Shuttlelift recently delivered a 50-ton Single Beam gantry crane to Tri-Kon Precast Products Ltd., which needed a solution to simplify the lifting process and safely navigate a 12 percent grade between the lower and upper half of its western Canadian operation. The Cranbrook, B.C., producer’s former transfer method was complex and required the hiring of outside sources to handle product multiple times.
Kendrick Equipment, a Shuttlelift distributor serving the Northwest, presented the 50-ton gantry as the solution for Tri-Kon Precast. “The additional horsepower, along with the Single Beam’s pivot trunnion, allows the customer to safely carry loads between the upper and lower levels of the yard,” says Kendrick Sales Manager Dave Marshall. “The gantry crane also cuts down on the time it takes to make each pick and load product.”
“The [equipment] is performing above and beyond what we expected, and not having to rely on outside sources for lifting has given us more control of our schedule,” adds Tri-Kon owner Chris Kostuik. “The Single Beam has significantly cut down the amount of double handling, which saves time and money.”
Another benefit the producer has realized with the new crane—improved line of sight—stems from wireless remote control. Standard on the Single Beam series, the feature allows operators to be outside the cab when running the machine. “With the wireless remote, operators can become riggers as well, cutting down on personnel needed to make each pick and the ability to allocate those labor hours elsewhere,” Marshall observes. — Shuttlelift Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wis., www.shuttlelift.com