Archive: Dec 2024

Advanced Furnace Charging

Working with molten materials is intense and requires strict safety protocols. At American Crane & Equipment Co. (ACECO) we supply industries that manage molten materials with furnace charging equipment specially designed to handle high-risk loads, potential chemical corrosion, and high furnace temperatures.

Furnace Charging Equipment

Furnace charging equipment is responsible for transporting charge material to and from furnaces as safely and as efficiently as possible. There is a variety of equipment that can make up a furnace charging system and different industries and factories have differing needs. Examples include belt conveyors, vibrator conveyors, bucket charging systems and cranes.

Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors move materials directly into a furnace and offer a smooth and continuous feed. They have heat-resistant belts, customized speed and capacity requirements, and enclosures that contain particulates. Belt conveyors also offer specific angle options, meaning these machines are very effective at moving materials from lower to higher levels.

Vibrator Conveyors

Vibrator conveyors are effective at transporting heavy, abrasive and irregularly shaped materials like foundry sand and minerals. They use a vibrating motion to move materials across a conveyor trough and are ideal for challenging environments because they can withstand intense heat and heavy loads. The speed and volume of materials entering the furnace via vibrator conveyors can be controlled by the operator and the vibrating motion breaks up large clumps of material. Vibrator conveyors often consume less energy and are generally easier to maintain, making them ideal equipment for a furnace charging system.

Bucket Charging Systems

Bucket charging systems often work with cranes or hoists to lift and tilt a bucket that contains a large load of material. This makes for efficient material transfer and can reduce emissions since the bucket deposits materials directly into the bucket. Buckets are ideal for dense or heavy materials such as slag which can be difficult to move via belt or vibrator conveyors. Bucket charging systems can also be customized to fit various furnace configurations and heights.

Electromagnetic Lifting Devices

Cranes equipped with electromagnetic lifting devices can be used to pick up and transfer charge materials. Cranes are essential for lifting and accurately placing materials into a furnace, particularly when charging systems involve high volumes or oversized materials. Cranes are also key because they have a greater degree of flexibility in movement, meaning they can move materials up, down, left, right, and rotationally, and in complex or restricted furnace layouts this is essential. Cranes also offer automated and remote-controlled operation which allows operators to manage charging from a safe distance.

Get Quality Solutions with ACECO

Our team at ACECO has custom engineered a variety of systems for companies dealing with charged materials such as our custom engineered scrap and ladle handling cranes that safely transport molten materials with maximum security and load control. These tools can range from ¼-ton hoists to equipment capable of 1,000 tons of overhead lifting capacity, and are built to meet and exceed the requirements of service classifications A through F. Our machines are known for their long-life spans and high quality, and each unit is fully assembled and completely tested prior to shipment, as well as supported by our comprehensive quality assurance program.

At ACECO we work with companies to customize the right system for your needs. Our team will walk through the best furnace charging system to get your operations running efficiently and safely, so that you can maintain the heat of productivity. Contact our team today to get started.

Tailored Quality Assurance for Nuclear Solutions

Quality assurance is a vital element for the success of nuclear power plants. Establishing a system in your plant to ensure that all project activities are carried out in a planned, systematic, and controlled way is not only key for safety but also to ensure that your plant adheres to strict industry regulations and avoids deficiencies in the operations of your plant. Having a team like the one behind American Crane & Equipment Corporation’s (ACECO) Nuclear Quality Program means you can depend on equipment that has been built within the guidelines of a strict quality assurance program.

ACECO’s Nuclear Quality Program is built around a three-pronged approach.

This includes:

1. Comprehensive quality procedures
2. Thorough implementation of the processes identified in the procedures
3. A culture of ownership and accountability of ACECO’s quality program by all employees

ACECO has worked with numerous nuclear power plants to provide safety-related equipment and single failure- proof cranes and trolleys for dry spent fuel storage projects as well as other critical lift material handling applications. This program has also been used to supply equipment for aerospace and government applications such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. Using our Nuclear Quality Program as a guide, which has complete compliance with the intent of 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, 10 CFR 21 and NQA-1, we are ensuring that we address the full 18-point nuclear quality criteria. These 18 criteria govern the quality assurance requirements for nuclear plants including but not limited to programmatic controls, design controls, manufacturing controls, controls of special processes, and controls of tests and inspections.  They are all related to safety, because handling sensitive and dangerous lifts is an essential part of normal daily plant operations at a nuclear power plant. And when it comes to safety in any industry, it’s crucial that no one cuts corners.

Nuclear Quality Program

Our Nuclear Quality Program is led by management with extensive commercial nuclear experience and we have seasoned in-house engineering staff to implement our established design control program. Welders and procedures are qualified to the requirements of AWS D1.1, AWS 1.6, AWS D14.1, our commercial grade dedication program is EPRI NP-5652 compliant, and we have extensive experience supplying equipment conforming to ASME NOG-1 requirements. We have in-house nondestructive testing available as well as in-house audit and surveillance capabilities. We also have a plant load test tower with a 200-ton test capability so that we can measure the safety of the lifting equipment at its maximum capacity prior to site installation.

Be Confident with ACECO

Our cranes play a major role in making safe, affordable, and reliable nuclear power and our Nuclear Quality Program means we consistently offer equipment that is high-performing and reputable. Here at ACECO we have dedicated years to designing and fabricating equipment in-house that we know will meet the stringent requirements of every nuclear power plant.

From our nuclear telescopic outage jib crane which features a modular design with a telescopic boom and which can be installed in existing facilities, to our overhead cranes specifically designed for the nuclear energy industry, we have a full range of products that we look forward to talking with you about. You can feel confident in choosing ACECO when it comes to your nuclear power plant overhead lifting needs. Reach out to our team today.

Boost Food Processing Efficiency with Custom Cleanroom Equipment Solutions

From beverage bottle filling to dairy processing, food packaging to cold storage, if your company is based in the food and beverage industry, you know how important productivity, safety and efficiency are. To make sure that your operations are moving as optimally as possible, you need cleanroom equipment that is top of its class. Here at American Crane & Equipment Co. (ACECO) we have been supplying companies with the equipment they need to run meticulous cleanrooms.

What Makes Cleanroom Equipment Essential?

Since cleanrooms are contained spaces made to minimize airborne particulates and control other environmental specifications such as pressure, humidity, and temperature, it’s important that the equipment used in cleanrooms will also minimize airborne particulates. Our cleanroom hoists and cranes lift and lower materials and goods safely and efficiently without introducing contaminants into the space.

Our engineering team works with companies to design and manufacture equipment that will perfectly suit their needs. And our team loves a challenge. One food and beverage company contacted us with the need for equipment that would assist employees in moving a maintenance basket between the upper and lower levels of a food processing facility. Our team designed and manufactured a grade 316 stainless steel maintenance basket to be used, while also revising the surrounding rails. Now rather than employees carrying the maintenance basket by hand, it moves by the jib crane between the levels of the facility. As for the alterations to the surrounding rails, there is now a clear path for the basket to move when it is full and to remain stationary when it is being filled. All these changes enhance safety by preventing potential injuries caused by employees manually moving the basket between levels and enhances the efficiency with which the maintenance baskets maneuvers through the levels of the facility.

Custom Cleanroom Equipment Offerings from ACECO

By reducing the various manual tasks that can increase product quality and sanitation risks due to human contact with products, companies are elevating the integrity of their cleanrooms with equipment that can move efficiently and cleanly. Our team at ACECO is skilled in making sure that you have the right equipment to keep your cleanroom running in a controlled and optimal manner. We cover all the important details, including using stainless steel to build your equipment. Stainless steel is typically used in the food and beverage industry as it is food-grade and resistant to harsh chemicals. Our designs are built for ease of cleaning, and we help ensure proper installation so that all parts of the crane are accessible for cleaning. Our cleanroom hoists are available in electric chain wire rope models and synthetic rope models, while our cleanroom cranes are available in overhead or jib models. Our standard cleanroom hoist and crane offerings are available with load capacities to suit whichever application you need them for.

Your cleanroom may be sparkling bright but let ACECO take it to new heights. Reach out to our team today to talk over how we can streamline your cleanroom equipment, making your cleanroom’s performance spotless or shop our online products.

Innovative Lifting Solutions for Ingot Handling

In the industrial sector, ingots are commonly used to store and transport a mass of metal. These solid blocks of raw material — often in the shape of bars, plates, or sheets — are then worked into a semi-finished or finished product.

To create an ingot, the metal is heated past its melting point then cast using a mold chill method. These solid blocks of material can range in size from a few ounces to several tons, meaning transporting them creates unique lifting challenges.

Automated Warehouse Functioning: Stacker Cranes

For smaller ingots that are often stacked on pallets, with weights reaching hundreds or thousands of pounds, having the right equipment to lift and transport these pallets is essential for a streamlined operation.

In the lead industry, lead ingots have numerous benefits. They are easy to smelt and form, they are used in a variety of industries such as lead batteries, cable sheaths, and radiological shields, and they are durable. While lead ingots tend to be smaller in size, weighing about 1 pound, when loaded onto a pallet, the weight reaches around 1,000 pounds. Pallets then stacked together can make for a heavy load.

Stacker cranes are key in automated warehouse functioning. These machines are designed to store and retrieve pallets automatically, making organizing pallets an easier job. A stacker crane is an overhead crane system that utilizes a non-hoist load handling device and a main system comprised of guide rails, an electrical supply system, and a data transmission system. This mechanism allows the crane to travel, pick up items, and lift and lower them within the warehouse.

Here at American Crane & Equipment Co. (ACECO) we offer standard and custom variations of stacker cranes, with key features including 4,000-pound load capacity, user-friendly designs, and maximum stability at high positions with minimum sway at any elevation.

Essential Attachments: Crane Pallet Lifters

For transportation of heavy pallets, pallet lifters are essential. Pallet lifters, or pallet forks, are lifting devices which are hooked to a crane hoist. They are designed to lift and transport heavy loads, making delivery of large pallets secure and efficient.

At ACECO we offer a variety of below-the-hook lifting devices and our team makes sure that we get the right equipment for your needs.

Heavy Loads: Double Girder Overhead Crane

Steel ingots, which are used in the production of construction materials such as steel beams, pipes and plates, can often weigh several tons per ingot. A steel ingot generally requires a second shaping process and to move these heavy ingots around a steel mill, double girder overhead cranes are indispensable. With two parallel girders, these cranes provide increased lifting capacity and stability. These cranes are also built to withstand the harshest of industrial environments.

Work With Us

At ACECO we offer girder cranes with heavy-duty lifting capacity and can design and build custom cranes for specialized worksites.

Our team at ACECO examines your company’s needs and recommends or custom-designs equipment to keep your operations flowing smoothly and effectively. We manufacture lifting solutions of any size and shape to lift ingots of all sizes and configurations. Our cranes and hoists routinely exceed CMAA duty cycle requirements for service classifications A through F, every unit is backed with a comprehensive in-house quality assurance program, thoroughly testing each product prior to shipment.

Brows our online store or reach out today to get started!

Revolutionizing Wastewater Management

When you think about water from municipal septic systems, rainwater runoff and manufacturing industries you think of water that you don’t want released back into the environment. But once treated at a wastewater treatment plant, which removes or reduces the contaminants, the remaining water can be safely returned to our natural environment.

Cranes play a critical role in wastewater treatment systems, where they lift extremely heavy loads, meaning this industry relies on specialty cranes. Wastewater treatment facilities utilize complex equipment and processes that require regular maintenance. Lifting solutions from American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO) make these jobs easier and ensure that these facilities are always kept in the best possible operating conditions. There is a variety of crane types that can be useful in the wastewater treatment process, including bridge cranes, jib cranes and gantry cranes.

Bridge Cranes

Bridge cranes can handle heavy equipment and are used for a variety of functions in wastewater treatment plants, one of which is installing and removing big, bulky pieces of treatment equipment, such as pumps, valves and filtration equipment. Bridge cranes move in three primary axes, allowing them to cover large areas and handle these materials efficiently.

Jib Cranes

Jib cranes are valuable for moving smaller parts, such as in areas where pumps, valves, and other components need frequent maintenance. Jib cranes offer a compact size and flexibility that makes them ideal for handling tasks in tight spaces. Jib cranes are also useful in the treatment of wastewater as they are efficient at handling chemicals used in the process, such as for disinfecting the wastewater. Jib cranes help lift chemical containers safely, reducing the risk of spills and exposure. Because of their floor-mounted design and 180°–360° range of motion, jib cranes fit well in confined spaces, offering localized support wherever larger cranes are impractical.

Gantry Cranes

Gantry cranes have a special job in moving heavy loads, particularly in areas where heavy equipment needs to be lifted and transported but a permanent overhead crane is not feasible. Typically, gantry cranes are freestanding, moving along tracks or wheels to allow flexibility and mobility. When large components in wastewater treatment systems such as those from tanks and clarifiers need maintenance, the mobility of gantry cranes allows operators to position the crane over the specific area needing service, making maintenance tasks more manageable. Gantry cranes also provide the lifting capacity needed to handle heavy-duty pumps and motors which can be relocated to different stations as needed, offering flexibility in facility design. As well, the portability and adjustability of gantry cranes enables them for quick setup in various parts of a facility, making these cranes beneficial for spaces that require adaptability.

Custom Lift Stations

Here at ACECO we also supply several types of lift stations that can be customized to each treatment facility. Wastewater lift stations move waste from low to higher elevations using dry wells or submersible pumps, which saves on excavation costs and underground sewer pipelines.

Efficiency with ACECO

At ACECO we provide high-quality tools and solutions to tackle even the most complex material handling challenges. The equipment that you need for your wastewater treatment facility will be unique and we look forward to planning and manufacturing a system that will help your processes work efficiently. Reach out today to get started or visit our store to shop parts.