Benefits Of Top Running Overhead Cranes
Cranes are very common in industrial environments and workplaces as they come in handy for lifting heavy materials/equipment, as well as moving this equipment from one point to the other. Although cranes come in two categories, overhead top running, and under-hung ceiling mounted cranes, each one has its advantages and disadvantages. If you however are looking for a crane capable of lifting heavy weight loads with ease, then an overhead crane would be your best pick. Some of the main benefits of top running overhead cranes include:
1. Ability to handle unlimited capacities
Top running overhead cranes are very common in steel, paper, forging plants, and vehicle manufacturing plants. One of the main reasons for this is that, these cranes can handle huge weights without caving in. If you are looking for a crane capable of handling and lifting heavy weights from one point to another, then a top running overhead crane should be your best option. The high load handling capacity is what makes many manufacturers prefer the overhead top running cranes to all the others.
2. High Headroom
Top running overhead cranes come in handy in facilities with little headroom. The crane provides the maximum headroom possible for your facility, thus making it easy to go about tasks. While an underhung crane will take up some of the headroom, a top running one clears as much headroom as possible thus helping you maximize space.
3. Easy Installation
Installing a top running crane is considerably much easier when compared to under-hung cranes. This is to say; you can have the crane installed in your facility in half the time it would take for under-hung cranes. It is for this reason many people prefer using these cranes in their facilities to help reduce installation costs.
4. Maintenance
Servicing and repairing top running overhead cranes are considerably very easy. This is mainly because the crane doesn’t need to be suspended from above to access all its parts, this includes oiling and greasing. This also translates to lower operational costs as accessing all serviceable parts is very easy. One or more of the crane operators, however, need to be trained on how to service or maintain the crane to increase its efficiency. Another added benefit to this is that repair/replacement parts are easily accessible as well. The vast availability of parts for these types cranes is also one of the factors that make them popular.
5. Higher Moving Speeds
Top running overhead cranes are considerably faster, especially when moving materials/equipment around a workshop. The estimated speeds of top running cranes are approximately 200fpm, which is much higher than speeds on underhung cranes. Top running cranes are therefore best suited for large workshops where materials have to travel long distances while on a crane.
Crane safety is also a primary concern when shopping for overhead cranes. The beauty in top running cranes, however, is that they are equipped with radio controls and are also remotely controlled to ensure optimal safety for operators and those working around. These are some of the main advantages and factors to consider when shopping for an industrial crane.