Overhead System Solves Lifting Problems, Prompts Design into New Facility
Overhead System Solves Lifting Problems, Prompts Design into New Facility
Zero Zone, Inc., manufacturer of commercial coolers and freezers, wanted to improve workflow and increase manufacturing floor space in the most ergonomic, efficient way possible. Despite adequate facility space, floor area became increasingly crowded due to the temporary storage of large parts waiting for use in production, hindering work flow, resulting in decreased productivity time.
Through the addition of two SPANCO enclosed track stand alone workstation bridge crane systems in their old facility, Zero Zone supplemented their existing material handling systems (two SPANCO gantry cranes) and freed up needed floor space.
Due to increasing business, Zero Zone expanded operations to a new facility that could accommodate increased manufacturing volume. Plans for a new facility presented the opportunity to custom design an overhead lifting system to answer their manufacturing demands and to solve their material handling problems.
Old Facility: Inefficient Floor Space Usage Zero Zone plant operators used two, 2 ton SPANCO A series gantry cranes to lift and move freezer doors and panels ranging in weights from 150 to 200 lbs. during production. Though effective, the use of gantries for these tasks was time consuming, often required more than two workers and occupied needed floor space. After assessing the problems,
Zero Zone engineers contacted their local material handling distributor in order to discuss overhead lifting solutions. Zero Zone presented the distributor with the problems and their objectives: ergonomics, improving workflow and maximizing floor use efficiency.
The distributor solved Zero Zone's problems and fulfilled their objectives with two, 1000 lbs. capacity SPANCO overhead enclosed track stand alone workstation bridge crane systems.
New Facility: Incorporated Customized Design for Overhead Lifting System Plans for a new manufacturing facility presented the opportunity for Zero Zone to fully design a customized overhead lifting system. Because of the success with SPANCO lifting systems in their old plant, Zero Zone engineers chose SPANCO systems for the design and implementation of an overhead lifting system in their new facility. Zero Zone's architect worked in conjunction with the material handling distributor and SPANCO's local manufacturing representatives to incorporate an enclosed track overhead lifting system into the building design.
Again, objectives for the system were clear: ergonomics, smoothing workflow, and freeing up needed floor space. The new facility solution met these objectives with seven ceiling mounted bridge crane runway systems with 14 bridges and air-operated hoists. In order to attain the most comprehensive coverage, Zero Zone chose to have different bridge capacities ranging from 500 lbs. to 2000 lbs. With the lifting system chosen, the architect designed the new building structure with reinforced bar joists in order to support the extra weight of the ceiling mounted cranes.
Implementation: Achieving Set Objectives Because the cranes are ceiling mounted, floor area is open for full production utilization. However, Zero Zone hasn't completely abandoned their former lifting system. Plant operators continue to utilize SPANCO gantry cranes as a supplement to their new overhead lifting system.
In addition to maximized floor space, Zero Zone has improved workflow by cutting down on the amount of people needed to perform a task. Bringing a freezer door panel to the assembly line in their old facility used to require the manual lifting power of at least two workers. Today in the new facility this same task only requires one worker and the use of an overhead crane. The cranes not only help save production time, they save labor costs as well as the cost of fatigue and possible injury.
Zero Zone, Inc., manufacturer of commercial coolers and freezers, wanted to improve workflow and increase manufacturing floor space in the most ergonomic, efficient way possible. Despite adequate facility space, floor area became increasingly crowded due to the temporary storage of large parts waiting for use in production, hindering work flow, resulting in decreased productivity time.
Plans for a new manufacturing facility presented the opportunity for Zero Zone to fully design a customized overhead lifting system. Because of the success with SPANCO lifting systems in their old plant, Zero Zone engineers chose SPANCO systems for the design and implementation of an overhead lifting system in their new facility. Zero Zone's architect worked in conjunction with the material handling distributor and SPANCO's local manufacturing representatives to incorporate an enclosed track overhead lifting system into the building design.