« I need an overhead crane! » What information do I need to pass on to my supplier?

Planning to buy lifting equipment? Gathering all the necessary information can be a challenge! Inadequate planning could lead to delays in the project, or worse, to the purchase of an unsuitable piece of equipment.

Some people know exactly what they want, others want 100% guidance. In any case, you’ll need to get in touch with a specialist supplier to get the ball rolling. And he or she will certainly have questions for you, even in the case of a seemingly straightforward project. After all, it’s not a question of buying a tool or a piece of furniture off-the-shelf, but a complex machine corresponding to a specific need in your industrial operating process.

With this in mind, what information should a buyer gather before contacting his lifting expert? Premium Industrial Group has helped hundreds of companies select and install custom overhead cranes. That’s why we’re sharing with you the basic information you’re looking for, as well as the information you’ll need depending on the type of project. This article will enable you to draw up a clear list of the information you’ll need for your purchase, in order to be well-prepared for your discussion with your supplier. It will undoubtedly result in an informed decision. This way, you can ensure that you get the solution that best suits your needs, and within the expected timeframe.

There are different types of application :

1. Equipment for a new industry or a start-up company,
2. Adding equipement to an existing crane runway track (i.e. the same rails on which the existing crane runs),
3. Increasing the capacity of existing equipment.

But in all cases, certain basic information will be requested, regardless of the type of request above. Let’s start with the basics.

Basic information for your overhead crane project

Most of the time, the number of pieces of equipment has been determined in advance by the company, as well as the capacity they will be able to lift. The location of the future equipment is also generally known. And in many cases, we have at least a general idea of our project timetable, enabling us to establish an approximate delivery date.

Although many buyers have certain dimensions in mind, it’s not always easy to think of all the different measurements to check. For example, the lifting height, i.e. how high it will be necessary to lift loads, is an essential datum. However, this measurement should not be confused with the clear high, i.e. the height available in the building, which is an equally important measurement for your supplier. Then, of course, there’s the width and length of the area you want to cover with your equipment. This information will be used to assess the length of the tracks and the reach of the equipement.

Don’t forget to tell your supplier if the project involves only the crane part, or if it also includes the installation of a structure. On the electrical side, a 600Vac/3ph/60Hz power supply is required for this type of equipment and should therefore be available.

But there is one key element that will be at the heart of your discussion with the technical representative, a factor that could determine your degree of satisfaction when using your new lifting device: the application!

The application: the key to the best lifting solution

If the technical information discussed above is important, so is the application! But what’s the application? We’re talking about how the equipment will be used. In other words: “What are you going to do with your overhead crane? A simple question, but more complex than it sounds.

First of all, the industry sector will say a lot about the type of application, as your overhead crane supplier has probably already serviced a company in this sector. But even then, the operating process may be distinct from one company to another operating in the same field. Different load types are a crucial part of the analysis. For example, are your workpieces short or long? In which direction will they be handled? Where are they routed? How often will they be lifted? Etc. All these factors can help the technical representative make the right recommendation for your specific needs, as well as the right class of use for your equipment. This way, he’ll be able to clarify with you such questions as: Would it be better to operate 2 overhead cranes (tandem)? Is a chain hoist preferable to a wire rope hoist? Is an under-running overhead crane a better option than a top-running overhead crane?

It’s also important for your lifting representative to know the environment in which the crane will be installed. Will it be used indoors or outdoors? Is it a dangerous environment, containing flammable gases or unstable particles in the air, for example? If so, explosion-proof equipment may be required.

All of the above are important. However, some will certainly be covered more quickly when the equipment is on an existing track and for an application similar to other bridges already in place. This brings us to the specific types of application, for example if it’s a new company starting up.

Your company is just starting up: what additional information will you need for a suitable overhead crane?

In the case of a start-up company, the building is often not yet constructed. The drawings may not even have been finalized. But you may still have an idea of your lifting needs at this stage. Also, the professionals involved in your project (engineer, designer or architect) may ask you for a preliminary plan of your lifting equipment. What information will your crane expert need to respond to this request?

First of all, you’ll need to gather a minimum amount of information from the architect. This will enable you to answer some of the basic questions mentioned above. But your supplier will also want to know if the track is already included in the building project, or if he needs to include the structure. If you choose the latter, your supplier will need to know the type of floor, its thickness, whether radiant floor heating is planned, the desired positioning of your structure’s columns, and other similar information.

Your crane supplier will most certainly want to visualize your project as a whole, so he will probably ask you for a minimal drawing of your general arrangement, i.e. the layout you have in mind.

Now, what if you simply want to make an addition to an existing track?

It’s just a question of adding an overhead crane to an existing runway track: the information required.

It’s often thought that adding an overhead crane to a crane runway is simple: just buy the same equipment, and that’s it! But in reality, it’s not always that simple. Most of the basic information is still relevant here too. But there are also technical considerations and safety matters involved.

First of all, there’s one question you shouldn’t forget: how many overhead cranes are already on your track. Then come the more technical elements. For example, engineering the capacity of the existing structure will determine the distance that needs to be preserved at all times between the 2 overhead cranes. Another key point : the conductor bars.

Have they been designed to accommodate a 2nd overhead crane? Is a grounding conductor present? And what about the power supply isolator? These important points are covered in detail in our article Adding an overhead crane to a runway track: the 3 essential checks.

Engineering drawings of the building structure and plans of the existing overhead crane might be relevant (not an architect’s drawing, which usually doesn’t detail the necessary information).

Next, technical data on current equipment. Indeed, if the new overhead crane is installed for the same purpose, we’ll have to try to match its specifications as closely as possible, such as speeds, etc.

What information is required to increase the capacity of a piece of lifting equipment?

In the case of an overhead crane or a structure where capacity needs to be increased, the first step is always engineering. Solutions will take form from the engineer’s data.

Other information that may be useful to your lifting equipment supplier

There are always special cases. In some situations, photos might be necessary, to visualize an environment for example, or to see the condition of a device or structure, etc.

Technical drawings or building plans may also be useful in certain circumstances.

Some of the buyer’s responsibilities

According to the building code, all structural components, i.e. everything to do with the building, are the responsibility of the owner or employer with authority over the site. It is therefore the owner or employer who must maintain and provide accurate information on these matters.

This same person is also responsible for any obstructions. For example, he must advise his supplier of any installations that could obstruct the overhead crane, such as a garage door, piping, lights, etc.

Another concrete example concerns radiant ceiling heating. Your lifting expert needs to be informed that this equipment will be installed, as heat deflection plates will be required to prevent damage to your overhead crane.

What next?

In conclusion, it’s important to recognize that buying a lifting device does not involve the same process as buying a piece of furniture from a catalog, it goes without saying. It’s a complex, custom-built machine with numerous mechanical and electrical components, and involving high safety considerations. Therefore, it’s not surprising that your technical representative will have many questions and will need to go through multiple checks with you.

But rest assured that the process is well worth it, because the solution you receive will be the best one for you.

So, where do you start? First, you can download our “overhead crane project check list“ to gather the information your supplier will need. That way, you’ll be well equipped to get your project off to a good start.

You’ve already gathered all the relevant information? Get in touch with us now by filling in the quotation form below.

But if you just want to evaluate a project, and want to prepare for it, why not check out our page How much does an overhead crane cost? You’ll be able to calculate which aspects will increase or reduce the price, and think about your project in terms of these few factors…