Overview
A biofuels company needed a material handling system for large drums used with its processing equipment. The application required a 7.5-ton overhead crane and a structural steel equipment platform.
However, the processing machines generated significant vibration during operation. Therefore, the platform needed to support the equipment and account for those forces.
AFE Crane engineered a freestanding crane system and structural steel platform as an integrated solution. The design combined the crane runway, equipment platform, machine supports, access features, and structural columns.
Project Challenges
The processing equipment created the primary structural challenge. During operation, the machines generated vibration that the supporting platform needed to withstand.
As a result, the platform required heavy structural members and reinforced machine mounting points. The design also needed to transfer the loads through the supporting structure and into the floor.
Crane integration added another consideration. The customer needed a 7.5-ton crane to load and unload large drums from the processing equipment. Therefore, AFE Crane needed to coordinate the crane runway and equipment platform within the same structural system.
Finally, employees needed access to the elevated processing equipment. The platform design had to incorporate access and fall protection features around the machinery.
The AFE Crane Solution
AFE Crane engineered the structural steel platform and integrated it directly with the freestanding crane runway.
The platform used large support beams with flanges up to ¾ inch thick. It also included numerous coped beams and heavy, gusseted machine base weldments. These bases provided mounting points for the processing machines.
Integrating the platform with the crane runway allowed the structure to transfer loads through the crane columns and into the floor.
AFE Crane also incorporated access features into the platform. Fall protection railings surrounded the elevated work area. In addition, a ladder with a fall protection guard provided access to the platform.
Custom-cut floor grating completed the platform around the processing equipment.
Project Execution
AFE Crane engineered and fabricated the structural steel components for the project.
Before shipment, the fabrication team preassembled portions of the platform. This allowed AFE Crane to verify how major components fit together before sending them to the jobsite.
The installation team then completed final assembly at the customer’s facility. The team installed the structural platform, crane system, access components, and related structural elements as part of the project.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates how overhead lifting equipment and supporting structures can work together as one engineered system.
The application required more than a 7.5-ton crane. AFE Crane also needed to account for processing equipment, vibration loads, machine mounting points, employee access, and load transfer through the supporting structure.
AFE Crane addressed these requirements by integrating the freestanding crane runway with a custom structural steel equipment platform.
For facilities adding new processing equipment, evaluating the crane and surrounding structure together can help identify structural and material handling requirements early in the project.
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Contact AFE Crane
If your facility needs overhead lifting equipment integrated with structural steel or production equipment, AFE Crane can help. Our engineering team can evaluate the crane requirements, equipment layout, supporting structure, access needs, and other application conditions.
Whether your project requires a freestanding crane, crane runway, structural steel platform, or another custom lifting system, AFE Crane provides engineering, fabrication, installation, startup, and long-term support.
Contact AFE Crane to discuss your next crane and structural steel project.