The decision to buy an overhead crane is not something anyone jumps into. It’s a huge commitment of capital and resources for your business. However, in terms of safety for your workers, deploying lifting systems can save your business from worker’s compensation claims related to stress, strain, and tearing injuries, as well as slip and falls, or back injuries. Injuries in the work place cost a median nine days off work according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and can lead to the loss of one of your business’ best assets – your workers. You need to look not just at the dollar cost of overhead cranes for sale, but at other factors that can make or break the deal.
Getting the Best Bang for the Buck
Overhead cranes are the heavies of materials handling, moving loads as light as 150 pounds up to 50 or 60 tons – something roughly the size and weight of a locomotive. That’s a lot of room in between, and out of all the overhead cranes for sale, you are bound to find something that will work for you. Overhead cranes move materials in front-to-back and side-to-side pathways along a runway and span as directed either by a human pushing it, operating via a hand geared mechanism, or by electronic controls at a distance from the load for the highest safety. According to the Materials Handling Institute, cranes are used across a variety of industries to fulfill multiple needs in terms of materials handling such as:
- Production: Moving products down an assembly line.
- Loading: Placing products or containers/pallets of products onto trailers or rail cars. Or moving products to a shipping area
- Storage and Back Stock: Moving items to or from storage or back stock into production areas or staging areas.
There are a lot of different options out there, but an experienced company and a strong network of independent dealers is your best bet for purchasing your new crane equipment. You should also know that making your workplace more ergonomic can save you more than money, it can reduce the risk of injuries to your workers, too, when used as part of the Department of Labor’s three tier program in hazard control. Reducing risks of injury can help you reduce costs associated with downtime and time off work, and make it easier and more efficient for your workers to do their jobs.
