Crane Repair & Rehabilitation: A Highly Potential Business Avenue

Given the dearth of any specialized agencies in India to undertake repairs & rehabilitation of cranes; manufacturers and components suppliers can play a vital role by offering their services in the hitherto untapped highly potential crane repair market. P.P. Basistha takes a look.

Crane Repair Rehabilitation
Crane repair & rehabilitation market in India remains highly fragmented and unorganized. The status has continued to be the same, even with larger proliferation of advanced hydraulic mobile and crawler cranes, featuring highly advanced electronic controls, either procured newly or used ones. With dearth of specialized agencies to undertake overhauling and repairing of these equipment, procured through colossal investments, as like the advanced markets, owners have been undertaking repairs through their own in-house arrangements.

Though thoroughly equipped with the knowledge on the application orientation of the cranes, operation and lifting capabilities, the initiative has made the owners, representing both the rental agencies and corporate the cranes, to operate and perform their required lifting tasks. However, the issue of optimization of the equipment, getting out the total lifecycle costs, based on the large procurement costs and overall safe performance, remains an issue of debate and controversy.

Mobile Crane Reapair
Having said this, there is sufficient scope for OEMs and components suppliers, especially those dealing with the critical ones to intervene for necessary value addition. This is more so, given the fact, lighter and medium capacity mobile cranes are subjected to heavy abuses while erection, causing the booms to bend at frequent intervals.

Boom repairing is a major area where OEMs can make their necessary interventions. Boom bending is very common in India due to sudden jerks and also due to operators bypassing the load chart given by the OEMs for making the cranes to handle heavier loads, thereby seriously compromising the stability of the cranes. Owners try to repair this at their end through the required welding and heat treatment. Nonetheless, their remains scope for making the repairs more qualitative. In case of irreparable damage, the boom is replaced through costly imports.

Quality Repairs

Tower Crane Reapair
Appropriate and quality repairs hold strong basis. This is given the fact that majority of the rental companies and corporate owning heavier capacity cranes are now increasingly looking to attain specialization in the lifting capabilities of their cranes. This is to make the cranes deploy in complex jobs to get higher rental margins. This is evident given the large scale deployment of the cranes in present nature of complex refinery jobs, where the cranes are doing tandem lifting for heavier sections, resulting of transfer of heavier loads in the booms.

Participation in repairs of the counterweight, the super lift counterweight and the turntables both of gears and bearing origin is another vital area that can also be made by the manufacturers and their vendors. Intervention can also be made for repairing the filters, axles, tracks, and outriggers. Repairs of hydraulic cylinders is a major area for components suppliers to ensure the appropriate pressure setting based on the loads to be lifted.

One of the major segments necessitating quality repair is both the prime mover engines and the supporting engines. There have been initiatives by power pack manufacturers to undertake condition monitoring of the engines at site along with complete remanufacturing in some cases. The process needs to be carried forward identifying newer areas which will bring value to the machinery. This is because, appropriate repairs will surely extend the lifecycle of the cranes.

Supporting Solutions

Liebherr Maritime Cranes Maintenance Repair
Total life cycle of the cranes through proper repairs & rehabilitation can also be obtained through supporting solutions. This will ensure higher availability and safe working of the cranes. Initiatives taken in this direction are new tower crane camera systems from Everest Engineering. The camera can be installed on the trolley of the tower cranes, enabling the operator to have better view of the hook & ground conditions up to a depth of 600m. Everest provides anti collision device as tower cranes supporting solutions.

Specialty wire ropes is also another vital solution, given the higher loads to be lifted by the cranes. One of the well-known manufacturers of wire rope is verope, which is a Switzerland-based entity and has found growing acceptance of its premium superior quality wire ropes, being manufactured using high grade steel from Nippon Steel of Japan. According to the company, "The steel gives longer life to the cranes while also delivering higher equipment availability with negligible damage, as compared to other conventional cheaper quality wire ropes available locally. verope ropes are adaptable to varied weather and tough working conditions. Durability of the wire ropes as compared to the general wire ropes are characterized by high structural stability, resistance to abrasion, high breaking strength which goes on to increase the life of the cranes, without making the crane owner incur recurring expenditure towards replacing the ropes across the life cycle of the equipment."

However, the benefits of the supporting solutions can be optimally achieved with appropriate data sharing between the crane owners and the solution providers on aspects like functioning of the cranes, working condition and most vitally running hours. This will ensure availability of the right solutions by the OEMs and component manufacturers ensuring higher availability of the cranes.
Lifting & Specialized Transport January-March 2017

No comments yet, Be the first one to comment on this.

Cangraft Equipment: Offering Cutting-Edge Solutions For Tower Cranes

Cangraft Equipment: Offering Cutting-Edge Solutions For Tower Cranes

Cangraft Equipment has established itself as a premier manufacturer of safety equipment, specializing in the development and supply of cutting-edge solutions designed to ensure safe and efficient operation of tower cranes.

Read more ...

Growing Shift Towards Electric Forklifts: A Cost-Effective Solution

Growing Shift Towards Electric Forklifts: A Cost-Effective Solution

The material handling industry has undergone a significant shift, with electric forklifts becoming a sought-after solution in the modern logistics and warehousing industry. In fact, there is a growing shift towards electric forklifts as

Read more ...

Action Construction Equipment (ACE): Electric & Diesel-Powered Forklifts

Action Construction Equipment (ACE): Electric & Diesel-Powered Forklifts

We offer both electric and diesel-powered models; however, we are witnessing a significant transition from traditional manual and diesel-powered forklifts to electric models, which now account for a substantial portion of our

Read more ...

HD Hyundai: Electric Forklifts, Diesel/LPG Forklifts, Reach Trucks

HD Hyundai: Electric Forklifts, Diesel/LPG Forklifts, Reach Trucks

HD Hyundai’s forklift range is purpose-built for maximizing uptime, reducing operational costs, and ensuring operator safety across diverse applications. Whether it’s high-capacity lifting in rugged industrial environments

Read more ...

Allcargo Gati: Electric Forklifts for Safety, Sustainability & Efficiency

Allcargo Gati: Electric Forklifts for Safety, Sustainability & Efficiency

Electric forklifts have significantly enhanced our warehouse operations by improving safety, sustainability, and efficiency. These forklifts contribute to a cleaner and safer work environment, by reducing noise pollution and carbon

Read more ...

Godrej & Boyce: Offers India’s 1st Lithium-Ion Battery-Powered Forklifts

Godrej & Boyce: Offers India’s 1st Lithium-Ion Battery-Powered Forklifts

We have introduced India’s first Lithium-Ion battery-powered forklifts. Lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts are a boon for the material handling sector, offering substantial benefits. Our lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts

Read more ...

DP World: Offers Robust, Durable, Efficient & Safe Electric Forklifts

DP World: Offers Robust, Durable, Efficient & Safe Electric Forklifts

We constantly explore technologies that increase our operational efficiency in overall cargo handling. In line with this, we introduced the electric forklifts in our daily operations, which has improved our overall efficiency

Read more ...

Greentech India Material Handling: BYD Forklifts Authorized Distributor

Greentech India Material Handling: BYD Forklifts Authorized Distributor

Greentech India Material Handling, an authorized distributor for BYD Forklifts in India, is committed to revolutionizing material handling operations with cutting-edge lithium-ion technology. We cater to diverse industries

Read more ...

GEAR: Forklifts, Reach Trucks, Battery-Operated Pallet Trucks & Tuggers

GEAR: Forklifts, Reach Trucks, Battery-Operated Pallet Trucks & Tuggers

As a leading Material Handling Equipment (MHE) company, we specialize in both rental and sales, ranking among the top providers in MHE rental and deployment of zero-emission MHEs. Our range of MHE solutions include forklifts

Read more ...

Enerpac Introduces LGH3100 Synchronous Lock Grip System

Enerpac Introduces LGH3100 Synchronous Lock Grip System

Enerpac's latest announcement of the LGH3100 synchronous lock grip system marks a significant advancement in the hydraulic force applications. With a formidable capability of up to 100 tons, this system is tailored for the extraction

Read more ...

DINGLI Soars in India's Infrastructure Boom with Advanced MEWPs

DINGLI Soars in India's Infrastructure Boom with Advanced MEWPs

DINGLI is playing a leading role in the fast-growing Indian infrastructure construction market by providing advanced Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs). Rajinder Raina, President, SAARC Countries (DINGLI India), discusses the company's

Read more ...

NBEE: Meeting Challenges with Tech-Enabled Machines

NBEE: Meeting Challenges with Tech-Enabled Machines

Nilesh Bhorkar, Chairman & Managing Director, NB Equipments & Engineering, shares the challenges in the market and the company’s strategies to strengthen its position in the face of competition.

Read more ...

Rough Terrain Crane Sector Seeing High Traction: Tadano, Liebherr & ACE

Rough Terrain Crane Sector Seeing High Traction: Tadano, Liebherr & ACE

Amidst the dynamic landscape of India's construction industry, the rough terrain cranes sector is experiencing a notable surge in activity, driven by evolving demand patterns. Manufacturers like Tadano, Liebherr and ACE are swiftly adapting

Read more ...

Growing Mechanization in India's Real Estate Construction Sector: CMAC

Growing Mechanization in India's Real Estate Construction Sector: CMAC

From modest beginnings marked by reliance on traditional construction methods to the present era of sophisticated technology-driven solutions, the real estate sector is seeing a significant shift in the way vertical construction

Read more ...

Alpha Services leading innovation in Mobile and Fixed Tower Cranes

Alpha Services leading innovation in Mobile and Fixed Tower Cranes

Alpha Services, a company that introduced Mobile Tower Cranes to the Indian market in 1988, is today a leading play‎er in the segment and is also growing steadily in the Fixed Tower crane segment. The cranes are designed for material handling jobs

Read more ...

Preventing Tower Crane Accidents

Preventing Tower Crane Accidents

Crane accidents are a prevalent concern worldwide. The accidents stem from factors like operator errors, unpredictable wind gusts, overloading, and structural deficiencies, necessitating proactive measures to mitigate potential risks and

Read more ...

Tower Crane Market: ACE, Liebherr India & Alpha Cranes

Tower Crane Market: ACE, Liebherr India & Alpha Cranes

The Indian construction industry is seeking efficient and high capacity lifting solutions for the construction of high-rise buildings and mega infrastructure projects. This demand is being met by tower cranes, as they can lift heavy loads

Read more ...

Manitou: Backhoe loaders, scissor lifts, telehandlers

Manitou: Backhoe loaders, scissor lifts, telehandlers

Manitou South Asia, a Manitou Group subsidiary, showcased its backhoe loader, telehandler, and skid steer loader, which exemplified the brand’s adherence to BS (CEV) V standards that meet the latest regulatory requirements.

Read more ...

ACE: New Tower & Pick-n-Carry Cranes, upgraded Backhoe Loader

ACE: New Tower & Pick-n-Carry Cranes, upgraded Backhoe Loader

Indian Construction Equipment manufacturing conglomerate, Action Construction Equipment (ACE) displayed its new range of tower cranes, new pick-n-carry cranes, and an upgraded version of its backhoe loaders at Excon. The new 6 to 8-ton

Read more ...

To get latest updates on whatsapp, Save +91 93545 87773 and send us a 'Saved' message
Click Here to Subscribe to Our eNewsletter.