Crane Parts Sales -
Benefits of VMI

VMI or Vendor Managed Inventory is part of North American Industries’ efforts to provide convenience and speedy service to customers. North American Industries' parts department can now send customers a Recommended Spare Parts List at the beginning of the warranty period. (If you have not received a list, you can request one at any time.) The customer can buy the recommended parts to keep on their shelf. If a part stops working properly, it can be replaced immediately with the part on hand. If the customer does not have the capability of swapping parts, North American Industries can demonstrate during a CRISP inspection or a service company can be called in without delay.

Meanwhile, the customer calls North American Industries for a RMA (Return Materials Authorization), sends the part back for evaluation and if it is covered under warranty, we send a replacement part at no charge. This process eliminates the problem of a customer’s operation being immobilized while waiting for a new part to be shipped. North American Industries offers VMI because it can be invaluable in minimizing costly downtime for the customer.

No matter who the original crane manufacturer was, North American Industries can supply parts that are compatible. 800-847-8470 ext. 104.
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Request a New Brochure

A new brochure has just been introduced by North American Industries. It details our engineering capabilities and includes product descriptions and photographs. The brochures offer comprehensive information for anyone considering a crane purchase. To request a new brochure, call 800-847-8470 or download it directly from our website, www.naicranes.com.

Crane Project Highlight

North American Industries recently custom-designed and installed a 5 US ton pivoting circular crane for the Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems (IAVS) building at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. An article about this crane project was featured in the June issue of HOIST Magazine. The university decided to expand the IAVS building and have a crane installed in order to lift and maneuver the vehicle parts and equipment on which faculty and students conduct research.

At the IAVS, studies and experiments are done on auto body and chassis systems, manufacturing processes, and integration with power-train systems among other subjects related to automobile research. Students and faculty are currently working on the development of a Low Mass Vehicle.

JM Olson Corp. was the general contractor for the IAVS building expansion project, and Lord, Aeck & Sargent was the architectural firm that designed the two-story, 46,000-square-foot addition. North American Industries custom-engineered a circular bridge crane to travel 360 rotation for the main room. The crane operates in the center of the facility with one side riding on a rail around a center pole and the other side running on a runway attached to the outer circular wall that forms the structural shape of the building. The inner and outer rails were bent to form the appropriate circular path for the end trucks. North American Industries custom-designed the end trucks so they align properly with the curved rail. The inner end truck is built with 2 idler wheels and 4 pairs of side guide rollers to keep the inner end truck in position riding on the rail around the building’s center column.

With a crane span of approximately 53 feet, the floor area over which the hoist can maneuver is about 7600 square feet (taking into consideration the hook approaches). With the ability to lift loads up to 30 feet high, the volume of the cylinder in which the hoist operates is nearly 228,000 cubic feet. North American Industries provided radio remote controls with this crane so that the operator can work the crane from any location, standing away from dangerous loads.

The crane design was a significant departure from standard configurations where they travel down a linear path. Although the crane moves in a circular path like a jib crane, it also shares similarities with a bridge crane in that it operates by riding on a runway. North American Industries’ senior project engineers spent many hours designing the unusual lifting system specifically to meet the needs of this customer.

Pick Our CraneBrain with Q&A

What are the advantages of wireless radio remote controls for my crane?

Wireless remote controls are ideal for when the operator needs to stand away from the load or where access is poor. At our crane manufacturing plant, girders, hoists, and other crane parts are stacked in various locations on the factory floor. If we used pendants connected to the crane, the operator would have to move around or climb over beams and other obstructions. Radio controls are invaluable to us because the operator can stand anywhere while running the crane (some models have a range up to 500 feet). The controls are also easy to use, heavy duty, and lightweight (the remote weighs between 5 and 11 ounces and is made from durable, shock resistant fiber reinforced nylon).

If you have a question that you would like answered in a future publication, please send to info@naicranes.com.
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Use this link www.naicranes.com/about/press_releases/newsletter/issue2.htm to access an online version of the newsletter. This informational communication may be considered advertising under certain jurisdictions. You can opt out of receiving the newsletters at any time by replying with subject line "opt out."

North American Industries, Inc.
80 Holton Street, Woburn, MA 01801
phone: 781-897-4100 / toll-free: 800-847-8470
fax: 781-729-3343 / info@naicranes.com
www.naicranes.com