Glossary

1) Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) Industry Group

CMAA is the Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Inc., an independent trade association affiliated with the Material Handling Industry. CMAA traces its roots to the Electric Overhead Crane Institute, known as EOCI, which was founded in 1927 by leading crane manufacturers of that time to promote the standardization of cranes as well as uniform quality and performance. The voluntary association was incorporated as the Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Inc. in 1955. Member Companies, representing the industry leaders in the overhead crane industry, serve the United States market from operations based in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

2) Crane Association

The Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Inc. (CMAA) , an independent trade association affiliated with the United States Division of Material Handling Industry. The voluntary association of CMAA members has existed since 1955. Member companies represent industry leaders in the overhead crane market. Contact: CMAA 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201 Charlotte, NC 28217 Phone: (704) 676-1190 Fax: (704) 676-1199 Hal Vandiver, Managing Director hvandiver@mhia.org

3) Crane Manufacturers

As applies to Members of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), this term usually applies to manufacturers of overhead traveling cranes, jib cranes, stacker cranes, and gantry cranes to the exclusion of mobile cranes, tower cranes or devices otherwise referred to as construction cranes.

4) Box girder crane

An overhead traveling crane that utilizes a "box" configuration in fabricating the bridge girder. This box girder design incorporates a four-sided box with a running surface plate for the hoist trolley attached to the bottom of the box. The advantage of the box girder is that it possesses greater loading capabilities and is able to span greater bridge distances. Generally utilized in pairs with the hoisting mechanism operating on rails attached to the top of each box girder.

5) Column mounted jib crane

Also referred to as a "pillar-supported" jib crane. The jib is attached to a self-supporting floor mounted or floor to ceiling mounted mast. A column mounted jib crane may also be supported vertically by a structural column of the building structure itself.

6) Cantilevered gantry crane

A single or double legged gantry crane designed so that the bridge girder extends over the leg or legs so as to form a cantilevered configuration. Such a design increases the loading surface of the bridge girder therein increasing the reach capabilities of the gantry crane.

7) Automatic Storage & Retrieval Systems

AS/RS is becoming a generic term that today refers to a variety of means under computer control for automatically depositing and retrieving loads from defined storage locations. See also Carousels . Although both of these technologies have roots that go back some 40 to 50 years, it is only since the late 1990s that AS/RS has been used to refer to more than crane and aisle applications.

8) Carrier

Also known as a trolley. A unit that travels on the bottom flange of a monorail or patented track beam, jib crane or bridge girder to transport a load. Also refers to a trucking line used to transport materials to and from a distribution center.

9) Bridge Crane

A lifting and horizontal movement device mounted on a "bridge" of one or more horizontal girders (bridge girders) which are supported at either end by trucks (end trucks). These trucks are attached at right angles to the girders and move on runways which are attached to a building's columns, overhead trusses, frames, or via a free standing system of columns.

10) CMAA

11) AS/RS

12) Crane

A machine for lifting and lowering a load, and moving it horizontally. Drives may be manual, power, or a combination of both.