You may have seen a recent post we shared on a 35 tonne crane we erected at the BMW Group’s Swindon MINI Plant. Here we take a closer look at another product which we also installed at the same site – a trackless semi-gantry crane.
Removing trip hazards
With an eight metre span and an almost four metre height of lift, this trackless semi-gantry crane (or trackless semi-portal crane) offered a 10 tonne capacity and was installed in a tool shop at BMW’s Swindon site.
Like any semi-gantry crane its horizontal beam was supported by one building mounted gantry rail and one travelling upright column which is incorporated into the design of the crane itself. What makes this system unusual, however, is that rather than the latter running off a rail or track on the factory floor – it is carried on Vulkollan tyred wheels.
These wheels allow the crane to run up and down the length of 22.5 metre wall mounted gantry beam as required as any regular semi-gantry crane would, but provide the crucial added benefit of the removal of a key trip hazard in the form of the floor rail.
Laser scanner anti-collision technology
Our trackless semi-gantry cranes are fitted with various features to ensure the safety of operators and other staff members in the vicinity. This includes a fully programmable laser scanner at the base of the travelling column. If a person or object enters a pre-specified detection area the crane will automatically stop moving to avoid a potential collision.
In addition to this the BMW trackless semi-gantry crane had an audible beacon and flashing light which triggered when the crane was in motion to alert colleagues working nearby.
Finally, emergency stop buttons were clearly visible and easily accessible to provide a method of shutting down the power to the crane in the very unlikely event that something went wrong.
If you would like to know more about how a trackless gantry crane can benefit your workplace, contact our sales team on 01952 586 626 or email sales@pelloby.com.
