Two mechanics using a spanco crane to help remove an engine from a green car.

Custom Solutions: How Spanco Tailors Cranes to Your Industry’s Unique Needs

Aug 30, 2023

From aerospace engineering to inventory management, many industries use cranes in daily operations. Cranes allow professionals to lift heavy materials safely and smoothly. Many use standard sizes to manage loads and meet deadlines. However, various industry-specific challenges can limit operational efficiency. Standard cranes might be unable to overcome these challenges, resulting in more problems.

Tailored cranes are designed to resolve unique challenges, letting projects run at top efficiency. Spanco custom crane solutions can meet the needs of many industries, helping professionals avoid downtime. Our team is dedicated to client needs and equipped to develop an intimate knowledge of each industry. Learn more about Spanco solutions and how they can benefit your company.

Understanding Industry-Specific Challenges

Industry-specific challenges limit operational efficiency, making it harder to manage complicated projects. These challenges can be internal or external, which makes them difficult to predict, and come at varying frequency depending on your sector of work. 

Some of the world’s most demanding industries use cranes, including:

  • Construction: Residential, commercial, and public construction projects use cranes to move heavy equipment and lift materials to higher floors. Cranes also help professionals remove trees or other growth that makes it harder to begin construction. 
  • Power generation: Cranes assist power generation professionals with placing and arranging power lines. You can also use them to reach transformers safely to perform grid maintenance activities.
  • Storage: Storage facilities with high shelves and heavy shipping containers often need cranes to move objects and loads.

Each industry faces unique challenges, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution to material handling requirements. Industries might face obstacles with aspects like:

  • Increased costs: Global inflation levels can complicate crane operation for all industries. Rising prices for materials and daily operations make it more difficult to manage overhead costs or other expenses. 
  • Heavy or unstable loads: Specific applications may involve unwieldy or extremely heavy burdens. Standard crane sizes might be unable to support these loads, complicating project completion.
  • Strict deadlines: Tight deadlines introduce complications in many different industries. Timeline challenges make it harder to stay on schedule and operate at optimal efficiency.

Advantages of Custom Crane Solutions

Custom crane solutions address the specific needs of industries, allowing them to overcome individual obstacles. Spanco is a leader in the crane manufacturing industry. We offer tailor-made crane solutions that resolve unique complications and let you operate at top efficiency.

Our professional team designs customized cranes according to your application and project needs. We evaluate each case carefully and accumulate as much knowledge as possible about your field. Close cooperation between engineers and distributors allows us to create the solution that yields the most impact.

A tailor-made crane provides many benefits, including:

  • Increased productivity: Customized cranes respond to the unique needs of a workspace or project. Instead of experiencing downtime while you try to work around machinery ill-equipped for your job, you can maintain efficiency. For instance, a construction site might be unable to accommodate a standard-sized crane if large trees or other obstacles are present. A customized crane system could feature a free-standing portion that fits more easily into the space, giving the team everything they need to work without having to source expensive or substandard equipment alternatives.
  • Improved safety features: Safety is essential for all crane operators. Customized crane manufacturers can account for the specific safety needs of your project and adapt the crane to meet them. For example, if a work site must use two cranes at once, the designer might personalize both with anti-collision sensors to prevent accidental contact.
  • Optimized performance: A standard model may not have the features or design considerations needed to handle everything you need to move on a daily basis. If you overwork a machine, it’s more likely to sustain damage or need extensive repairs. When a crane is tailor-made to meet your workplace’s challenges, however, it can handle your specific load requirements without difficulty. 

Collaborative Approach: Success Stories With Spanco

Spanco has collaborated with many industries and clients to develop customized solutions. Here are a few examples:

  • Automotive: Our team has helped automotive facilities develop cranes to streamline assembly lines, material handling, and other workflows. For instance, an automotive garage in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, worked with Spanco to develop a solution for engine removal techniques. During engine replacements, the automotive team experienced difficulties with standard levers that couldn’t meet exact lengths. They used a Spanco One-Ton Aluminum Gantry Crane with an adjustable height to meet the unique needs of different cars. 
  • Aerospace: Spanco customized overhead cranes can lift delicate aircraft components with precision, aiding with aerospace manufacturing. Spanco assisted Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, a global aerospace leader, with tailor-made crane solutions. The company’s production teams use Spanco cranes to manufacture fighter jets productively, safely, and accurately.
  • Construction: Spanco tailor-made gantry cranes assist with heavy-duty lifting for various construction applications. For instance, Spanco provided Caterpillar, Inc., the world’s leading construction equipment manufacturer, with workstation bridge cranes that provided the necessary coverage and flexibility to transfer construction loads on various sites. 
  • Manufacturing: Spanco industry-specific jib cranes enhance workflows and safety processes, creating more efficient production environments. The PRISM Plastics company partnered with Spanco to build a solution that lifted molded components from their electric press machine for transport to other facility areas. A Spanco gantry crane with flexible height levels met their precise needs, allowing for flexible and efficient movement at multiple workstations.
  • Material storage and handling: Customized bridge cranes facilitate seamless storage and retrieval operations for many clients. Spanco assisted a construction services company in Pennsylvania with finding a crane that could operate within its limited storage space. The company needed to move heavy machinery according to a strict schedule, but the facility limitations restricted their efficiency. The Spanco 10-Ton PF-Series Gantry Crane provided a reliable overhead handling solution. 

Choose Custom Crane Solutions From Spanco Today

Custom crane solutions from Spanco can resolve your industry’s unique problems, boosting efficiency on all levels. Our collaborative approach prioritizes customer needs and concerns so we can provide a personalized experience. No matter your industry or obstacle, Spanco can assist with the solution.

We manufacture all cranes according to guidelines from the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other established safety organizations. Our team uses world-class equipment to construct cranes, giving industrial operations durable, customized solutions that enhance their safety and productivity.

Contact Spanco today to learn more about our tailored crane options and how they can help you reach new levels of efficiency.