• Essence of “European-Style”: Signifies not origin labeling, but a design strictly adhering to European mechanical design standards (e.g., FEM, DIN, EN 13001 / EN 12077 series).
• Core Design Philosophy: Efficiency, Energy Saving, Compactness, Safety.
• Core Value Manifestations:
◦ Lightweight: Main girder weight 15%–25% lighter than comparable LDi types, significantly reducing wheel load (e.g., factory rail beam load typically reduced from 25 kN/m to 20 kN/m).
◦ Modular: Combines four core modules – End carriages, Triple-unit drives, Electric hoists, Electrical packages – in a “building block” fashion, dramatically shortening delivery times (typically 4-6 weeks).
◦ Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Optimization: Although initial purchase cost is typically 20%-30% higher, high reliability and low maintenance lead to >25% lower TCO over 15 years.
• Structure: Partial rail box girder or reinforced H-beam (optimized height-to-width ratio 1.2–1.5).
• Material & Process:
◦ Steel: Q355B or higher, passing -20°C low-temperature impact toughness tests.
◦ Manufacturing: CNC plasma cutting → Robot CO₂ welding → Vibratory stress relief → Shot blasting to Sa2.5 standard → ≥80μm epoxy zinc-rich primer.
• Key Performance: Under full load, main girder deflection is strictly controlled ≤ L/1000 (e.g., 18m span ≤ 18mm).
• End beam: Folded box structure, connected to main girder with high-strength bolts and precision locating pins (±1mm tolerance).
• Triple-unit Drive (Core Unit):
◦ Highly integrates motor, hardened gearbox, and normally closed disc brake.
◦ Transmission efficiency ≥95%.
• Horizontal Guide Wheels: Effectively prevent rail gnawing during travel, significantly extending wheel life (~40%).
• Core Features: Fully variable frequency drive, dual brakes (main brake + safety brake), Class F insulation, IP55 protection.
• Key Components:
◦ Galvanized anti-rotation wire rope, safety factor ≥5.
◦ Maintenance-free gearbox, designed lubricant life ≥10,000 hours.
• Core Features: Both utilize VFD stepless speed control (Speed range: 1–30 m/min), minimal starting impulse (<0.3 g).
• Running Gear: Forged wheels, tread hardness HRC55–60 ensures wear resistance.
• Control Core: PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) + VFD + Contactor coordination.
• Safety Features (Standard):
◦ Overload protection (cut-off at 105% rated load)
◦ Dual-stage lift height limiter
◦ Crane & Trolley travel limiters
◦ Emergency stop buttons
◦ Audible/visual alarms
• Power Supply: IP54-rated conductor bars (busbars) or festoon cable systems. Includes wireless remote control with an effective range up to 100m.
• Method: Optimized height-to-width ratio (H/W=1.2-1.5), topology optimization, and FEA simulation for precise material distribution.
• Result: For a 10t×16m crane, European-type main girder weight only ~2.8 tons (Typical LDi: ~3.3 tons).
• Manufacturing Assurance: 100% UT (Ultrasonic Testing) on critical welds, defects strictly controlled to EN25817 Level B or higher.
• Component Lifespan:
◦ Motors designed for ≥8000 hours continuous operation life.
◦ Bearing lubrication intervals extended to 12 months (vs. LDi typical 6 months).
• Maintenance-Free Features: Lifting gearbox designed for permanent lubrication (no oil change required).
• Structural Strength: Safety factors meet stringent requirements: Static load ≥1.5, Fatigue ≥1.34.
• Emergency Braking: Power-off brake response time ≤0.5 seconds.
• Environmental Protection: Drive units and key components feature full protective covers, dust/rain guards, suitable for harsh environments like outdoors or dusty conditions.
• Rated Capacity: Standard range typically 1-16 tons (custom larger capacities available).
• Span (L): General range typically 5-25 meters.
• Lifting Speed: VFD stepless control, range 0.8–16 m/min.
• Travel Speed (Crane/Trolley): VFD stepless control, range 1–30 m/min.
• Duty Class: Covers A3 – A7 (A7 = High Utilization).
• Energy Efficiency: Total motor power 10%–15% lower than comparable LDi cranes.
• Design Life: 15–20 years.
• Design Philosophy & Key Advantages:
◦ European-style: Driven by light weight, modularity, compact space use, and precise positioning. Designed specifically for exceptional long-term operating economy (optimal TCO), high reliability, and minimal maintenance demands.
◦ LDi: Focuses on rugged durability, structural redundancy, and convenient maintenance. Offers high cost-effectiveness in initial investment, excellent component commonality, and easy field repairability.
• Main Girder Structure Advantages:
◦ European-style: Uses optimized partial rail box girders or reinforced H-beams (height-to-width ratio 1.2-1.5), achieving maximum material utilization efficiency.
◦ LDi: Features robust and reliable main girder structures, like classic solid-web I-beams or wide-flange H-beams.
• Overall Performance Highlights:
◦ European-style: Extremely lightweight overall structure (significantly reduced deadweight), resulting in low wheel loads, plus achieves ultra-high transmission efficiency (≥95%) and millimeter-level positioning accuracy.
◦ LDi: Robust and stable structure, provides reliable performance and moderate positioning accuracy.
• Core Mechanism Technology Advantages:
◦ European-style Lifting Mechanism: High-performance integrated VFD electric hoist with standard dual-brake (main + safety) redundancy and full VFD smooth control.
◦ LDi Lifting Mechanism: Utilizes mature electric hoist technology, typically employing practical and reliable split-unit arrangements.
◦ European-style Travel Drive: Highly integrated triple-unit drive (combining motor, gearbox, brake), embodying compactness and efficiency.
◦ LDi Travel Drive: Modular drive components (motor, gearbox, brake), facilitating independent maintenance and replacement.
• Electrical Control System Advantages:
◦ European-style: Features an advanced core control system (PLC + VFD) for high control flexibility and precision, natively supporting future automation/smart upgrades.
◦ LDi: Employs a mature, stable, and easy-to-understand contactor-relay control system, known for simple, direct maintenance and easy modifications.
• Applicability & Duty Class:
◦ European-style: Covers the broad range of A3 – A7 high-duty classes, providing strong support for intensive, high-frequency, long-duration continuous operations.
◦ LDi: Suitable for mainstream A2 – A5 duty classes, meeting various standard to medium-intensity industrial application needs.
• Maintenance Characteristic Advantages:
◦ European-style: Extended key component lubrication intervals (e.g., bearings: 12 months), lifting gearbox permanent lubrication (no change), minimizing maintenance intervention, maximizing equipment uptime.
◦ LDi: Utilizes strong scheduled maintenance with clear cycles, coupled with high component commonality and convenient field reparability to ensure continuous operation.
• Economics & Value Proposition:
◦ European-style: Through leading energy-saving technology (lower total motor power), very low ongoing maintenance costs, and a long design life (15-20 years), offers excellent long-term Return on Investment (ROI) and optimal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
◦ LDi: Provides highly competitive initial purchase cost, combined with rugged durability and low depreciation risk, demonstrating excellent early investment value in numerous projects.
• Core Advantages & Ideal Application Fit:
◦ European-style Core Strengths: Top-tier reliability & efficiency, minimal energy consumption & maintenance needs, unparalleled positioning accuracy, superior space utilization, exceptionally long service life, unmatched long-term economic benefit (lowest TCO).
▪ Ideal Scenarios: Space-constrained workshops, precision machining/assembly lines, automated environments requiring high frequency/intensity operation, projects focused on long-term ROI.
◦ LDi Core Strengths: Significant cost-effectiveness (initial investment), time-proven structural reliability, efficient & convenient field maintenance capability, excellent spare parts commonality, mature & reliable technology platform.
▪ Ideal Scenarios: Projects sensitive to initial budget, standard material handling tasks in traditional industrial settings, medium-duty cycle applications, situations emphasizing fast field repair response.
• Machining Workshops: Automatic loading/unloading of CNC machines (Load 3–10t, Duty A4).
• Automotive Assembly Lines: Precise handling of large components like engines, transmissions (Load 5–16t, Duty A5–A7).
• High-bay Warehouses: Automated pallet stacking/retrieval (Load 2–5t, Duty A4–A6).
• Large Equipment Repair Shops: Dismantling and assembly of heavy equipment like motors, gearboxes (Load 1–8t, Duty A3).
• Equipment: 8t × 18m European-style single girder cranes (2 units).
• Problems Solved:
◦ Met existing building structural load limits (required only 20 kN/m, no foundation reinforcement needed).
◦ Met demands for high-precision, high-frequency lifting.
• Operational Results (5 Years):
◦ Zero downtime due to failure.
◦ Equipment utilization rate as high as 95%.
◦ Average annual maintenance cost only ~CNY 5,000/unit (significantly lower than comparable LDi equipment’s ~CNY 12,000/unit).
• Basic Parameters: Clearly define Capacity (Q), Span (L), Duty Class (FEM standard).
• Environmental Requirements: Temperature range, humidity, need for explosion-proofing or special corrosion protection.
• Precision Requirements: If millimeter-level accuracy needed (e.g., ±3mm), servo VFD hoist must be specified.
• Track Requirements: Installation precision is critical. Track flatness ≤2 mm/1000 mm, levelness ≤L/1000.
• Erection: Utilize modularity for split-unit erection. Main structure installation achievable within 1 day.
• Commissioning Steps:
1. Empty run test (check all movements, limiters).
2. 125% Rated Load Static Test (verify structural strength/stability).
3. 110% Rated Load Dynamic Test (verify dynamic performance/safety).
• Qualifications: Operators must be certified/licensed.
• Daily Checks: Pre-operation inspection daily (focus: wire rope condition, brake effectiveness, limiter function).
• Operating Technique: “Inch first, then run”; test brake effect when load is 100–200mm off the ground.
• Prohibited Actions: Sideloading, overloading, personnel standing under suspended loads.
• Daily Checks:
◦ Check visible broken wires on wire rope (e.g., for Ø12mm rope, max 6 broken wires per strand).
◦ Check for abnormal noise, vibration.
• Monthly Checks:
◦ Re-torque critical fasteners (e.g., M20 bolt ~300 N·m).
◦ Check bearing temperature (temp rise ≤60°C).
• Annual Checks:
◦ Measure main girder deflection under static load (Should ≤L/1000).
◦ Measure wheel tread wear (Wear ≤5% of wheel diameter).
◦ Test motor/line insulation resistance (Requirement ≥0.5 MΩ).
The European-style single girder overhead crane represents a design philosophy rooted in advanced European standards. It employs systematic optimization to achieve core advantages: light weight, high efficiency and energy savings, compactness, reliability, and safety. Especially in scenarios with space constraints, high positioning accuracy requirements, frequent operation, and a focus on long-term return on investment, the European-style crane is the preferred solution.
We have 34 years of manufacturing experience and 12 years of export experience,business covers over 100 countries and regions worldwide, including Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and Oceania, forming a global product sales network.Received ISO system certification and CE product certification!
Our main products include 6 series of nearly 100 varieties, including electric hoists, electric winches, gantry cranes, bridge cranes, marine cranes, and gantry cranes.
E-mail: karida@weiyinglift.com
Website: www.wycrane.com
