Overview
An Iowa company that works with a variety of construction and agricultural equipment needed a more flexible way to move large equipment throughout its facility. Because the size and configuration of the equipment could vary from project to project, the lifting solution needed to provide substantial capacity and coverage without restricting material handling to a fixed crane runway.
AFE Crane provided a 5-ton Spanco PF Series motorized steerable gantry crane with a 30-foot span and 15 feet of available lift. Unlike a conventional overhead bridge crane, the trackless gantry could travel to different areas of the facility, allowing the customer to position lifting capacity where it was needed.
Project Challenges
The customer had been relying on forklifts to move larger equipment throughout the facility. This process was not only time-consuming but also presented safety concerns when handling larger and more difficult-to-maneuver equipment. The customer needed a lifting solution that could provide more controlled material handling while remaining flexible enough to support a variety of equipment and projects.
The facility layout created another important consideration. Building columns made a conventional overhead bridge crane less practical because a fixed runway system would limit the areas the crane could reach. Since the customer worked with different types of equipment in multiple areas of the building, the lifting system needed to move with the work rather than confine lifting operations to a single bay. A trackless gantry crane offered the flexibility to provide lifting capacity in different parts of the facility without installing a permanent runway structure.
Electrification also presented an engineering challenge. Because the gantry needed to travel throughout the building, a conventional fixed power arrangement could restrict its usable range. The electrical system therefore needed to provide power to the crane while preserving the mobility and coverage that made the trackless gantry practical for the application.
The AFE Crane Solution
AFE Crane worked with the customer and equipment manufacturer to develop a 5-ton motorized, steerable, trackless gantry crane system. The Spanco PF Series gantry featured a 30-foot span, 15 feet of available lift, and two-speed motorized travel with a maximum speed of 75 feet per minute.
For lifting and trolley travel, AFE Crane integrated a Yale YK wire rope hoist with dual-speed hoist and trolley motions. The system incorporated rigid box-track festooning with flat cable for hoist power and control. A separate rigid box track with flat cable provided control to an eight-button pendant station which provided control of the gantry crane system independently from the hoist.
To provide power while preserving the gantry’s ability to travel throughout the building, AFE Crane integrated a Conductix-Wampfler 1900 Series cable reel. The reel provided 80 feet of active cable travel and incorporated a 330-degree rotating pivot base. Mounted from a central location within the facility, the retractable cable arrangement allowed the crane to reach multiple areas without requiring a permanent runway electrification system.
The resulting system combined the lifting capability of a 5-ton overhead crane with the mobility needed to work around the customer’s existing building layout.
Project Execution
AFE Crane began the project with a field visit to better understand the customer’s material-handling process, facility layout, and required lifting coverage. Based on those conditions, AFE Crane worked with its equipment vendor to identify a gantry crane configuration that could provide the required capacity while maintaining the flexibility to operate in different areas of the building.
AFE Crane coordinated the gantry crane and hoist package and integrated the retractable cable-reel electrification system required for the trackless application. AFE Crane also provided complete assembly and installation of the system.
Following installation, AFE Crane performed startup and load testing to complete the project and verify operation of the assembled lifting system.
Conclusion
This project demonstrates how a motorized steerable gantry crane can provide an alternative when a facility needs overhead lifting capability but a permanent bridge crane and runway system do not fit the application.
By combining a 5-ton trackless gantry crane with a Yale wire rope hoist and centrally located retractable cable-reel electrification, AFE Crane provided a complete overhead lifting solution designed around the customer’s need to handle different equipment in multiple areas of an existing facility.
For facilities evaluating bridge cranes, gantry cranes, or other overhead lifting options, the right solution depends on the load, required hook coverage, building configuration, frequency of use, and how material needs to move through the operation.
Learn More About Gantry Cranes
Contact AFE Crane
If your facility needs flexible lifting coverage without installing a permanent overhead crane runway system, AFE Crane can help. Our engineering team can evaluate your loads, facility layout, required hook coverage, and material-handling process to determine whether a gantry crane is a practical solution for your operation.
Whether your application requires a fixed, portable, or motorized gantry crane, AFE Crane can provide application engineering, equipment integration, installation, startup, load testing, and long-term service support.
Contact AFE Crane to discuss your next gantry crane project.