Cranes & industrial lifting equipment

Though all of us have seen Tower Cranes before, few of us know their real capabilities and how much they can actually lift. The maximum load of that a usual Tower Crane can lift is 18 metric tons or equivalent of 39,690 pounds of weight. But if the load is positioned at the end of the jib or the working arm, the Tower Crane cannot lift that much weight because the closer the load is positioned to the mast or the tower, the more weight the Tower Crane can lift safely.

The Tower Crane has a specifications when it comes to maximum unsupported height which is 265 feet or equivalent to 80 meters, maximum reach which is 230 feet or 70 meters, maximum lifting power which is 19.8 tons and counterweights of 20 tons. The Tower Crane also uses two limit switches to make sure that the operator does not overload the Crane. These are the maximum load switch and the load moment switch. The maximum load switch monitors the pull on the cable and make sure that the load does not exceed 18 tonnes, while the load moment switch makes sure that the operator does not exceed the tonne-meter rating of the tower crane as the load moves out on the jib. That is why it is very critical to operate this massive machine. The Tower Crane operator has to be very skilled at what they does because there is a lot to risk when you are swinging 18 metric tons of load hundreds of feet above the ground.

Safety is the most important factor to be considered during a construction. The Tower crane seems quite unsafe to the naked eye because they have no support wires of any kind. But the Tower Cranes stability depends on certain elements. The first element is a large concrete pad that the construction company pours several weeks before the crane arrives. The concrete pad typically measures 30 feet by 30 feet by 4 feet and weighs 400,000 pounds or 182,000 kilogram. The Tower Cranes are essentially bolted to the ground to ensure their stability. Large anchor bolts are embedded deep into the pad support in the base of the Crane. But before that, Tower Cranes are delivered at the construction site on 10-20 tractor trailer rigs.

Mobile Crane is used to assemble the jib and the machinery section. The Mobile Crane then adds the counterweights. To rise to its maximum height, the Tower Crane grows itself one mast at a time. Special devices within the Tower Crane prevent the user from attempting to lift a weight heavier than allowed. Because the United States Government sets specific regulation through safety that limit the weight that a specific Crane is allowed to lift. A completed Crane is first tested without a weight to ensure that all of its components operate properly. It is then tested with a weight to ensure that the crane is able to lift heavy objects without loosing stability. Safety is ultimately depends on that proper use of the Crane.

No matter how first rate or expensive your equipment is, if you do not know how to handle it with safety it will become useless. Workers who take safety precautions for granted often cause or contribute to accidents. Imagine the damage you can cause to properties and the setback in your own projects. And even worse, lives, including theirs can be lost.

For these reasons alone, you should exercise proper safety precautions. There are four major factors about equipment lifting that you must take into account. At times, lack of knowledge is the instigating factor for accidents and work malpractice. So read up and carefully study the significant factors.

Weight, Size and Center of Gravity

When lifting equipment, consider its size and weight. The added consideration is the gravity center. Locate the center of gravity of the object to be lifted. This is situated in the area where most of the weight is concentrated.

To yield a level lift, your hoist hook should be directly located on top of the center of gravity. If the hook is distant from any side of the gravity’s center, a perilous angle will result. Unequal stress in the load’s sling legs will then happen. Imbalances in load like this should be instantly corrected.

Quantity of Legs and Tilt with the Horizontal

If the angle between the sling legs and the horizontal is smaller, then a greater stress on individual sling legs will occur. The increased stress in return decreases the load that can be securely lifted. Big, heavy loads can be carefully moved by keeping the angle as big as possible. When needed, it is also advisable to distribute the load’s weight in other sling legs.
Esteemed Capability of the Sling

The assessed capacity of a sling is varied. It depends upon the kind of sling material as well as the string’s size and the kind of hitch used. These factors all affect its durability. You need to know this before you put any strain on the sling, that is if you don’t want any bad, and often deadly surprises.

Moreover, workers must be knowledgeable about the capacity of the sling. This basic information can be acquired through tables or charts from the manufacturer. In any circumstance, the estimated capacity of a sling must never be exceeded.
Background of Use and Care

The primary causes of sling failure are mishandling and misuse. It is essential to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. You better do this to maximize the life and service of sling service.

It is important to note that lifting equipment is just one of the steps in accomplishing a project. You should also learn to look at the entire picture of work rather than focusing on just one task. Even if you do practice safe lifting equipment, if it is not needed in the project, your action will be futile.

Comprehensive and smooth workflow will result to minimized and unnecessary lifts. It will also make the whole work site labor at its maximum capacity.