The latest and most advanced version of Konecranes’ Crane Q geometric survey is being introduced to Australasia to provide crane users with the most accurate data on the geometry of their crane, which is essential to safety and optimising service life.

The CraneQ survey is applicable to all kinds of overhead cranes and particularly relevant to those in heavy duty industries such as steel, paper, manufacturing and mining, where cranes are subjected to harsher operating conditions and more demanding uses.

With two locations based in Singleton and Newcastle, Konecranes’ new survey will provide accurate analysis for local businesses using cranes.

Consultation Services Manager, Konecranes Australia and New Zealand, Joseph Cefai said that CraneQ is based on advanced and traditional measurement methods.

“Proprietary software and skilled survey technicians provide an extremely accurate geometric analysis of your crane. In addition to the survey results, we can share our expertise to help you to plan corrective actions,” Joseph said.

When performing a CraneQ inspection, expert Konecranes technicians utilise sophisticated software to search for any alignment issues that may be affecting a crane’s performance or causing premature wear and tear. When performing this inspection, technicians look for key indicators such as:

• Abnormal or premature wear or failure of structural components such as wheels, rails, connections, bearings and guide rolls.
• Excessive noise.
• Suspected skewing and/or square issues.
• Structural deformation.
• Positioning, moving and driving issues.

“Cranes that are straight, square, and aligned experience less repair costs and are safer and more reliable. Conducting a CraneQ survey can identify the root of a problem and avoid unnecessary and costly downtime,” Joseph said.

“In terms of a crane’s geometry, it’s the wheels and guide rollers that drive a crane. CraneQ analyses these carefully and provides a detailed report of the crane’s current alignment.”

When looking at the alignment of wheels and guide rollers, Konecranes technicians examine:

• Horizontal and vertical wheel camber.
• Wheel sequence.
• Wheel span.
• Wheel position.
  • Horizontal and vertical offset.
• Crane square values, including.
  • Diagonal difference.
  • Parallelism.
  • Skew value.
• Guide roller alignment.

“CraneQ is ideal for preventative maintenance, because it can identify potential problems early,” Joseph said.

“We actively encourage all crane operators to contact us if they notice any of the warning signs, but even a crane that appears to be operating perfectly might be off by a millimetre and be subject to increased wear over time. It is advantageous to make inspections such as CraneQ part of a regular preventative maintenance schedule.”

IMAGE | Konecranes has introduced a new CraneQ geometric survey.