Posted by American Crane and Equipment Corporation on | Leave a Comment
At American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO), we take pride in our extensive experience and expertise in providing state-of-the-art material handling equipment for the aerospace and aviation industries. Our commitment to delivering tailored solutions ensures that every project, no matter how complex or critical, is handled with the utmost precision, safety, and efficiency.
Specialized Solutions for Aerospace & Aviation
The aerospace and aviation sectors demand specialized equipment capable of handling sensitive and high-value components. Whether you are manufacturing aircraft, constructing rocket satellites, or performing maintenance on flight components, ACECO has the right material handling solutions for your needs.
Our Products:
Standard Cranes: Designed for everyday tasks, these cranes offer reliability and efficiency.
Critical Lift Cranes: Engineered for high-stakes applications where safety and precision are paramount.
Cleanroom Cranes: Ideal for environments that require stringent contamination control.
Custom Cranes: Tailored to meet specific requirements, ensuring optimal performance in unique applications.
Enhancing Performance and Safety
ACECO’s equipment can be customized with a variety of features to enhance safety and performance.
Redundant Hoist Reeving Systems: Ensure load stability and safety.
Overspeed and Misreeving Protection Mechanisms: Prevent operational errors and accidents.
Emergency Hoist Brakes: Provide immediate stopping capability in critical solutions.
Precision Control Systems: Enable accurate positioning and movement of sensitive loads.
Remote Operator Stations: Allow for safe and efficient operation from a distance.
EMI Filters: Protect equipment from electromagnetic interference.
Total Project Capabilities
Our comprehensive capabilities ensure that we can support your project from start to finish. ACECO’s equipment is designed to handle a wide range of tasks, including:
Assembling Aircraft: Facilitating the construction of large and complex aircraft components.
Carrying Loads Over Turbines: Ensuring safe and precise movement of heavy loads over critical infrastructure.
Handling Time-Sensitive Loads: Supporting the manufacturing of space flight hardware where timing is crucial.
Transporting High-Value Satellites: Safely moving delicate and valuable aerospace assets.
Why Overhead Cranes Are Crucial for Aerospace
The aerospace industry requires specialized material handling solutions that standard equipment cannot provide. Overhead cranes, engineered specifically for aerospace applications, offer the precision, reliability, and adaptability needed to handle everything from delicate composite materials to robust metal alloys.
Precision Lifting: Customized hoists and grips ensure the safe handling of sensitive materials.
Versatility: Modular designs and customizable features adapt to varying project requirements.
Efficiency: High-speed hoists and intuitive controls reduce downtime and increase productivity.
Safety: Regular inspections and maintenance keep equipment in optimal condition, minimizing safety hazards.
Partner with ACECO for Your Aerospace Needs
Choosing ACECO means entering into a long-term partnership built on trust, expertise, and a shared commitment to excellence. Our team of experienced engineers and technicians is dedicated to providing robust, reliable, and tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of the aerospace and aviation industries. From initial consultation to routine maintenance, ACECO stands by its products and ensures that your material handling systems are always performing their best.
With American Crane & Equipment Corporation, you can focus on reaching new heights while we handle the heavy lifting. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services and how we serve the aerospace/aviation industry. To discuss your equipment requirements with one of our representatives, request a quote.
In the aerospace and aircraft industry, precision, efficiency, and safety are paramount. When it comes to material handling equipment, you need a partner who understands the unique challenges and demands of this sector. American Crane & Equipment Corporation (ACECO) is that partner. With over 40 years of experience, ACECO has solidified its position as a leader in providing top-notch material handling solutions for the aerospace and aircraft industry. From aircraft manufacturing to satellite construction and maintenance, ACECO has a proven track record of delivering tailor-made equipment that exceeds expectations.
Tailored Solutions for Aerospace and Aviation
In the aerospace and aviation sectors, the deployment of cranes and hoists is crucial for a multitude of tasks, ranging from the precise assembly of aircraft to the safe transportation of high-value aerospace satellites. These industries demand equipment that can handle potentially hazardous or highly sensitive loads, and this necessitates a strong focus on performance, efficiency, and safety in their engineering. With more than four decades of experience in designing and manufacturing machinery for intricate lifting configurations and high-risk applications, our seasoned engineering team is well-equipped to deliver tailor-made solutions for even the most complex aerospace and aviation lifting jobs.
Diverse Product Range
ACECO provides a wide array of material handling equipment with solutions suited for various applications within the aerospace and aviation sectors. From ready-made products to a diverse set of custom engineering and manufacturing capabilities, our offerings range from small 1/2- ton ratchet lever hoists to large 300-ton overhead cranes. Beyond equipment supply, we also provide spare parts and crane upgrades to ensure that your material handling equipment remains in optimal working condition.
Specialized Equipment
In addition to standard cranes, ACECO offers critical lift cranes, cleanroom cranes, and other specialized material handling units and accessories. These can be customized with features that enhance safety and performance, including redundant hoist reeving systems, overspeed and misreeving protection mechanisms, emergency hoist brakes, precision control systems, remote operator stations, and EMI filters.
Comprehensive Support and Services
At ACECO, we are more than a manufacturer, taking pride in offering comprehensive services and support to our customers. Our dedicated team is well-versed in a spectrum of services, including design and engineering, product support, outage support, retrofitting, upgrades, load testing, inspection, and training. This holistic approach ensures that our clients receive not only top-tier equipment but also the guidance and assistance necessary to optimize its performance and lifespan.
Our Commitment to Certifications and Standards
ACECO invests in quality employees and cutting-edge equipment. Our facility boasts state-of- the-art material preparation and CNC machining units, as well as a UL508 certified panel shop. Furthermore, our welders are certified to American Welding Standard (AWS) D1.1 and D14.1 and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) W47.1, ensuring the highest quality standards are met.
Partner with ACECO Today
For all your material handling equipment needs in the aerospace and aviation industry, ACECO is your expert, craftsman, and partner. We offer a range of standard and custom equipment solutions to fully meet your requirements.
To learn more about ACECO’s products and services and how we can serve the aerospace and aviation industry, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. Request a quote or speak with one of our representatives to explore how ACECO can elevate your aerospace material handling operations to new heights.
So you’re in the aerospace business, where precision, reliability, and durability are not just buzzwords but daily necessities. Let’s face it, when you’re manufacturing or maintaining anything that’s designed to take to the skies, there’s no room for error. Whether it’s assembling massive jet engines or handling sensitive composite materials, you need equipment that meets your lofty standards. That’s where aerospace overhead cranes come into play.
Why Overhead Cranes Are Crucial for Aerospace
The aerospace industry is unique—planes aren’t cars, and rockets aren’t trains. Standard material handling equipment just doesn’t cut it. Enter overhead cranes. These are not your average cranes; these are specialized systems designed for the intricate and sensitive tasks that aerospace demands. Picture this: You have a colossal jet engine that needs to be moved from one end of the warehouse to another. Sure, you could try using a forklift, but do you really want to gamble with a multi-million-dollar piece of machinery?
Material Handling You’ve Never Seen Before
An overhead crane system can easily, safely, and efficiently handle your most valuable aviation assets. We’re talking about bridge cranes that span your workspace, fitted with hoists specifically engineered for precision lifts. Say goodbye to the awkward maneuvers that come with standard material handling equipment. Overhead cranes can move smoothly along their track, carrying everything from wings to engines as if they were feather-light.
Built for Endurance and Precision
Manufacturing in aerospace means dealing with a wide range of materials and components. You’re often managing delicate composite materials one minute and robust metal alloys the next. Aerospace overhead cranes can be customized to meet the unique needs of each manufacturing stage. Hoists can be outfitted with special grips and lifts to handle the most sensitive materials, ensuring that they reach their destination in perfect condition.
No Job Too Big or Small
In aerospace, size matters. You may be assembling small drones one day and working on jumbo jets the next. Versatility is a must. With modular designs and customizable features, aerospace overhead cranes are made to adapt to your evolving needs. You can modify the track, adjust the jib, and even switch out the hoists to meet the specific requirements of any project.
Safety and Maintenance, Front and Center
Let’s not forget about the importance of regular inspection and maintenance. Aerospace overhead cranes are built for longevity, but they’re not invincible. Regular check-ups and timely maintenance ensure that your material handling systems are always in tip-top shape. After all, a faulty crane could be more than just a productivity bottleneck—it could be a safety hazard.
The Right Crane for the Right Job: Customization is Key
Choosing an aerospace overhead crane isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Every aviation project has its own set of challenges and requirements. Maybe you’re dealing with the tight constraints of a small workshop, or perhaps you have a sprawling manufacturing floor that’s bustling with different activities. Either way, customization is your best friend. Most overhead crane systems offer a range of options, from the type of hoist to the length of the bridge and track. This adaptability ensures you’ll have a material handling solution that fits your workspace like a glove.
Future-Proofing Your Operations
Technology is constantly evolving, especially in an industry as dynamic as aerospace. That’s why it’s essential to invest in overhead cranes that are upgradable. Whether you’re anticipating changes in material types, weight capacities, or even automation features, a modular crane system can grow alongside your business. This way, you’re not just solving today’s challenges but preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities as well.
Reducing Downtime, Maximizing Productivity
In aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, time is money. Delays in material handling can have a cascading effect, disrupting tightly coordinated schedules. Aerospace overhead cranes are designed for speed and efficiency. Their intuitive controls and high-speed hoists enable your team to move materials swiftly, cutting down on downtime and boosting overall productivity.
Why Choose American Crane?
You might be wondering, with all the options out there, why go with American Crane? Well, we bring decades of expertise and a solid track record to the table. We understand the aerospace sector’s complexities and nuances and commit to delivering robust, reliable, and tailored solutions that meet your specific needs. With American Crane, you’re not just getting a piece of equipment; you’re entering into a long-term partnership. We stand by our products and offer ongoing support, from the initial consultation to routine maintenance and inspections. Our aim is to make sure your material handling systems are always functioning at their best, so you can focus on reaching for the stars.
Aerospace manufacturers regularly lift, turn, and position large components when assembling their products. These lifts are deemed critical since the items being hoisted are usually cumbersome, sensitive to damage, and extremely expensive. The margin for error in these applications is slim, and any mistakes can result in significant production delays.
With so much at stake, aerospace cranes tasked with lifting must be carefully selected and specially designed to meet the stringent standards of the industry. In recent years, American Crane has proudly supplied several prominent companies in the industry with lasting solutions to these difficulties.
How NASA Used a Double Girder Crane
Lockheed Martin contracted American Crane to design an assembly crane for The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Orion, its first spacecraft designed for long-term manned space flight and exploration. NASA faced the challenge of lifting the vessel’s spacecraft crew module to its final position atop the service module.
To successfully lift and install the crew module, NASA needed a crane suited to the job. Since the Orion capsule weighs 22,899 pounds (about 11.45 tons), its crane needed enough capacity to handle to the weight of the module, with additional capacity as a safety margin.
Mounting aerospace components is a delicate process that requires highly accurate equipment. NASA’s crane needed to accommodate precise movements to ensure the proper alignment of the separate components during installation. In addition, sensitive handling was required to minimize the possibility of damage due to improper handling or falling debris.
With NASA’s specifications in mind, American Crane designed a top-running double girder crane with a 25-ton capacity, more than twice the weight of the capsule. To provide NASA with greater control over movement during assembly, the crane also featured micro speed movements.
Our crane included specific ‘clean room’ features such as self-locking stainless steel fasteners to prevent the loosening of bolts, walkways equipped with kick plates to capture falling debris, and runway conductor bars enclosed in a plastic housing. Special coatings were applied to prevent corrosion.
NASA successfully uses the double girder crane to lift the Orion module to its final position. Permanently installed at the Kennedy Space Center, the double girder crane continues to be used for other sensitive hoisting applications such as telescope arrangement, lens management, and spacecraft maintenance.
Other Cranes for Aerospace Industry
Double girder cranes are just one of the many types of cranes used in the aerospace industry. Facility size, maximum lifting weights, and clearance heights are some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when searching for an aerospace crane.
In another example of our work, Boeing hired American Crane to produce a material handling system for its manufacturing plant in North Charleston, SC, where it constructs the 787 Dreamliner. The system needed to be able to access all areas of the 460,000 square foot facility while allowing users to intricately and precisely lift any component.
For this particular application, we created an 80-ton underhung crane consisting of multiple bridges. To promote access to the entire facility, the crane was designed without columns so that the bridges could be interlocked, allowing the trolley to cross from one bridge to the other. Its precision control design further enables Boeing to safely lift objects with difficult centers of gravity regardless of their size.
For more than four decades, American Crane has proudly worked with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and other authorities in the aerospace industry to solve their manufacturing challenges. Specializing in start-to-finish design and fabrication, we’re pleased to be recognized as the leading provider of crane and hoist solutions in the industry.
