Buying New Overhead Cranes vs. Used ...

You&#;ve decided to make the investment in an overhead gantry crane. You know that you can expect a healthy return on your investment, as it will make your business more efficient and productive, and create a safer workplace for your team.

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One thing you don&#;t know, however, is the shape that this investment will take. Should the crane that you purchase be brand new, or should you look to the second-hand market?

As highly regulated, heavy duty and generally bespoke pieces of equipment, there can be significant risk associated with purchasing second-hand overhead and gantry cranes, and that&#;s only if you&#;re able to find a used crane that matches your needs. Investing in a brand new crane gives you confidence that you&#;re getting exactly what you need, that it will work as advertised, and that you&#;ll minimise the risks that your workers face.

In this article we&#;ll take a closer look at the purchase of brand new overhead cranes vs second-hand overhead cranes: the pros and cons of each, the considerations you&#;ll need to make, and the challenges you may face.

Let&#;s begin by gaining an understanding of the basic pros and cons of new and used crane purchases.

Should I buy a new overhead crane?

Pros

• You can order the exact crane that you need, and you&#;ll know exactly what you&#;re getting.
• You&#;ll be covered by a manufacturer&#;s warranty.
• It&#;s a relatively simple process to gain the necessary certifications.

Cons

• New cranes tend to require a larger upfront investment than used cranes.
• You may have to wait some time for the crane to be designed, produced and installed.

Should I buy a used overhead crane?

Pros

• A used crane tends to require a lower upfront investment than a new crane.
• If the right second-hand crane happens to be available, you can take delivery almost instantly.

Cons

• It can be tricky, perhaps impossible, to find a second-hand overhead crane that meets your exact needs.
• It will be your responsibility to ensure the crane is free of issues, and you may not be covered by warranty.
• The process of gaining the necessary certifications can be far more complex.

Things to consider when shopping for a used crane

While these lists give a sense of the basic considerations of a new vs used crane purchase, in truth there&#;s far more to the decision than these pros and cons make out. This is particularly the case for the purchase of second-hand overhead cranes, as a wealth of rules and regulations govern their installation, use and maintenance.

If you feel the arguments for an investment in a second-hand overhead crane outweigh those against, you&#;ll need to consider a few things before you lock the purchase in. At a base level you&#;ll need to know the following about your prospective second-hand purchase:

• What application the crane has previously been used for.
• Its total operating hours.
• Relevant certifications and maintenance records.
• Whether the crane was used in accordance with rules, regulations and the manufacturer&#;s recommendations.
• If it has, or has had, any issues, including breakdowns, damage, part replacements, rust or general wear and tear.

How you buy your crane will determine how easy this information is to get, and how trustworthy the information is. If you purchase a used crane from a certified dealer, you&#;re more likely to get all the information you need, and for it to be accurate. If you purchase the used crane online or unsighted, you&#;ll be taking a far larger risk, and may need to take the seller on their word. The quality of the product isn&#;t guaranteed.

This fact can leave you exposed to safety issues and system failures. Buying a second-hand crane might at first seem like a great way to save money, but it&#;s a gamble, and one that can often leave you more out of pocket than you would&#;ve been if you simply bought new.

The major risks of buying a used overhead crane

Warranty

Used cranes don&#;t tend to come with warranties, and system malfunctions can be incredibly expensive, not just because repairs can be expensive &#; equipment downtime can seriously impact productivity and your ability to make money.

At Stratalign our new overhead gantry cranes come with up to 5-year factory warranties against manufacturing defects, giving customers confidence that issues beyond their control will be fixed and fixed fast.

Support

Buying a used crane can be a gamble on another major front: support. Second-hand purchases generally see an end user selling to another end user. The relationship ends once the transaction is completed. If you have any post-purchase problems, they&#;re yours to sort out.

When you buy a new crane from a reputable dealer like Stratalign, however, you&#;ll have support on-hand whenever you need it. After-sales support sees the relationship between dealer and customer extend beyond the point of purchase, and the expertise the dealer brings to the table can mean that any issue, no matter how unique or complex, will usually be able to be sorted. Tips, tricks, advice and support are only ever a call away.

Suitability

Gantry cranes can be rather bespoke pieces of equipment that are designed to meet the specific needs of each customer. You&#;ll need yours to be capable of lifting certain items of certain weights, you&#;ll need it to fit within your space, and you&#;ll need it installed and maintained to all relevant standards.

It&#;s exceptionally rare that you&#;ll come across a second-hand gantry crane that ticks all the necessary boxes. In most cases it will be far more efficient and cost-effective to invest in a brand new system that has been designed from the ground up to be fit for purpose.

Certification

One of the biggest challenges in buying a used gantry crane is in getting it certified. Amongst other things, an inspector will look to review the crane&#;s engineering design and maintenance records before certifying it for use, and if those records are missing or incomplete, the path to certification becomes far more challenging, and in some cases may prove impossible.

There are no such worries with a brand new gantry crane from Stratalign, as commissioning and certification forms a key step in our process.

Second-hand gantry crane purchasing checklist

If you&#;ve weighed up all the factors and still believe that a second-hand overhead crane is a worthwhile investment, it&#;s critical that you ask the right questions when you browse the market. The following list of considerations can help to clarify whether a given gantry crane is right for you.

• Does the crane precisely match your needs, both now and into the future?
• What condition is the crane in? Will it need servicing or repairs in the near future?
• How close is the crane to the end of its service life?
• Does the crane come with all the parts you need?
• Do you have access to replacement parts should a breakdown occur?
• Are all mechanical and electrical systems in good order?
• Will the crane be supplied with complete maintenance records?
• Will the seller offer any guarantees that the crane will work as promised?

The perks of buying a new gantry crane with Stratalign

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Given the difficulty in finding a used overhead crane that matches your exact needs, and the risks involved in purchasing a second-hand crane, most businesses instead opt to buy new. And when you invest in a Stratalign gantry crane, the confidence that comes with the purchase is particularly high.

All Stratalign overhead cranes are made with the highest quality materials and are built to do the exact job you need them to in the most efficient and productive way possible. We begin with an on-site consultation to understand your needs, then we design, produce, install and commission a bespoke solution.

Stratalign overhead cranes also feature generous warranties, and come with market-leading after-sales support. If there&#;s an issue with your portable crane you can be confident that our team of experts will have it fixed in quick time, and we&#;re always on call to offer advice on how best to use your crane.

Simply put, buying a brand new gantry crane from Stratalign isn&#;t just the safe choice &#; it can be the most efficient, most productive, and in some cases even most cost-effective option too.

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Ready to experience the Stratalign difference? Our gantry crane experts are ready to offer up their knowledge and expertise to get your business humming. Over the years we&#;ve built a reputation as trusted advisors to Kiwi businesses who are in search of lifting solutions.

We help you to avoid the manual handling downsides &#; the low productivity, the non-compliance, the worker risks &#; with innovative lifting equipment designed to make your business better, faster and stronger.

Get in touch with our friendly team today for an obligation-free consultation and quote.

When purchasing a quality crane for your manufacturing facility or operation, it&#;s important to consider not just the price of the equipment but also its capabilities and capacities. There are plenty of overhead cranes available in a fair price range, but the cost alone cannot dictate your decision when choosing the right crane for your application. So, how do you ensure you&#;re buying the right machine for the right price? Our crane selection guide will walk you through the most critical considerations and provide some tips for ensuring you get the most from your investment.

1. Defining Your Expectations for Quality Cranes

To start, it&#;s always important to make your expectations clear from the beginning. Whether you are purchasing a crane from a dealer, vendor, or manufacturer, you must define and communicate your expectations to ensure you end up with the best product for your needs. Opting for a crane simply because of price can lead to many adverse outcomes, such as project inefficiencies, hefty upgrade or repair costs, and reduced life spans. 

Whether the crane can&#;t handle its workload or you&#;ve received an improper allocation, there are several concerns that can cost you time and money &#; and a lot of it. 

You can ensure that your crane is running when you need it by doing the following:

1. Outline your application, operation, and facility requirements from the beginning, and be clear about what type of work your crane will have to endure.
2. Communicate the dimensional specifications needed and any other features that will ensure the efficiency of your new overhead crane.
3. Ask about warranties and what activities will maintain or void them.
4. Consider aspects to negotiate, such as transportation expenses, installation services, or delivery times, to make your purchase more cost-effective.
5. Plan a budget ahead of time, including maintenance and operating costs, to avoid monetary shortfalls.

2. Choosing Crane Size and Specifications

Crane size, capacity, and specifications will drive your purchase. Some dimensional specifications and features to consider are as follows:

• Crane capacity
• Span of the bridge or beam
• Overall height &#; dependent on your facility and any overhead obstructions &#; and lift height
• Runway lengths and number of bridges
• Steel or aluminum systems &#; including track and beams
• Any dimensional limitations that might impact the crane&#;s ability to function properly for your specific operation
• Motorization or manual system
• Festooning, rotation stops, taglines, casters, and any other additional features that will enhance your application &#; depending on which type of overhead crane you are buying
• Motion speeds, voltage, controls, and other various electronic features 

How to Select Crane Capacity

Your crane&#;s lifting capacity must match your project needs. A load chart is valuable for evaluating capacities and capabilities. These charts detail how much a crane can lift at various configurations to avoid overextending the machine&#;s limits. Using this tool requires you to understand several elements, including load weight, boom length, and radius. These measurements will depict how much weight a crane can carry at various distances from its center under perfect conditions.

Factors that impact overall crane lifting capacity include:

• Lifting range: The distance from the load center to the crane&#;s rotation center impacts capacity.
• Configuration: You can manipulate the lift capacity, depending on how you arrange counterweights and moveable parts.
• Boom angle and length: Longer booms have lower lift capacities, and the horizontal plane&#;s angle is also an important consideration.
• Operational conditions: Your operational environment, including weather elements like temperature and wind, and ground stability impacts capacities.
• Motion: A crane will have a higher capacity when it&#;s stationary compared to when it&#;s in motion because dynamic forces increase when a crane is moving.
• Dimensions and weight: Handling large and heavy materials can result in damage or injuries if the crane cannot safely manage them.

3. Evaluating the CMAA Service Class

A very important part of choosing the right crane for your total operation &#; and one that buyers often overlook &#; is the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) Service Class that best fits your application. Operating your overhead crane outside its recommended service class is not only dangerous but very destructive to the crane itself. According to the CMAA, there are six service classes to consider:

• Class A &#; Standby or Infrequent Service: These cranes provide precise handling at slow speeds during installation and maintenance and offer long idle periods between lifts.
• Class B &#; Light Service: Light assembly operations and repair shops often use this class with light requirements and low speeds with varying load capacities. These cranes offer an average of 10 feet per lift, but you can find a range between two and five hours. 
• Class C: &#; Moderate Service: Most cranes satisfy Class C service requirements. Moderate service cranes can tackle loads averaging 50% of rated capacities with an average of 15 feet per lift and five to 10 lifts per hour. 
• Class D &#; Heavy Service: Operations requiring heavy-duty production, such as steel warehouses, foundries, machine shops, and lumber mills, utilize this service class to handle loads near 50% of rated capacities during work periods. You can operate these cranes at high speeds and expect 10 to 20 lifts per hour at around 15 feet per lift.
• Class E &#; Severe Service: Scrap yards, container handling, fertilizer plants, and cement mills often rely on Class E equipment. These cranes are capable of delivering 20 or more lifts per hour near or at rated capacities.
• Class F &#; Continuous Severe Service: Electric overhead traveling cranes and top-running bridge cranes are within this class, and they must deliver the highest level of reliability. This class can tackle loads approaching rated capacity throughout its lifetime. 

4. Finding the Right Manufacturer

Although your dealer will help you choose the right manufacturer for your new overhead crane, it doesn&#;t hurt to check out manufacturers and gauge their reliability and manufacturing standards. Here are some things to look for:

• Is the manufacturer ISO certified?
• Are all systems designed and stamped by a licensed engineer?
• Does the company offer on-site evaluation of material handling needs, and are they willing to make expert recommendations when needed?
• Do they manufacture pre-engineered and custom-engineered cranes?
• Are they eager to custom engineer systems to fit your specific application demands?
• Do they meet all applicable industry standards?
• Do they conduct finite element analysis and destructive testing on custom-designed systems?
• Do they utilize laser precision manufacturing and AWS-certified welding fabrication?
• Do they provide exceptional packaging and on-time delivery?
• Do they provide ongoing, on-site customer technical support?
• Do they offer a great warranty?

Importance of Preventive Care for Your Crane

Once you purchase and install the right crane for your total operation, it&#;s also important to implement a periodic inspection and preventive maintenance plan, which a qualified person from a crane service company should perform. It&#;s smart to plan the work around your production schedule to avoid as much downtime as possible.

If your overhead crane is down for unexpected repair or maintenance or you experience crane deflection, you are indefinitely losing money &#; the longer you have to wait to get it up and moving, the worse the situation. Consider these possible outcomes:

• Production losses: Production suffers greatly when an overhead crane is out of use due to necessary repairs and maintenance issues.
• Project downtime: Your application can come to a standstill if your crane is out of operation and you don&#;t have another machine to continue the project. Additionally, other jobs can suffer if workers are waiting to use the space under the non-working crane.
• Increased costs: Repairs can be very costly if you don&#;t carry a warranty. Check with your dealer or manufacturer to learn more about your warranty, including what it includes, how long it lasts, and what actions can void it.
• Inefficient shipping times: Cranes that are down can impact shipping. Inefficient shipping can hold up truck drivers waiting to load or unload products and cause your customers to wait longer for their products or materials. Longer wait times can lower satisfaction, which can greatly hurt your business and diminish customer loyalty.

In the end, you cannot eliminate downtime occurrences completely, but you can keep them at a manageable level when you buy the right equipment for the job and properly maintain it.

Shop Quality Cranes From Spanco Today

It&#;s imperative that you buy the system that meets all of your needs &#; operationally and in regard to your application and facility. Purchasing the right crane for your needs may cost a little more upfront, but the payoff is huge. The right crane will save you lots of money in damages and repairs, unnecessary maintenance, and potential injuries and fatalities.

When you need reliable, cost-effective equipment, turn to the experienced team at Spanco, Inc. Spanco has been providing material handling solutions for over 40 years, and we aggressively invest in op-notch technology so you can access the best possible machines and equipment to enhance your operations. 

Browse our cranes to find a quality model, or contact our team to discuss your material handling solution needs.

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