facility to its final destination. Here, we will discuss the logistics of crane delivery, including important considerations, common challenges, and more.

The Logistics of Safe Crane Transportation

Transporting something as large as a crane or hoist comes with its own set of challenges that must be addressed as part of the delivery planning process. These loads often exceed standard freight transportation limitations for width, height, and weight.

Since crane shipments are considered oversized, they must comply with oversized shipping regulations outlined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. For example, loads more than 10’ wide must be transported during daylight areas, whereas loads that are 10’ or less may be transported at night. These regulations tend to differ from state to state; however, the American Crane logistics team has the knowledge and expertise to ensure compliance.

There are many factors that must be expertly accounted for on the logistics and internal sides for crane delivery, including:

  • Dismantling the crane at the manufacturing plant to prepare it for delivery
  • Ensuring the proper size transportation trucks and appropriate oversize load escort vehicles are available for the chosen delivery timeframe
  • Hiring certified drivers and equipment handlers
  • Researching and selecting the safest transportation routes, watching for weight, height, permitted operating hours, and commercial traffic limitations
  • Coordinating with local civil and law enforcement authorities to obtain necessary permits and meet all crane transportation regulations
  • Having the necessary equipment and personnel available at the delivery site for unloading, reassembly, and installation
  • Maintaining the highest levels of safety for all personnel involved in every step of the transportation process

How Cranes Are Transported

Because of their dimensions and weight, cranes are usually transported by road and highway on truck trailers that are specially designed and equipped to handle these massive loads. Equipment includes heavy-duty hooks and straps, along with durable steel chains, to securely hold the crane in place. This step is crucial, as any misstep here could result in a load shift during delivery, which might lead to delivery delays and safety issues. Railroads are occasionally used for crane transportation, but trucks are usually involved at some point in the process.

Challenges often encountered when shipping cranes include:

  • Equipment Selection for Crane Transportation. Exact crane dimensions are required to select the appropriate transportation equipment. The bed must be long enough for the height of the crane, and low enough to allow for clearance heights under bridges. The weight of the crane impacts the power needed to pull the load. Smaller cranes may also be utilized for loading and unloading crane pieces.
  • Crane Delivery Speed. As can be imagined, crane delivery can be a slow process. The delivery caravan may have to travel at lower speeds and may need to use alternative routes to avoid local traffic or difficult turns. Estimating delivery time also often requires analyzing potential weather conditions and geographic features.
  • Crane Transportation Costs. Costs for transporting cranes are higher than standard freight due to permits, driver certifications, safety equipment, specialized equipment, and increased shipping time involved.

The logistics specialists at American Crane have extensive experience and knowledge dealing with all these issues, and can efficiently manage the crane delivery management process.

Crane Delivery & Project Management at American Crane

American Crane & Equipment Corporation is a leading manufacturer of cranes, hoists, and other material handling equipment. With decades of experience, we have the knowledge to transport your crane from our facility to your final destination, all while remaining compliant with federal regulations. To learn more about how we can help with crane delivery and project management, contact us or request a quote today.

GRIT Matters: What the Vikings Teach Us About Gardening and Navigating

In my previous post, I talked about the values and culture at American Crane, and their importance to helping both our people and our customers thrive. Today, I want to share more about the foundation of our culture — GRIT Matters — the inspiration behind it, and how we live it every day.

It may surprise you to learn that American Crane’s culture is rooted in the Viking way of life. This originated with my Dad, Oddvar Norheim, who emigrated to the U.S. from Norway and ultimately took the helm at American Crane. His Nordic heritage is very important to him. It is also important to our company, and we apply many Viking lessons to navigating our business.

Lots of companies use the analogy of going to battle as they strive to grow their market share. So, you might think that the first Viking Lesson in our cultural foundation would be about how to be a better warrior.

But you’d be wrong.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

In spite of their pillaging reputation, most Viking were not warriors but rather farmers who tended gardens planted in the poor soil and cold North Atlantic climate. The Vikings who sailed the seas were looking for more hospitable places to farm and build a better life.

To be a farmer is to live with hope and continuously try to mitigate risk. Crops are nurtured and tended to. Seeds are watered. Weeds are pulled. Prayers for good weather are repeated. To grow a garden takes long-term commitment for success. There’s a tremendous amount of work put into planting, growing, harvesting, and preserving a crop. Being a gardener takes perseverance, heart, and integrity. Indeed, it takes GRIT to be a gardener.

Therefore, the first Viking lesson we embrace at American Crane is…

TO BE A GARDENER – Preparing and cultivating ourselves, so we are ready for the battles of our business and life.

Within our business, that means our leadership team works to grow our people. It is our role to ensure that the environment — the culture — allows our people to thrive. The most important part of our business is our people. Leaders become great not because of their power, but their ability to empower others.

Navigate the seas of our business with the bounty of our garden at our back.

Navigation, of course, is at the heart of a seafaring life. The Vikings, as they ventured as far as the Middle East and North America, had no access to modern navigation instruments. The sextant wasn’t invented for another thousand years after they first took to the seas, nor the compass for another four hundred years. Instead, they used Icelandic spar crystals, called “Sunstones,” that helped them locate the sun in the sky — even when it was cloudy.

Today, we consider American Crane’s Vision, Mission and Values to be our Sunstone, the principles we check to verify that we’re on the right course, no matter the obstacle or uncertainty. Navigating uncharted territory takes perseverance, heart, and integrity. Indeed, it
takes GRIT to be a navigator.

Perhaps recognizing this, a set of Viking Laws evolved among these warriors to guide them as they sailed the oceans in search of new places to farm. As it turns out, these are in almost perfect alignment with both my and my father’s philosophy on life and business. They
include:

  1. Be Brave and Aggressive – In the battles of your business and life, grab every opportunity, be versatile and agile, focus on attacking one target at a time.
  2. Be a Good Merchant – Learn what the market needs and have integrity in everything you do.
  3. Be Prepared – Keep your weapons (i.e., your mind and body, people and products) in peak condition.
  4. Keep the Camp in Order – Stay organized and ensure everybody does meaningful work with purpose.

Therefore, the second Viking lesson we embrace at American Crane is…

TO BE A VIKING – Using our sunstone, to be brave and enter uncharted waters, weather storms and find our way even when it’s cloudy.

The Vikings were relentlessly passionate about pursing their goals. They worked, not just with their hands, but also with their heads and hearts. Despite their barbaric reputation, the Vikings have left a legacy of achievements that have forever changed our world.

We cannot direct the wind, but we can raise our sails and adjust as needed.

The winds of change are always blowing. Life — and business — never go exactly as planned. But, then again, a calm sea never made a good sailor.

We are GRITTY at American Crane. What does that mean? That we put perseverance, heart and integrity into everything we do. Storms, disruptions, obstacles, challenges, are not feared here, because we are committed to continuously learning how to navigate to a better outcome. The focus on growing our people, empowering them to make decisions, to innovate, and to collaborate fearlessly is what nurtures our ability to be relentless no matter the odds.

GRIT is the raw endurance, perseverance and passion that keep us going despite obstacles. It is knowing who we are and where we are headed, moving determinedly forward with eyes fixed on the mark, rather than the obstacles that lie in wait.

GRIT is being a gardener. GRIT is being a Viking. GRIT is at the heart of our culture. And GRIT Matters.

Got GRIT? Bring it to work at American Crane.

Channel your inner Viking and learn more about our team and the values that make American Crane an industry leader by visiting us.

Got GRIT? Bring It To Work At American Crane, Where People Are Paramount

It’s no secret that companies are competing fiercely to fill job openings at all levels. Things are no different here at American Crane.

Thanks to the growth of the economy post-pandemic — and the confidence our customers have in our abilities to help them meet their own productivity needs — our company is growing too. And we’re currently seeking to fill several openings throughout our operations.

Lots of crane companies are hiring, too. So, like most job seekers in today’s market, there are plenty of choices out there when it comes to a prospective employer.

That’s why I’d like to take a few minutes to explain why American Crane is different from the
rest: our values. Here’s why that makes us a fantastic place not just to work, but to thrive.

Company culture. It matters.

Hands down, bar none, the most important thing at American Crane is our people. We are committed to a culture that fosters their growth, their empowerment, and their safety. Nothing is more critical to the success of our customers and of our own business than our employees.

Now, I can hear you thinking, “Come on Karen. Lots of companies say these same things. But only sometimes is it actually true.” I completely agree with you. It’s a common refrain that doesn’t always prove to be the reality. That’s not the case here.

How do I know? Because culture starts at the top — and, as President and COO, that means me. I learned the importance of a people-centric culture by working my way through the ranks here at American Crane.

I was recruited to come work here by my Dad, American Crane’s CEO, nearly 20 years ago. He — and my colleagues in the company — not only coached me, but also empowered me to learn first-hand, on the job, how to become an effective leader. Those lessons inform everything we do here in our operations.

Here are a few of the principles that define American Crane’s culture:

  • All team members are empowered to make decisions. Nobody micromanages around here. We trust each other and aren’t afraid to collaborate.
  • Innovation and exploration of new ideas and processes to solve problems and deliver results is encouraged. One of my favorite quotes is, “One time has to be the first time.” If we don’t try something new, our business will never move forward.
  • Constructive conflict and conversations lead to better solutions. Diversity of opinion is embraced. With it we can arrive at the best possible outcome for our customers’ challenges.
  • Growth comes from experiments and experience. Although our equipment can’t fail, our people can. Curiosity is never a bad thing here, and failures can be leveraged for future success. We provide a safe space to grow.
  • Family is important, both at work and at home. We work hard in a respectful, supportive, and caring environment, but we expect our People to rest and recharge with their loved ones.
  • GRIT Matters — and it’s rewarded. We put Perseverance, Heart, and InteGRITy into everything we do. Employees and supervisors are encouraged to nominate their colleagues for a quarterly GRIT Award that includes bonuses and incentives.

We Build Cool Things

American Crane customers span a broad variety of industries and applications. We create overhead crane solutions to unique challenges for customers like NASA, nuclear power plants, shipping ports, oil and offshore drilling, vehicle manufacturers, and more. Our cranes can be
found on construction sites, in hazardous environments, in clean rooms, at fisheries, on bridge repairs, and in industrial facilities all over the U.S. We’re proud to say that the custom crane solutions we design, engineer, manufacture, and install are Built in the USA.

What Our People Say

Still not convinced? Consider what our people have to say about what it’s like to work at American Crane.

“We’re continuously learning. It’s very challenging. I think it’s a good place to work because it’s a lot of freedom. We are given our responsibilities and expected to perform.” – Troy Wetzel, Vice President of Quality Assurance

“Besides the people, it’s the projects that we get to work on. We have some very highend customers here that deal with us and buy our products. And they’re pretty exciting to work on. We also have fantastic employees who have been with the company for a very long time, and they’re very willing to teach the newer people like myself. I’ve only been here four years and they’re very willing to guide us and to help us along in completing a project.” – Dean Moyer, Mechanical Engineer

“I certainly like going out to see customers, whether that’s inside of a nuclear power plant or at Cape Canaveral or the Kennedy Space Center. It’s a neat job. There’s a lot of change in scenery, a lot of different industries that we’re involved with on a daily basis.”
– Michael Myers, Vice President of National Service

Join the American Crane Team

Want to learn more about working here? Get to know our team and the values that make American Crane an industry leader by visiting us.