"SPANCO Workstation Bridge Crane Provides Ergonomic Solution For Metal Fabrication Facility"
Application
A 10,000 square foot metal fabrication facility in central Pennsylvania specializes in assembling and fabricating steel bases that are used to support printing presses in large print facilities. After being in business for two years, the company president re-evaluated the fabrication workflow, looking to lower production costs in order to stay competitive.
Problem
The fabrication process involved part assembly and welding that took place at individual work stations throughout the facility. Assemblies could weigh anywhere from 900lbs. to 1500lbs. Originally, jib cranes mounted on the warehouse support columns were used by workers to at each station. The jib cranes were effective for work done within an individual station, but did not provide the ability to move an assembly to the next stage of fabrication. The company’s first solution to this problem was to use forklifts. While the forklifts did provide mobility, they ended up becoming a safety hazard to the employees, and also introduced a significant amount of grease that was transferred onto the product. This grease had to be removed before shipping.
Solution
The problems presented by the use of forklifts lead the president to seek a more effective and secure solution. Looking to bring in an expert, he contacted a local material handling specialist to visit their site and study their fabrication workflow. The specialist, also a SPANCO distributor, spent an entire day observing the workflow and came to the conclusion that a SPANCO Workstation Bridge Crane would add immediate value. After listening to the solution, the president decided to invest in a 2000lb. capacity SPANCO Workstation Bridge Crane. Once installed, the system had a runway length of 110’, covering a majority of the fabrication process. The dual 20’ bridges allowed workers using an overhead hoist to move assemblies effortlessly along SPANCO’s smooth enclosed track bridge crane.
Wrap-Up
After two months of service the company once again re-evaluated their fabrication workflow and found that through the inclusion of a SPANCO Workstation Bridge Crane, they were able to cut their production time by a third! Not only was their efficiency increased, but more importantly, their workers were more secure. A SPANCO Workstation Bridge Crane was a perfect ergonomic solution.
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