Regular gantry crane inspection and maintenance benefit your organization in different ways. You can spot wear and tear early on, which reduces the risk of equipment failures and accidents. Ensuring that your gantry cranes are working fine saves you time and maintains your productivity; you don’t have to decommission any equipment and put operations on hold. Gantry cranes will, in turn, last longer; this helps you save money on major repairs and equipment replacement.
Types of gantry crane inspections
The type and frequency of gantry crane inspections will depend on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the working environment. It will also depend on the frequency of the usage of the gantry crane. The types of inspections include:
Routine inspections. Regular checking encompasses both visual inspections and maintenance work to meet the manufacturer’s maintenance requirements. Regular checks should be carried out at intervals not exceeding three months apart unless the crane is not engaged in work.
Check speed controls, operational smoothness, emergency and safety switches, and interlocks. Make sure all moving parts are lubricated, filter elements are cleaned and replaced, and required fluids are at their correct levels. Routine inspections help reduce wear and tear and instances of unplanned work stoppage while maintaining equipment availability.
Periodic inspections. The basis of routine checks should be on-site conditions. Another one is the frequency of the usage of gantry cranes. Note that the inspection interval should not exceed 12 months. Apart from inspecting parts recommended by the manufacturer, check critical components such as brakes, gears, fasteners, pins, shafts, wire ropes, sheaves, locking devices, couplings, torque arms, and buffers.
Periodic third-party inspections. A trained and qualified independent inspector should always perform third-party checks. Each overhead crane should undergo a third-party assessment to ensure that the maintenance and repairs comply with industry standards and the crane is safe to use.
Inspectors should review all maintenance records of the crane before the inspection, and they should document the results. There should also be a confirmation that the usage of the crane is according to its design classification. The assessment should cover electrical, mechanical, and structural components. If the crane has an existing condition, cover plates should be left open and guards removed. They shall pay particular attention to any element with any history of malfunction.
Major inspections. Major inspections are required to assess gantry crane safety and usability. Major assessments should include all manufacturer-specific items and structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation components. It should cover the gantry crane’s operational history, outlier events (e.g., overloads, duty changes, collisions), emergency functions, braking systems, and the disassembly and removal of paint, grease, and corrosion from critical components of the crane. Expect the inspector to check for any evidence of cracking, fatigue, and excessive stress.
Covering the southeastern United States, Integrity Crane and Hoist, LLC (ICH) is committed to overhead crane service excellence and workplace safety, striving for zero incidents at all times. Call (615) 302-3431 for more information.