Two years after the successful launch of aluminium cranes, J. Schmalz GmbH, the specialist for vacuum handling systems and complete material-flow installations, including appropriate crane solutions, will now present its current range of aluminium cranes at the CeMAT 2008. The product line includes slewing column-mounted cranes, slewing wall-mounted cranes and crane systems based on extruded aluminium sections. Each of the cranes can be custom-combined with Schmalz vacuum handling systems or with a chain hoist, a cable hoist or a cable balancer. The user benefits from consulting with a single competent partner - from initial consultation regarding the material-flow solution, to project planning and design, all the way through to installation and service.

The three crane versions distinguish themselves through the following: the crane systems provide a maximum working area that is as large as the area for which they were designed. For example, a crane with a rail length of 3 m has a travel range of almost 3 m. In addition, multiple load carriers can be installed in one crane track when needed, so that, in practice, one crane system can fulfil many tasks. The aluminium crane systems are available in single-beam, double-beam and monorail versions. A note should also be made of the low headroom requirement, which allows the cranes to be used in spaces with a low clearance height, as well as the easy-to-move trolleys, which allow workpieces to be transported ergonomically and positioned precisely.

The aluminium slewing column-mounted cranes feature a swivel angle of 270° and a correspondingly large working area. Slewing column-mounted cranes are either anchored firmly in the floor or mounted on a moveable base plate. When mounted in this manner, they can be used almost anywhere they are needed by means of a fork lift or a lift truck. Slewing wall-mounted cranes present a cost-effective solution when a solid wall or shop pillar, onto which the crane can be easily mounted, is already available. The maximum swivelling range for these cranes is 180°.

The aluminium crane systems are available with working areas up to approx. 8x30 m and for loads up to approx. 700 kg. The aluminium slewing cranes are suited for loads up to 650 kg, depending on the jib length, which can be up to 6 m. All aluminium cranes are modularly designed throughout, and are easy to operate when moving loads, braking and positioning loads. This insures that various goods can be transported quickly, safely, ergonomically and free of strain.