Although often overlooked, runways are one of the most critical parts of a smooth running and reliable crane. We understand the importance of a solid and precise runway to maximize your uptime and minimize your maintenance costs. The services below are just some of our offerings:
Runway Inspections:
We look at critical items from the anchor bolts to the rail and all the connection points in between. Your runways are required to be looked at once per year as part of your periodic crane inspections. We will provide a comprehensive report of what items need attention with supporting photographs and we can provide a cost estimate for the repair work.
Capacity Upgrades:
If you are replacing a crane or adding another crane to your existing runway, we can help with engineering support to determine what will be required to do so.
Runway SURVEYS:
If your crane is not tracking straight or binding up, we can provide a span, straightness and elevation survey to determine how far out of CMAA tolerances your runway actually is. We will also determine what can be done to get your runway back into the necessary tolerances.
Crane Rail Welding:
Flash butt welding consists of bringing two rail ends together and generating an arc which heats the metal. Using hydraulic pressure the rail ends are then forged together. This entire process is automated with the rail ends handled by a portable weld head. Because it is completed so quickly, the heat affected zone is minimized. Parent metal is fused to parent metal.
In thermite welding, the steel obtained by combining iron oxide with aluminum is cast at over 2000°C in a mold matching the rail profile. The cast material bonds the two rails together.
Each method has its own advantages and will depend on your application and time constraints. A representative from Simmers Crane Design & Services can meet with you at your facility to see which method best suits your needs.
