FRANCO, REINIER M.

ME 503 - ME51S1 – INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

CRANES
A crane is a big construction machine used to transport items horizontally. Because it is equipped with a hoist
rope, cable ropes, and sheaves, it may be used to lift large things or move them to various areas. The crane's
various components may give mechanical benefits that result in great strength.
Since their beginnings in Greece, cranes have been employed in construction. Cranes are mostly utilized in
heavy construction and other types of lifting activities. A crane, which uses pulleys and cables and is based
on fundamental mechanical principles, can lift and lower loads that no human being could. Crane design has
evolved to meet the demands of a diverse variety of industrial applications, and modern cranes routinely
coordinate basic components to perform complex lifting tasks - sometimes in potentially dangerous conditions
for human workers.

1. Jib crane
Jib cranes are nothing more than a different form of bridge crane. These cranes are commonly employed for
repetitive tasks and are permanently installed in the workplace. The jib, or arm, is usually mounted on a wall
or a floor-mounted pillar with a moveable hoist and has some additional movement.

2. Bridge crane
In industrial contexts, bridge cranes, also known as overhead cranes, are prevalent. It gets its name from the
fact that it looks like a bridge, with both steel beams crossing the load and the hoist going along the crane's
bridge portion. Gantry cranes and jib cranes are the two types of overhead cranes.
3. Gantry crane
Although the gantry crane is a sort of overhead crane, the terms are often interchanged. The main difference
between a bridge and a gantry crane is that the latter is supported by both a-frame steel legs and is frequently
mounted on a track.

4. Stacker crane
Stacker cranes are automated machines that store products in warehouses using a forklift-like motion.
Stacker cranes are commonly used in places where unusual working conditions, such as extremely low
temperatures, make it impossible for a human worker to bear.
5. Tower crane
The lifting capacity of tower cranes, which are often utilized in the building of large constructions, is amazing.
Because of its size, tower cranes feature an operating cab that controls the whole crane.
The jib of a tower crane is supported by a concrete base and extends horizontally from the mast (tower
section). A luffing jib can move up and down, but a fixed jib needs a dolly for horizontal movement.
The crane's rotation is controlled by an engine (also known as a slewing unit) positioned at the top of the
mast. Because of their size, tower cranes are built alongside the structure; after the building is done, the
operation is reversed. Because of its height, capacity to transport huge materials, and other qualities, tower
cranes are an essential instrument for the construction of enormous structures.
TRUCKS AND EARTH MOVERS
Almost all construction operations, from house construction to large-scale commercial and civic projects,
need the use of heavy gear. Earth-moving equipment refers to a variety of machines that can excavate,
grade, and move dirt and rock, among other things. Earthmovers and other heavy machinery speed up not
only earthwork, but also materials handling, demolition, and construction. Heavy construction equipment may
be used for a variety of tasks, making it indispensable on construction sites.

1. Hand truck
While hand trucks are frequently mistakenly referred to be dollies, they are distinct in that they have two large
wheels and are able to stand upright. Because of its L-shaped design, hand trucks may easily fit underneath
the object to be moved, avoiding the need to lift it by hand. The hand truck may then be rotated backwards
to rest against the truck's rear after the object is in position.

2. Pallet jack
Pallet jacks are the most basic forklifts, and they're used to transport pallets in a warehouse or trailer. Pallet
jacks are one of the most common products in warehouses, and they're used to move tiny goods over short
distances. For truck loading and unloading, manual and powered pallet jacks are widely employed, while
riding electric pallet jacks can be used for horizontal mobility within warehouses.
3. Walkie stacker
A walkie stacker, also known as a pedestrian walk-behind stacker, is a pallet truck with a mast that allows
pallets to be raised to larger heights. Walkie stackers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each suited to
a certain use. We'll go through each of them in detail in this blog post, as well as offer some basic walkie
stacker application recommendations.
Manual or motorized Walkie Stackers are available. They're most commonly used to move and hoist pallets
in places where a forklift isn't needed, such storerooms, small warehouses, and specialized warehousing
facilities, or as a backup for more costly forklifts.
These machines are suitable for carrying small-capacity items for less than 5 hours per day across a
warehouse or other location. They are better suited to indoor use due to their small wheels and should only
be used on flat concrete surfaces, however they may be ordered with particular needs such as larger wheels
from the factory.

4. Pallet truck
A pallet truck (also known as a pallet jack or a pump truck) is a wheeled trolley that is used to lift and carry
pallets. The tapering prongs of the truck slot beneath the pallet, and the pump handle lifts and lowers the
load. Pallet trucks are commonly seen in warehouses, stockrooms, and other locations that employ wooden
pallets.
5. Platform truck
Platform trucks are flat-decked wheeled carts that enable loading and unloading large or heavy items onto
or off of vehicles to transfer them from one point to another easier. In industrial contexts, steel-deck platform
trucks are the industry standard for transporting large or heavy items. Platform trucks with corrosion-resistant
metal decks are made of aluminum or stainless steel and will not rust even if they are exposed to dampness.
Metal-deck platform trucks with power assist in reducing strain and injury when moving large items and
increasing output. Impact-resistant plastic-deck platform trucks can withstand chemical and moisture
exposure. Platform trucks with wooden decks are quieter than those with metal decks, and they are less likely
to damage delicate materials and finishes on the objects they transport.

6. Counterbalanced lift truck

The counterbalance forklift has two prongs in front and can pick up and move items by driving up close to it.
The word comes from the back of the vehicle's counterweight. This is done to compensate for the huge
weight that has been raised in front of the vehicle.
Because they may be utilized both indoors and outdoors, counterbalance forklift trucks are versatile. They
work well on flat, smooth terrain and should be used in more open locations because to their large turning
radius. The counterbalance forklift comes in three or four wheel configurations and may be powered by gas,
diesel, or electricity. They are highly robust and versatile trucks that can handle a wide range of heavy loads
in a number of situations.
7. Narrow-aisle straddle truck
Unlike a stand-up counterbalanced lift truck, outrigger arms straddle a cargo and are employed to support
the weight rather than the truck's counterbalance. It's less expensive than a narrow-aisle reach truck and a
stand-up counterbalance lift truck. The outrigger arms must have room between the loads since the weight
is straddled during stacking. Arm clearance is usually provided by load-on-beam rack storage or single-wing
pallets for load-on-floor storage. Its minimum aisle width requirement is about 7-8 ft.

8. Narrow-aisle reach truck

The narrow-aisle straddle truck and the stand-up counterbalanced lift truck are comparable. The weight is
supported by the outrigger arms during transit, but reaching is accomplished via a pantograph (scissors)
mechanism, which eliminates the need to straddle the load during stacking.
In comparison to narrow-aisle straddle trucks (arms = load depth), reaching capability allows for the use of
shorter outrigger arms (arms > 1/2 load depth). When the load exceeds the outrigger arms, the truck's
counterweight is used to keep the load stable.
The narrow-aisle reach truck requires somewhat larger aisles than a narrow-aisle straddle truck because its
outrigger arms do not enter a rack during storage, but it does not require arm space between loads (arm
clearance is still required when the truck must enter a storage lane when block stacking or drive-in or -through
racks are used). Double-deep storage is now possible because to technological advancements. The
minimum aisle width requirement for this truck is 8-10ft.
9. Turret truck
A turret truck is designed to operate in very narrow aisles. VNA, which stands for very narrow aisle truck, is
a common abbreviation for the turret truck. Turret Trucks are battery-powered devices that use an electric
motor, battery, and operator compartment to counterbalance large loads.
The operator may reach heights of up to 14 meters using the primary mast (depending on the model).
Throughout this procedure, the driver sits within the carriage of the turret truck, giving them a clear and
accurate view of the pallet handling process and thereby reducing handling times. This feature also allows
the operator to select a single or several orders at once, allowing for more precise stock management.
In comparison to typical reach trucks or counterbalance forklifts, the operator may be up to 8 meters away
from the actual pallet handling, resulting in severely blocked visibility. While handling loads, operators must
make the best judgments and use trial and error approaches.
Turret trucks are directed by a ground-based laser or rail system that steers the vehicle throughout the aisle,
allowing it to travel at speeds of up to 16 kilometers per hour. This allows for far faster pallet handling than
reach trucks or counterbalance forklifts, with much higher productivity and handling times.
10. Order picker
In a warehouse or distribution center, order pickers are used at heights larger than the second level of racking
and may reach heights of up to 390 inches. Pallet trucks, mobile ladders, and other piece-picking
technologies will be used in locations where they have previously been used.
Low-level order picking, high-level order picking, and extremely tiny aisle warehouses all utilize order pickers.
An order picker is an excellent lift truck for any operation that involves a high number of SKUs but not a big
quantity of any one SKU. Unit load selection, right angle stacking, and long-distance transportation are not
possible with the order picker.

11. Side-loader
A side-loader forklift, sometimes called a side-loader, is a type of materials handling equipment designed to
transport long loads. The operator's cab is on the left side of the vehicle, in the front. The bed, often known
as the platform, is located to the right of the cab. The forks are placed in the well, which is located in the heart
of the structure. The mast and forks extend to lift and lower the load onto the bed at its center point. The
weight may therefore be securely moved on the bed with the operator facing front.
Similar to a forklift truck's tilting mast, the entire machine may be tilted horizontally to improve load pickup
and security.
12. Tractor-trailer
It's a tractor that doesn't carry any cargo and is used to pull a train of trailers (for example, dollies or floor
hand trucks). Using a tractor-trailer increases the carrying capability of floor hand trucks. It's widely used at
airports for luggage management.

13. Automatic guided vehicle

AGVs (automated guided vehicles) are load carriers that go over a facility's floor without the need for a driver
or operator. Their mobility is guided by a combination of software and sensor-based guidance systems.
Because they run on a predictable path with carefully controlled acceleration and deceleration and have
automatic obstacle detecting bumpers, AGVs provide safe load transfer. AGVs are commonly used to
transport raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods in support of manufacturing production lines,
as well as storage/retrieval and other movements in support of picking in warehousing and distribution
applications.
References:
https://civiljungle.com/different-types-of-cranes/
https://www.commander.ca/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hand-truck-and-a-dolly/
https://www.raymondcorp.com/information/frequently-asked-questions/what-is-a-pallet-jack
https://www.adaptalift.com.au/blog/2012-05-23-what-is-a-walkie-stacker-basic-types-application-guidelines
https://www.safetyliftingear.com/news/post/what-is-a-pallet-truck
https://www.grainger.com/category/material-handling/transporting/carts-trucks/platform-trucks
https://phl.co.uk/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-counterbalance-and-reach-forklift/
https://people.engr.ncsu.edu/kay/mhetax/TransEq/IndusTr/index.htm#Narrow-
aisle%20(NA)%20straddle%20truck
https://baumann-sideloaders.com/what-is-a-side-loader-forklift/
https://www.mhi.org/fundamentals/automatic-guided-vehicles

I affirm that I have not given or received any unauthorized

help on this assignment and that this work is my own.

Reinier M. Franco