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) Festoon
A configuration of small trolleys, support track, and electirical cable utilized to provide power to material handling devices while keeping the power cable out of harm's way. The cable is looped or "festooned" by attaching to trolleys supported on a track. Thsi arrangment allows this cable to be "bunched" in an accordian-like fashion so as to keep the cable from becoming entangled in the movement pattern of the device it serves.
Often utilized to "stretch" cable across the bridge of an overhead traveling crane.
5) Stacker crane
The stacker crane in appearance looks like a conventional bridge crane except that in place of a hoist, a rotating ridged or telescoping mast is suspended from the bridge trolley with the mast equipped with a load handling device such as single or double forks or a grab.
These cranes can be manually operated or powered and are used where the carne spans multiple aisles allowing for the storage and retrieval within any aisle of items such as coils of steel.
6) Straddle crane
A crane that is configured to "straddle" a load and often is wheeled. Often used in lumber yards or to move large containers at sea ports.
7) Tower crane
A crane designed to handle very large, heavy loads used at construction sites and for the loading and unloading of sea going containers.
8) Electric overhead crane
A crane with a single or multiple girder (bridge girder) bridge carrying a movable or fixed hoisting mechanism and traveling on an overhead fixed runway structure with all or most movements powered by electric motors.
9) 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.
10) Single leg gantry crane
A gantry crane designed to have one "leg" of the crane supporting an end of the bridge and the other end of the bridge is supported by an end truck running on an elevated rail or runway. Often referred to as a semigantry crane.
11) Double leg gantry
An overhead traveling crane designed so that the bridge carrying the trolley or trolleys is rigidly supported on two or more legs moving on fixed rails embedded in the floor (via end trucks attached to the bottom of each leg) or on wheels.
12) 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.
13) Full cantilevered jib crane
A form of wall mounted or column mounted jib crane that utilizes a vertical pivoted member and a bridge or mast that extends at right angles to the pivoting member. This design adds the advantage of having the jib boom at the highest hook lift , thus taking advantage of an entire building height.
14) Wall traveling jib crane
A traveling jib crane consisting of a fixed or moveable hoisting mechanism and operating on a runway attached to the side walls or columns of a building.
15) Work station crane
An overhead crane generally used for ergonomic purposes and consisting of bridge(s) and runways made from enclosed metal track. End trucks attached to the bridge girder allow for ease of movement. The entire system is designed to allow workers to move loads by hand pushing the load with the assistance of a vertical lifting device such as a hoist or vacuum lifter.