Your crane does a lot to improve productivity and safety in your facility. However, it’s important that it’s functioning at its highest capability to ensure that your team is safe and as productive as possible. Even a slight misalignment in your crane’s rail can cause problems for your team and daily operations without ever realizing that’s the problem. At T&M Cranes, we have a few reasons why you should consider having your crane checked and getting crane rail realignment in Merrillville, IN.
Safety
Your crane is lifting tremendously heavy loads throughout the day. It’s essential that it’s operating at peak performance to ensure the safety of your team. Misaligned rails can cause problems with your crane and facility as a whole that will lead to safety problems. Early wear and tear on your crane poses a safety hazard as you might not be expecting worn-down components that fail before you can replace them.
Reduced payload capacity
A big part of ensuring your crane’s ability to reach payload capacity depends on your crane’s vertical and horizontal alignment. A misaligned crane will be out of balance and hamper its ability to lift as much weight as it’s capable of without even minor damage. Think about how much easier it is for you to lift a heavy object if you’re evenly balanced on your feet and leaning directly over the object. The same goes for your crane. Getting your rails aligned will help keep your crane balanced and lifting at maximum capacity.
Excessive strain on motor drives
Not only will the rails of your crane take the extra strain and reduce the payload capacity, but the motor drives will also take the extra strain. Your crane’s lift system is meant to work at peak performance with everything perfectly in line. Rails that get out of alignment make your motor drives work harder than is typical for an equivalent load, which will wear the motor’s components and cause it to burn out.
Premature wheel wear
Similar to the tires on your car, the wheels on your crane are designed to wear based on how they interact with the surface on which they operate. Car tires create a footprint that will wear evenly when your car’s wheels are aligned. If your vehicle’s alignment is off, your tires will wear unevenly and prematurely in comparison. The same can be said for the wheels on your crane. Rails out of alignment won’t interact with the truck wheels properly and cause premature wear, so they need to be replaced sooner.
Building integrity
it’s not uncommon to have your crane built and integrated into your building. A misaligned crane rail will put extra pressure on your building’s structure by creating undue torsion. The girders of your crane and building aren’t designed to take that kind of physical pressure. You might not notice that your building is taking on extra pressure right away, but it can certainly take its toll over time.
Saves you money
Crane rails that are out of alignment are not only a safety issue, but they can also be incredibly costly. Over the course of a few months, you could end up paying more money to replace components that have worn out prematurely than you would to have the crane alignment repaired. If you feel like you’re constantly replacing parts on your crane, you might have an alignment problem.
Call for crane service
If your crane isn’t operating at full capacity and you feel you need an inspection, get in touch with our team at T&M Cranes. We offer crane rail alignment in Merrillville, IN, so you can continue to operate at peak efficiency. Give us a call at 800-552-6720 or send a message via our contact form to schedule service or speak with our team of experts. We’re available 24/7, so don’t hesitate to call when you need us.
