Overview
A manufacturer needed a safer method for upending large parts during its production process. The existing method used a single hoist and load bar to raise one end of a part from a cart. As the part moved from horizontal to vertical, the cart could shift unexpectedly.
This movement created a potential hazard for operators working near the load. AFE Crane evaluated the lifting process and developed a custom dual pick-point load bar. The new lifting method allowed the part to clear the cart before the upending process began.
Project Challenges
The primary challenge involved the changing center of gravity as the part moved from a horizontal to a vertical position.
With the existing process, one end of the part remained supported by the cart while the hoist raised the other end. As the load shifted, the cart could suddenly kick out. An operator standing nearby could potentially be struck in the legs.
Therefore, the solution needed to change how the part was handled during the first stage of the lift. Instead of beginning the rotation while the part remained on the cart, the lifting system needed to raise and stabilize the part first.
The AFE Crane Solution
AFE Crane designed and fabricated a custom below-the-hook lifting device with two pick points.
The dual pick-point configuration supported the part at two locations. This allowed the lifting system to raise the part completely off the cart before beginning the upending process.
By changing the lifting sequence, the cart no longer needed to support the part while its center of gravity shifted. The load bar instead provided the support needed to begin the upending process after the part cleared the cart.
The solution addressed the hazard at the lifting-process level rather than relying on the operator to control an unpredictable cart movement.
Project Execution
AFE Crane worked with the customer to review the existing lifting process and identify where the hazard occurred. The engineering team then developed a load bar around the required lifting sequence and the customer’s existing hoist system.
AFE Crane fabricated the custom below-the-hook device and tested the completed system. Testing allowed the team to evaluate how the device supported the load and verify the intended lifting sequence before completing the project.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates why the lifting process itself should be evaluated when an application creates an unexpected safety concern.
In this application, the problem was not simply the hoist or the load bar. The hazard occurred because the part’s center of gravity shifted while the cart continued to support one end of the load.
AFE Crane addressed the problem by changing the lifting sequence. A custom dual pick-point load bar allowed the part to lift clear of the cart before upending began. As a result, the design removed the cart from that portion of the lifting process and addressed the source of the unpredictable movement.
Learn More About Custom Load Bar Lifting Devices
Contact AFE Crane
If your operation involves a difficult or potentially unsafe lifting process, AFE Crane can help. Our engineering team can evaluate the load, existing equipment, operator interaction, and lifting sequence to identify practical options for the application.
Whether your application requires a custom load bar, below-the-hook lifting device, or another engineered lifting solution, AFE Crane can provide engineering, fabrication, testing, installation, startup, and long-term support.
Contact AFE Crane to discuss your next custom lifting application.