Almost every day, there may be more than one query about the quotation of the installation process of overhead cranes. Whether the company wants to replace an outdated or an old crane, or they may consider buying a new one for the expansion purpose of the business, both require the consultation process first. Long story short, most of the company look for the cost of overhead cranes.
Many manufacturing companies get cranes designed and installed as per their requirement. If you go for research work, you will understand the different processes of buying an overhead crane. Let us see the factors that tend to affect the cost of overhead cranes.
Factors that affect the cost
Many companies opt for the wrong overhead crane for their business expansion. To ensure you are on the right track, you need to contact the best overhead crane manufacturers like LOADMATE for bidding purposes. For that purpose, you need to prepare the following pieces of information:
- The type of overhead cranes that you need
- The span required to cover under your overhead crane
- The maximum rated load
- The estimated height of the overhead crane
- How fast do you need the crane
- Frequency of your use
- Your operating environment
- Any special structural or building requirement
1) Type of overhead crane that you require
An overhead crane, however, is a complex piece of equipment. One can have different choices to choose from. The factors that determine the type of crane one needs are listed below:
- The engineering that one needs to design the crane
- The application
- The components that one requires to operate the crane
For instance, a 40-meter wide bridge crane will cost more than 2 nos than a 20-meter wide bridge crane.
2) The span of the overhead crane
The span between the runway rails contributes to the cost of overhead cranes. The longer span would accelerate the cost of the runway as one needs extra material to build the crane girders.
3) Maximum rated load
A crane that requires a large span, large capacity or service can be regarded as a double girder design crane. If any crane can take up a maximum amount of load, it is considered expensive.
4) Service classification
The crane manufacturers association of America classified the service based on six different classifications.
- Class A and Class B: These cranes will be of the least cost because they are used chiefly infrequently.
- Class C: This type of crane requires unique and specific projects. They are primarily used moderately. The class c overload cranes can handle a capacity of 50%. One can expect these cranes to be in service for about five lifts to ten lifts per hour.
- Class D and Class E: These overload cranes are often referred to as process cranes. They are considered to be more heavy-duty. However, you can make this work 15 to 20 lifts per hour. One can expect these cranes to have more customized solutions for specific lifting applications. Due to this reason, the engineering and design cost increases and makes it an expensive affair.
- Class F: This class of cranes can handle anything and everything throughout their lifetime. They provide severe service. Due to the engineering and design of the class F cranes, they are costly. The material, labour, installation and sourcing of heavy-duty components make the class of overhead cranes more expensive.
5) Delivery Time
Delivery lead time may be the essential factor affecting your project execution. In these scenarios, the delivery time may act as a selection or rejection criterion. You need to make sure that the delivery time quoted by the manufacturer is realistic or not. It will depend on the available infrastructure and workload of the manufacturer.
6) Operating environment
Environmental factors like chemicals, high heat, dust, steam and excessive moisture can require a special kind of coating on the metals. It enhances and protects the entire operating life of the overhead crane.
Cranes that require outdoor operation need to be coated with a protective layer to prevent quotations. One needs to waterproof the whole system to seal out any existence of moisture, dirt or dust. Some cranes also required waterproofing and weatherproofing to seal out any dust or moisture.
Also, if one is working in a dangerous operating environment, they would require special equipment or PPE. It would add an extra cost to the whole quotation.
7) Length of the runway
The runway length plays a significant role while determining the cost of overhead cranes. While making multiple picks, you need to have a longer runway. In addition to that, one requires a faster trolley and hoist to move quickly.
Suppose you want to increase the desired speed of the crane; you need to operate it within an enclosed cab. It would be more expensive than the pendant controls.
8) The building or structural requirements
If you install an overhead crane in the new construction facility, then the runway beam needs to be installed during construction. In this case, the manufacturer would not include the runway structure in your quotation process. But if the crane is being installed in an existing facility, then one must have to deal with additional costs, including the fabrication, installation, delivery and design.
Hidden Costs of Overhead Cranes System
Buying an overhead crane can be a considerable investment for your company. However, it will benefit you in numerous ways. For instance, it will improve your productivity and will stay by your side for a long time. In addition, their service life is quite impressive. However, before buying an overhead crane, price is not the only thing that you should consider. Other factors are going to influence your purchase.
For example, if you buy a crane after looking at its low price and not checking its applications, it will be a wrong decision. You must make sure that the crane is suitable for your application. Plus, you may have to pay some hidden charges unwillingly. So, you should know everything before buying your crane. Here, we will discuss everything so that you can protect yourself from hidden costs. It will save you some money.
Quotation and Design Process
The first thing that you have to do is to partner with a reliable crane manufacturer. The company should be able to fathom your unique demands. Besides, it should also understand your material and lifting challenges. Finally, it will ensure that they are designing a crane that is best compatible with your applications.
One of the best things that you can do is to get numerous bids from the manufacturers. It will provide you with a better sense of the actual cost of buying an overhead crane. Besides, if a company gets to know that they are not the only company to bid, they will provide you with a better service. The manufacturers will try to stay in the competition.
You will get more comprehensive as well as competitive quotes. They will make all the efforts to get the business from you. Now, we will discuss the hidden charges. To understand that, here are some factors that you must go through. Here are the factors that we are talking about.
Compare the quotes
Comparing the quotes is essential. You must understand all the specifications along with other details of the quote. Comparing quotes will help you to pick up the best of all. The best thing for you is to sit down with all the manufacturers and know about your design. Once you let them understand your design, they will provide you with the quote according to that. Keep one thing in mind: buying the crane based on the lowest amount may cost you some money in the future. For example, maintenance and downtime may cost you some unwanted money.
Design and Duty Cycle
The duty cycle and classifications will allow you to choose the design. During that time, you have to choose a design that is safest as well as economical. It must be perfect for your lifting applications. Also, if you choose the proper duty cycle, it will make sure that all the components of your crane are up to the mark and durable. Well, there are some questions you must ask your manufacturer before buying. You should be honest and open with them. Here are the questions:
- How frequently are you going to use the crane?
- The type of environment that you are about to work in.
- How hard is your crane going to work?
If you mention these to your manufacturers before buying the crane, it will be easier to design the best crane for you. If you under-specify the crane system, there is a possibility it will allow you to invest at a low cost initially. However, it may cost you more during downtime and maintenance in the long run. So it will be your hidden costs.
Inspections, Freight Costs, and Permits
When the manufacturer provides you with the quote, there are certain things that you have to check. The first thing that you have to fathom is whether they are providing you with a single quote that includes everything or not. Or are they delivering you with the quote that comprises itemized prices for different services? Make sure of the total cost for the project.
You should know whether the manufacturer or the installer will handle the paperwork when getting permits. Besides, perceive who is going to bear the associated fees and arrange the surveys before the work. Or else you will end up paying some extra cash.
Material costs
It is a crucial part of the discussion. It depends on the market value of steel. Well, it is a bit volatile market. For that reason, it is hard to determine the specific cost of the overhead cranes. There is a probability that there will be a disclaimer in the quote. It will state that the estimated cost of the material will stay for a specific time. After that time frame, it may change. So, you should be aware of the disclaimer. We would suggest you opt for a consultation, as it will help you make the right choice.
Some of the other common misunderstandings
Well, there may be some common misunderstandings between an overhead crane installer and the customer. Here, we will point out those misunderstandings so that you can avoid them to work together correctly.
- There is a possibility that you need in-house electrical work before load testing and installation.
- Make sure you are clear about who will do the electrification.
- Keep in mind that it is the work of a third party or in-house electrification. Make everyone clear about their work.
So, these are the hidden costs that you may have to come across after buying an overhead crane system.
Conclusion
Most crane manufacturers do not offer any certification services for in-house structural repair. So you must consider the additional costs that your contractors provide at the time of consultation.
While working with existing buildings, one needs to determine if they can handle the extra load that the overhead crane installation generates. In almost every case, these factors determine the cost of the overhead crane system.
