Production and warehouse facilities are always looking for ways to improve productivity. A key opportunity is increasing overhead crane speed on the runway and in the hoist motion to increase the volume of materials and products they can move in a given shift.
Jon Christensen, Vice President and Head of Service Supply, Region AME
Crane upgrades that can accomplish this objective include changing out a motor or changing gear ratios. Another alternative worth considering is installing new controls, such as extended speed range.
Reduce average hoist cycle time and increase productivity
Extended speed range enables you to attain higher average hoist speeds and crane speed on the bridge without increasing motor size. Extended speed range varies crane speed depending on the load. When a crane is moving a near-capacity load, the hoist speed and crane travel speed are limited.
But once a near-capacity load is delivered to its destination, the hoist and crane speed can increase. This means that if you are lifting a near-capacity load with a 30-ton crane, the crane will operate at a nominal speed and, once the hook is empty, will return at a faster speed to pick up the next load. This increases the average speed of the crane and reduces average hoist cycle time to raise productivity in a given work period.
Extended speed range is valuable for high-duty applications that involve continuous cycles of near-capacity loads. And, using inverter technology, extended speed range allows increased hoist speed in those instances when a crane lifts a light load – for instance, when a 30-ton crane lifts only 5 tons.
Another crane upgrade option – adaptive speed range – is available for applications that involve less frequent high-capacity loads. This control option allows faster crane speeds for moving lighter loads but slows motor speed for heavier loads.
These variable controls are designed to advance safe crane operation according to the weight of a load.
To determine if variable speed controls will be effective for your application, the motor will have to be checked to make certain it has the capability to operate at higher speeds for lighter loads.
Learn more about crane modernizations
