Runway structures are used to provide a surface on which the bridge crane’s end trucks ride along the length of crane travel. Typically constructed from I-beams, they can also be fabricated as box beams.
Runway systems most often are supported by a series of columns or haunches; alternatively, runways can be underhung from the ceiling structure, mounted directly to the ceiling trusses or supported by hanger rods. Column-mounted runway systems can be free-standing or braced to the building.
Runway system design takes into account the tolerance for floor obstructions , the strength of the building structure and other factors.
Efficient runway system design is critical to the reliability of the overall crane system. For that reason, runway design capability is one of NAI’s core strengths and sets us apart from many other crane providers.
NAI customers benefit from NAI expertise in the following ways:
Based on the principle that the engineers who design a crane system should also design its runway structure, NAI’s engineers employ a wide range of runway designs in order to optimize the efficiency of the crane system and of the operation in which it will be installed. This can include haunch-mounted or column-mounted, free-standing or braced, and top running or underhung runway structures. NAI listens carefully to your needs and modifies runway designs to accommodate your requirements for open space, specific access points or other obstructions. Our design staff utilizes CAD systems to create runway designs in accordance with CMAA, ANSI, Uniform Building Code, AISC, and American Welding Society standards and practices.
NAI runway structures incorporate the same rugged quality that goes into our crane systems. In many cases, the same craftsmen and welders who fabricate a crane system also produce its runway structure.
A correctly installed runway structure ensures a smooth-running crane system and can actually reduce maintenance needs. NAI field technicians are runway experts, with experience established over decades and hundreds of installations; they have unique skills and special tools which allow them to complete installations efficiently, with minimal disruption to your ongoing operations.
For customers with the skill and desire to fabricate and install the runway structure, NAI supplies:
- Runway design
- PE-stamped fabrication drawings
- Floor-level loadings for foundation design
- Assembly instructions
All designs are available with the engineering calculations required to obtain local building permits or PE certification.
If you require a very long runway, NAI would be happy to evaluate gantry cranes as a potential budget-friendly alternative.
