Search Articles |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Subscribe Articles |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| Selecting The Right Overhead Crane For Your Lifting Solutions
|
|
For many manufacturing workshops,
choosing a well designed, cost effective material handling solution
is critical to streamlining workflow and maximizing productivity. In
today's marketplace, there are multiple options, but ceiling mounted
workstation cranes are a very common and popular solution. These
inexpensive ceiling mounted cranes, generically called “overhead
bridge cranes,” are efficiently moved by the worker's own power and
have proven to be the ideal material handling solutions for many
companies because they can streamline and maximize productivity,
while adding little to the cost of the process.
Many manufacturing floors have limited
work space. Overhead crane systems are a perfect solution for floors
with little space because they can provide necessary coverage without
the use of support columns, which can take up valuable floor space.
Many ceiling mounted systems can also be linked together with a
monorail or another crane that uses interlock sections, making them a
welcome addition to any floor already performing efficiently.
Instead of requiring support columns,
overhead crane systems are supported by the existing building
structure. The first step in deciding if overhead crane systems are
the right solution for your company is to consult with a qualified
architect or engineer. Your building structure needs to be able to
support the crane system, and these professionals are the right
people to determine that.
There are several factors to consider
when choosing an overhead crane for your workshop. The first point to
consider is crane capacity. Most companies will want to avoid buying
higher capacities than required because extra load weight leads to
dead weight on the bridge, requiring more weight for the operator to
move. Still, the force required to move a load is only one percent of
the actual weight.
Three major points of consideration for
companies considering an overhead crane solution are length, height,
and width. The length of a crane runway is determined by the specific
area requiring coverage, while height is measured from the floor to
the point from which a hoist is suspended. The length of the bridge
between the centers of two runways determines the width.
There are many different types of
overhead cranes that fit the custom challenges of most manufacturing
workshops, in addition to different sizes. Overhead cranes create
easy, ergonomic movement for most operators if your company needs a
crane solution for load transportation. Because they tend to operate
more quickly, companies that have a fast paced working environment
could find manual overhead cranes to be a better solution than
motorized cranes.
Motorized systems can be used
effectively if the application requires moving heavier loads in
comparison to manual cranes. A motorized system should be considered
for any manufacturing floor that requires its crane to transport
1000, 2000, or 4000 pound objects. The need for a motorized system
also comes up when bridge travel across an inaccessible area is
required.
Any manufacturing workshop that
requires a cost effective solution for handling materials while
saving precious workspace should definitely consider overhead cranes.
Proper consultation and consideration should be done before making a
purchase because there are many overhead crane options, however. The
crane solution you select should truly be the best fit for your
business needs.
|
| Author |
Reggie Pryce |
Added
On |
2009-06-25 |
| Rating |
(0) |
Category |
Manufacturing |
|
|
| Comparing The Leading Versions Of Fall Protection Systems
|
|
Many manufacturing companies
use fall protection systems that pass OSHA standards to protect their
workers on the job. However, despite developments in the fall
protection industry that have created new systems that meet and
exceed OSHA standards, many companies continue to use wire rope
systems that can seem outdated. This article examines a variety of
leading fall protection systems and their pros and cons.
When
an individual is considering making an investment for their company
in a fall protection system, there are many reasons why they consider
wire rope systems. For one, wire rope systems are OSHA approved. In
addition, wire rope systems have been in place for years and are
typically effective at providing adequate protection for
workers.
However, wire rope systems can not prevent a worker
from falling at least several feet. On a wire rope system that is 40
feet in length, workers can fall as far as 8 feet before coming to a
stop. For workers on a tanker truck or rail car, the chance of injury
to the head or body during a fall of 8 feet with metal outcroppings,
ladders, or even the ground is very high.
In addition to increased risk of
safety, many companies have the misconception that wire rope systems
are less expensive than other options. Because wire rope systems are
the industry standard, why pay more? When a cost analysis of wire
rope systems is completed, however, most companies will see that once
you pay for the shock absorber and rope trolley, the cost of track
systems are very similar.
Two tracks system that are a popular
alternative to wire rope systems are called I-Beam Systems and Rigid
Track Systems. I-Beam Systems are rigid and horizontal in design,
making them safer than wire rope systems. However, their design
makes worker movement more difficult and cumbersome. The installation
of I-Beam Systems also demands more trusses and creates the need for
large foundations, which can be more costly.
For companies in
four-season climates, the elements can play a major role in the
inefficiency of I-Beam Systems. Any climate that sees snow and ice
can find their I-Beam Systems rendered completely useless because the
trolley on an I-Beam cannot move through the elements. Companies that
require a fall protection system in “dirty jobs” will also find
I-Beam systems to require a lot of track cleaning in order to keep
the trolley mobile, leading to an increase in worker downtime.
By
comparison to wire rope systems and I-Beam systems, Rigid Track fall
protection systems seem to be the best bet for promoting worker
safety and efficiency. Rigid Track systems have an enclosed track
that eliminate the potential hazard of the elements. From a cost
perspective, Rigid Track systems are also competitively priced with
wire rope systems and do not require the thousands of dollars in
engineering inspection and reinforcement.
From a safety standpoint, Rigid Track
fall protection systems seem to be the safest option for workers in a
variety of industries. While wire rope systems allow workers to fall
as much as 8 feet before providing “protection,” the rigid beam
on a horizontal track system protects workers from a fall as soon as
their hoist locks – there is no additional fall.
There are many options to consider for
fall protection systems, but only one choice seems to be best for
worker safety, worker efficiency, and cost benefits. Rigid Track
systems are created using industry-leading engineering, and seem to
provide the best fall protection on the market today. Consider
horizontal fall protection for your workstations the next time you're
in the market for improved fall protection.
|
| Author |
Reggie Pryce |
Added
On |
2009-06-23 |
| Rating |
(1) |
Category |
Industrial Supplies |
|
|
| Can You Afford Not to Own 2 Way Radios?
|
|
Even if you don’t live in an
area that is prone to natural disasters such as floods, blizzards, tornadoes,
hurricanes or earthquakes, it’s still a good idea for every family to own a set
of 2 way radios. Owning a set of high-quality long-range devices just in case
you lose cell phone service or land line service is an extremely good idea.
Aside from the aforementioned natural disasters, it’s important to remember
just how fragile our advanced, high-tech communication systems really are. They
can be taken out due to lightning strikes during thunderstorms, mechanical or
electrical failures, sabotage due to terrorist activities, failures because of
aging equipment or increased demand on the power grid, or any other wide
variety of causes resulting in an overall breakdown in communication technology.
We all love our cell phones,
but how reliable are they in an emergency? When disasters like Hurricane
Katrina hit, people are on their cell phones immediately. Unfortunately, however,
there are only a limited number of circuits. Even if the cell phone
infrastructure is still mostly intact, it may be so swamped with calls that
it’s impossible for your call to go through. That’s why it’s very important to
have a back-up communication system to rely on. You will be able to reach your
friends and family members, help them to reach a place of safety, and get
yourself to some kind of shelter where you can ride out the emergency or
natural disaster.
Emergencies aside, having several sets of long-range 2 way
radios can come in extremely handy, especially if you’re camping, boating,
hiking, or working at a construction site. This is particularly true if you are
somewhere that is too isolated to have cell phone service. There are dead zones
all over the U.S.,
especially if you’re out in the far reaches of the Southwest, away from any
towns, cities, or cell phone towers.
The sheer utility of a 2 way radio almost demands that most
people buy a set of them. They’re especially good for kids. If your kids are
adventurous types who like to hike and play in parks and wooded areas around
where you live, these devices can keep you in touch with them. You can keep
tabs on the kids without leaving the house, and the kids will love using
walkie-talkies so they can pretend that they’re soldiers, spies, or police
officers. They may only think they’re having fun, but as parents you see the
added benefits. Rest assured your kids will be safer if you can stay in near
constant touch with them through their 2 way radios.
If you also think that owning a set of these long-range
radios is a good idea, here are some features to look for: you want your radios
to be sturdy with strong hard rubber or impact-resistant plastic cases and
durable rubber-encased antennas. Don’t waste your money on impractically made
radios. Knowing full well your children will be using these devices is reason
enough to spend a little extra to make sure they will withstand your child's
touch.
Only buy radios that have multiple, programmable frequencies
and are built to military specs, whether you opt for UHF or VHF models. It’s a
good idea to get radios with a powerful signal, at least four watts, for
maximum range. The 2 way
radios you buy should feature at least 16 channels so that you’ll
have plenty of bandwidth to be able to switch channels if you find that you’re
infringing on military or law enforcement channels.
Battery strength
and lasting charge are important to look for when purchasing 2 way radios. One
of the big problems with the cheaper radios is that they don’t work very long
between charges, so look for a model that will give you at least six hours of
usable life before it needs to be recharged. Anything less than that will cut
into its usefulness and leave you frustrated.
|
| Author |
Admin |
Added
On |
2009-04-22 |
| Rating |
(0) |
Category |
Business Services |
|
|
| All
Articles |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
Login Here |
|
| |
|
| |
| Top
Rated |
|
|
| |
| Most
Popular |
|
|
| |
|
Sponsor |
|
| |
|
| |
|
