Do you have an Arch beam (castellated beam or zipper-track) in your facilities or do you know an organization that does? Then you should be aware of the dangers of operating this crane. This type of crane has not been manufactured since 1962, which means that all current arch beams were produce over 50 years ago (WOW!). So it certainly is not surprising that Arch Beam Cranes have outlived their usefulness and has created a laundry list of problems for companies. A laundry list you ask:
1. Cracks in the welds and lower T sections
2. Tracks with raised tread are worn away
3. Provide false sense of security in terms of safety and conditions regarding the crane
4. Inadequate crane maintenance regulations
5. Due to the age of equipment, the exact understanding of a crane’s design duty cycle may be difficult to determine without engineering analysis (such as missing documentation)
6. Welds in the Arch Beam can weaken over time and can cause Martensitic Failure, which results in the bottom rail peeling away from the web plate
So if you have an Arch Beam Crane or know someone who does, now what? Not to worry, our recommendation is to replace all Arch Beams with Tarca® Beams. What are the benefits of investing in a Tarca® Beam you ask? Well…
1. Superior to I-Beams in strength, durability, and consistency
2. Straight rails result in easy, predictable, cost effective installations
3. System expansions are easy and cost effective
4. Raised tread track provides durability and superior safety
5. Flexible suspensions mean greater system performance and lower maintenance costs
6. Easily undercut to increase headroom
For more information, please contact Gorbel® at 800-821-0086 or email us at
[email protected].
More images of Arch Beams:
