How to Spec a Кран for a Фабрика: Step by Step
Most crane procurement problems start with a vague inquiry: "I need a 10-ton overhead crane, please quote." Without span, lift height, duty class, voltage, and environment, that request can produce five quotes that are not comparable — and one crane that is undersized for the job. This guide walks through the six variables that determine the correct machine, using concrete model references from the Chunhua Кран range (LD, LH, QD, MH, MG, KBK and others).
Step 1: Define the Load — Not Just the Weight
Rated capacity is the starting point, but the number you give a manufacturer must be the heaviest single lift including the spreader. A 5-ton coil handled with a 600 kg C-hook requires at least a 6.3-ton crane, not a 5-ton единица.
- 0.5–20 T: LD single-girder overhead crane — the workhorse for light machining and assembly bays.
- 5–50 T: LH hoist double-girder overhead crane — for wider bays and frequent handling.
- 5–150 T: QD universal double-girder crane — heavy fabrication, steel structure shops.
- 5–125 T: YZ metallurgical crane — casting and ladle duty, with heat shielding.
Also confirm whether you need a single hook, double hook, or a magnet/grab configuration. For container yards, the RMG rail-mounted container gantry is a different machine entirely from a general MG double-girder gantry.
Step 2: Measure the Span and Высота подъема Accurately
Span is the centre-to-centre distance between runway rails — not the building width. A common error is quoting building width and receiving a crane that cannot reach the bay edges. Lift height is hook travel above floor level, measured to the top of the hook block in its highest position, plus any below-hook tooling.
Two practical checks:
- Verify the runway rail type and centre distance on site before ordering; a 22.5 m span crane will not fit a 22 m runway.
- For козловые краны (MH single-girder, MG double-girder), confirm the rail gauge and cantilever requirements, since yard layouts often need overhang beyond the legs.
Where headroom is tight, a low-headroom hoist or a KBK light rail system may solve the problem more cheaply than a full overhead crane.
Step 3: Classify the Duty — This Drives Service Life
Duty class (FEM 1.001 / ISO or CMAA #70) reflects how hard the crane works, not how heavy the load is. A 5-ton crane running 40 cycles per hour in three shifts is a far more demanding application than a 20-ton crane used twice a day.
- Light duty (A3–A4): intermittent use, workshops, maintenance bays — LD and MH series are обычно adequate.
- Medium duty (A5): regular production handling — LH and MG series.
- Heavy duty (A6–A7): continuous cycling, foundries, ports — QD, YZ, and RMG class machines.
Specifying a light-duty crane for a heavy-duty cycle is the single most common cause of premature gearbox and hoist failure. It is cheaper to buy the correct duty class up front. Chunhua Кран designs to GB/T 3811 as standard, with FEM 1.001, DIN 15018, or CMAA #70 on request.
Step 4: Confirm the Power Supply
Voltage and frequency vary by market, and this affects motor, contactor, and VFD selection. Common configurations include 380 V/50 Hz, 400 V/50 Hz, 415 V/50 Hz, 440 V/60 Hz, and 480 V/60 Hz. Confirm:
- Three-phase voltage, frequency, and whether a neutral is available.
- Power feed method: festoon, cable reel, or conductor rail (busbar).
- Control voltage and pendant vs. radio remote — radio control is common for gantry and large span cranes where the operator needs a clear view.
Component brands matter for spares availability. Chunhua cranes use Schneider, Siemens, ABB, and SEW components, which are serviceable in most export markets.
Step 5: Assess the Environment
Environment determines protection class, materials, and options:
- Dusty or abrasive: foundry and cement plants — sealed enclosures, IP54 or higher.
- Corrosive: chemical, coastal, or plating shops — galvanised or painted structures, stainless fasteners.
- High temperature: metallurgical YZ cranes with heat shields and high-temp cable.
- Outdoor: козловые краны need wind anchoring, rain covers, and anti-corrosion coating.
- Explosion-risk zones: require Ex-rated motors and controls — specify this early, as it changes the entire electrical package.
For clean, precision assembly work, an electric-servo or pneumatic-balanced industrial manipulator may be more productive than a crane, particularly for repetitive 50–300 kg lifts.
Step 6: Match the Machine to the Building
Before finalising, check wheel loads against your runway structure, hook approach dimensions against your bay width, and clearance above the crane against roof trusses. For multi-level parking or compact storage, PSH puzzle-stack, PCS chain-circulation, PCX rotary tower, and PPYL vertical-lift systems solve a different problem entirely and should not be compared with верхнеподвесные краны on price alone.
What to Отправить for an Accurate Quote
To get a firm, comparable quotation — Chunhua Кран works to a 4-hour quote SLA — provide: capacity, span, lift height, duty class, voltage/frequency, indoor or outdoor, control method, and any special environment notes. With those six data points, the correct model can be selected from the 81 standard models across five categories, with production обычно running 30–45 days and a 12-month warranty.
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