Ace World Companies has installed two cranes with a capacity of 250 tons with 25 tons of additional hoists each in a new production facility in Cape Canaveral.
Ace, a manufacturer of overhead cranes and hoists, supplied the 201 foot. Tensioning cranes for an aerospace manufacturer and suborbital space services company. These are some of the largest top overhead traveling cranes ever built with this capacity and span. An external consultant provided the failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA) in accordance with the established NASA standards.
The one million pound cranes are radio remote controlled and work independently and collaboratively to lift a variety of loads as required for assembly on site. Ace was also responsible for installing 1,000 linear feet of 175 pounds. Crane rail and electrification pole for the 500 foot runways.
Kevin Beavers, Executive Vice President, Ace World Companies, said, “The cranes are fail safe with redundant wire rope reeving and emergency caliper wire rope drum brakes. The cranes can also communicate wirelessly with each other to work as one. They are microspeed in all directions [hoist, bridge and trolley] to just six inches per minute. “
Ace, which provided all the machines and structural elements for the project, combined with other leading manufacturers, including Siemens (controls) and Pintsch Bubenzer (brakes). The customer requested two coats of Epoxy Safety Yellow and an additional coat of Safety Yellow Urethane from the cranes. Ace was able to meet other stringent requirements of the offer (issued by a contractor), including the importance of on-time delivery; 24 trucks were required to transport both cranes to the construction site. It took a year to manufacture both cranes.
The cranes have a CMAA Class C (Crane Manufacturers Association of America) which classifies them for moderate service. The user also benefits from a SIL2, ProfiNET HBC Radiomatik radio system of Class 1, Div 1, Hazardous Area, SIL2, with diagnostic feedback and monitoring of the weight measurement on the abdominal crates. The controls are regenerative in a common DC bus arrangement for maximum energy savings. As above, all movements can be wirelessly synchronized between the two cranes.
This project is well documented, however information about the type and shape of the loads the cranes lift is closely monitored. The cranes are known to have hooks that connect to other companies’ rigging equipment and hoists to allow both cranes to perform a tandem lift with a capacity of 500 tons. This requires that the hook centers between the two cranes cannot be larger than 26 feet (8 inches). Beavers confirmed that the loads established pick points and that the center of gravity was not an important consideration.
He added: “This is another example of a landmark project where we have emerged as the preferred manufacturer of overhead traveling cranes and hoists based on various criteria. This included conducting comprehensive operator training with the customer. In this case, however, we do not need to carry out regular inspections and maintenance. “
www.aceworldcompanies.com
