Overhead Cranes for the Automotive Industry Introduction
In the automotive industry, many personnel and equipment are required to ensure that the production line remains efficient. Cranes are usually used in assembly lines, stamping workshops, and warehouses. The fast-paced automotive industry requires efficient cranes. In order to meet the strict requirements of fast operation, smooth start-up, precise positioning, and continuous and reliable operation, Dafang Crane relies on advanced technology to provide cranes of various sizes to help companies lift and transport loads in the factory. For example, our process cranes are used to carry and store steel coils, and steel coils are used to manufacture body parts. Our chain cranes can also be equipped with ergonomic workplace solutions.
Die Handling Cranes
In the stamping workshop of the automotive industry, more than one million body parts of various shapes and sizes are produced daily for a range of models. Due to this high difference, the die module needs to be replaced frequently, thereby shortening the die cycle. Therefore, die handling cranes (double girder overhead cranes) are often used for operations. The three common types are: die gripper cranes, die handling cranes, and coil handling cranes.
1.Die Gripper Cranes
Die gripper cranes are specifically engineered for mold-handling applications in the automotive industry. Unlike traditional hoisting equipment such as chains or ropes, these cranes use specialized mold clamps to lift and position stampers, enabling fast, compact, and multi-layered mold storage. This is especially beneficial for high-frequency die changes typical in automotive manufacturing lines.
Each die gripper crane is equipped with a trolley featuring a coupled winch, intelligent sensor technology, advanced automation functions, and a precise positioning system. These features ensure the safe, accurate, and efficient transport of stamping dies, meeting the demanding operational needs of the automotive industry.
Vantaggio
- Pulley with coupled open winch.
- The design of all components takes into account the center of gravity eccentricity of 100 mm, which is related to the maximum mold weight. Stable 4-point load suspension with a balanced rocker.
- Pendulum-free positioning with millimeter-level accuracy.
- Redundant laser or barcode measurement system.
- Swing control.
- Mold holder with integrated rotary device.
- Due to the integrated compensation rocker, the utilization rate of rope strands is uniform and tested. The rope for this application has high structural stability and high fracture load.
- The synchronous sensor adopts a redundant design and is evaluated in a fail-safe programmable logic controller (PLC).
- Faster mold replacement.
- Safer mold handling (picking up, transporting, and putting down).
- Efficient and space-saving use of available storage areas.
- Cranes and mold grippers can be customized according to customer requirements.
- By optimizing the rope threading method and using a minimum of rope pulleys, the service life of the rope can be maximized.
- Smart sensor technology can identify safe load picking and detect the area around the gripper to avoid collisions.
- Excellent accessibility to all components, easy maintenance, and remote monitoring of service activities can provide an informed maintenance plan.
Parametro tecnico
| Tipo | Attributo |
|---|---|
| Crane classificationEN 13001 U-class（load cycles） | U7 |
| Crane dassification EN 13001 U-class（load collective） | Q5 |
| Hoist classification （FEM/EN） | M7(FEM)A7(EN) |
| Trolley type | 2 coupled open winches |
| Duty cycles gripper | 2million |
| Load capacity on tool gripper | Up to 66t |
| Die dimensions in width | 1.650-4.850mm |
| Die dimensions inheight | 1.200-2.850mm |
| Positioning accuracy | 1.600mm |
| Positioning accuracy of the load rotation angle | +/-10mm at the gripper |
| Durata | +/-0.2degrees at the gripper |
| Lifting height，max. | Up to 40m |
| Lifting speed with load | 15m |
| Lifting speed with empty gripper | 12m/min |
| Birdge travel speed | 18m/min |
| Trolley travel speed | Up to 100m/min |
| Trolley power speed | Up to 40 m/min |
| Manual control | Radio/Pendant |
2.Die Handling Cranes
The core process crane in the automotive industry is used to transport molds from the warehouse to the press to load the press, and from the press back to the warehouse. Mold handling cranes are also used to rotate molds for maintenance purposes.
Die handling cranes are usually double girder overhead cranes, which can be equipped with various trolley configurations, such as two winches or two separate trolleys on public trolleys, electric rotating load hooks, or manually adjustable load beams.
Vantaggio
- Special functions of dual-lifting trolley or independent trolley solution to achieve safer load steering, rope angle up to 10-degree load protection-the system consists of a load cell and an overload detection unit. Variable speed hoist overspeed control.
- Smart function.
- Joystick radio and pendant for backup and maintenance, a second lifting brake can be provided.
- Frequency controller for main motion.
- Emergency brake.
- The electrical room is pressurized and equipped with air conditioning.
- The hoist synchronously provides fast and accurate load handling.
- Load rotation function can achieve safe operation.
- Semi-automated intelligent functions help improve safety and productivity.
- Remote monitoring provides data for maintenance planning and evaluation of crane condition and safety.
Parametro tecnico
3.Coil Handling Cranes
Coil handling cranes are used to transport steel coils for unwinding and blank cutting. Once the steel is pre-cut to the required size, these blanks are stamped in a press to form body components such as hoods, doors, trunks, and roofs. The stamping process typically involves three to five consecutive operations with forces ranging from 1,000 to 25,000 kN to shape each part.
These handling cranes are engineered for fast, long-distance travel to reduce cycle times and meet the high-speed production demands of the automotive industry. With suitable attachments, they ensure safe and efficient coil handling. The standard lifting capacity is 80 tons, and cranes can be fully customized to suit the specific needs of automotive industry manufacturers.
Vantaggio
- Designed to maximize the hourly work cycle
- Achieve accurate and fast load handling at driving speed
- Heavy-duty use with carts
- Sturdy box-type steel structure helps reduce vibration
- Additional swing control and anti-loosening rope help improve the safety and production efficiency of the work area
- Semi-automatic and fully automatic functions help reduce cycle time
- Optional regenerative braking saves energy
- Equipped with special heavy trolley
- Provide a variety of speed ranges
Parametro tecnico
Gru a bandiera a parete mobile
In the automotive industry, Free Standing Jib Cranes are used to lift and move vehicle components, such as engines, transmissions, and chassis components. They simplify assembly line operations by quickly and easily connecting the various components of the vehicle during the manufacturing and assembly process. They can accurately handle heavy objects and ensure safe and effective management of automotive parts, thereby reducing the risk of damage and improving overall production quality.
Vantaggio
The BXQ-type jib traveling crane is suitable for use in a unilateral working area within the workshop. Its running rails are mounted either on the workshop columns or on independently installed supports, ensuring an unobstructed working surface—an ideal setup for automotive industry workshops where space efficiency and clear floor access are essential.
BXQ boom traveling cranes are commonly installed in facilities equipped with double-layer lifting systems. They operate on the lower level to handle and transport small-tonnage workpieces, functioning crosswise with upper-layer heavy-duty cranes without any interference. This makes them particularly well-suited for multi-level production environments in the automotive industry, where simultaneous handling of components with different tonnages is often required.
The crane is easy to install and maintain, offers flexible operation, and ensures safe and reliable performance.
Dafang Crane wall travelling jib cranes provide long lateral movement of materials without taking up floor space or interfering with large overhead cranes. Wall travelling jibs increase overall plant productivity by quickly handling smaller lifts. Dafang Crane wall traveling jib cranes are cost effective, custom engineered solutions that are specifically designed to meet your production needs and building specifications.
Parametro tecnico
| Modello | Capacità di sollevamento (t) | L(mm) | R1(mm) | R(mm) | Hmm) |
| BXS0.25 | 0.25 | 3200 | 250 | 3000 | 800 |
| BXS0.5 | 0.5 | ||||
| BXD1 | 1 | 3400 | 300 | 950 | |
| BXD2 | 2 | 3500 | 450 | 3000 | 1150 |
| BXD3 | 3 | 4500 | 500 | 4000 | 1350 |
| BXD5 | 5 | 4700 | 550 | 4000 | 1500 |
Single Girder Suspended Workstation Bridge Cranes
In the production line of an automobile, from the handling and assembly of parts to the final vehicle rolling off the line, every stage relies on the support of lifting equipment. KBK suspended workstation bridge cranes, as a type of light crane, offer unique advantages that significantly enhance production efficiency. Their high-precision lifting and positioning capabilities allow parts to be moved quickly and accurately to designated locations along the line, reducing manual errors and improving workflow. These features make KBK cranes an ideal solution for the automotive industry, where precision and efficiency are critical at every stage of production.
Vantaggio
- Adopt an articulated structure to eliminate constraints, especially when handling loads at the end of the bridge.
- Long bridges are available, up to 46 feet long.
- Easy and precise control.
- Track profiles are standardized in units of one meter, which can optimize the weight of the crane bridge and the entire system. There are two types of track profiles, steel profiles and aluminum profiles.
- Reliable infrastructure, no need to cross-support or on-site welding of the building. The crane can be successfully installed anywhere on the concrete floor, as long as it can support the required anchor force.
Casos
Aluminum alloy track on the automobile assembly line in use
Booster equipment such as aluminum rails and T-arms for automobile assembly lines
New energy auto parts assembly workshop
Gru monorotaia
The automotive industry relies on precise and efficient material handling to support production lines and assembly processes. Our monorail cranes and cantilever cranes are ideal for automobile manufacturers to increase productivity and ensure the safe movement of parts.
Vantaggio
- Migliorare l'efficienza del lavoro
- Freno sicuro e affidabile
- Lunga durata
- La manutenzione è conveniente
- Usa una cassaforte
- Peso leggero
- Le gru monorotaia sono più efficaci nelle applicazioni di produzione in cui i materiali vengono spostati ripetutamente da un punto all'altro. Il paranco e il carrello della monorotaia corrono su un'unica trave fissa, normalmente include trave ad H o trave a I.
- Examples include assembly operations, transport of materials to workstations and lines where parts are blasted, painted or coated. Monorails also serve as a material handling alternative in places that cannot accommodate a bridge crane.
Casos
Monorail crane for automobile assembly
Monorail crane for automobile assembly
Monorail crane for automobile assembly
Workstation Lifting Systems
Any type of workstation crane mainly focuses on assembly line support and parts handling. Therefore, workstation cranes are an ideal complement to automobile production plants. Specifically, workstation cranes can be installed on the assembly line of an automobile production facility to help workers move parts throughout the facility. Similar to cantilever cranes, workstation cranes can be used to reduce the pressure on employees while increasing the overall output of the facility. Compared with manual car production decades ago, equipment such as workstation cranes can now be used to produce cars faster. Another use of workstation cranes is to assist in maintenance tasks in the factory. Since the crane can lift and reposition the part, workers can come into contact with the part for any necessary repairs without having to bear any physical pressure.
Vantaggio
- High reliability and stability. The light crane system is composed of standard modular parts, which can guarantee mass and high-quality production. It can be customized according to customers’ requirements.
- Strong adaptability. Light crane systems can be flexibly designed and installed according to the needs of each station in the factory. It can be assembled at will from a fixed point to high-accuracy multi-point and multi-beat automated transportation lines.
- Convenient installation and economic efficiency. The light crane system is easy to install and debug. Standard module parts can be used only by bolt connection, which can save the factory floor space and improve enterprise benefits.
- Peso leggero, maneggevolezza e facile movimento manuale.
- Costo dell'impianto ridotto, bassa potenza, basso consumo energetico e vantaggi complessivi elevati.
Scissor Lifts
A scissor lift is a motorized vehicle with a stable, enclosed, and railed platform that can be vertically extended. Its name comes from the crisscrossing metal support structure beneath the platform—when elevated, the mechanism resembles a pair of scissors with intersecting “blades” at the joints. Scissor lifts are widely used in manufacturing and maintenance operations, including in the automotive industry, where safe and precise elevation is required for assembly, inspection, or overhead tasks.
Vantaggio
- Fixed hydraulic lifting platform is a kind of cargo lifting equipment with good lifting stability and wide application range. It is mainly used for cargo transportation between the height difference of the production line.
- Materials go online and offline.
- Adjust the height of the workpiece during workpiece assembly.
- High-altitude feeder feeding.
- Lifting of parts during assembly of large equipment.
- Loading and unloading of large machine tools.
- The storage and loading sites are matched with forklifts and other handling vehicles for rapid loading and unloading of goods.
- The fixed hydraulic lifting platform can be configured with other additional devices according to the requirements of use, and can be any number or combination to achieve better use results.
Paranchi elettrici a catena
In the production process of new energy vehicles, many complex and delicate processes are involved, among which the assembly of automobile parts is a top priority.In this key link, the chain electric hoist plays an indispensable and important role.
The chain electric hoist has excellent carrying capacity.
The components of new energy vehicles, especially some key large-scale components, such as battery packs, motors, etc., tend to be heavier. With its sturdy structure and powerful power system, the chain electric hoist can easily carry these heavy components, ensuring that they can be hoisted steadily and accurately moved to the designated location during the assembly process, which provides a solid foundation for subsequent precise assembly work.
The operation of the chain electric hoist is extremely convenient.
In a busy automobile production line, time equals efficiency, and every step must be simplified and optimized as much as possible. With the intuitive control buttons of a chain electric hoist, operators can easily perform lifting, horizontal movement, and positioning of components with just a light press. This precise control is especially beneficial for the assembly of parts that demand high accuracy. It not only reduces the complexity of manual handling but also significantly improves assembly efficiency and quality. Such equipment plays a vital role in the automotive industry, where precision and productivity are critical to maintaining fast-paced production workflows.
The chain electric hoist has a high degree of safety.
In an environment like an automobile production workshop—where personnel are dense and equipment is highly concentrated—safety is always the top priority. Chain electric hoists are equipped with a comprehensive set of safety protection features, such as overload protection systems that automatically stop operation when the load exceeds the rated capacity, preventing equipment damage and safety incidents. Additionally, limit switches ensure that the hoist operates strictly within its designated travel range, avoiding unintended collisions with surrounding objects or machinery. These built-in safety mechanisms allow workers to operate the hoist with confidence, focusing on the assembly task without constantly worrying about potential risks. In the automotive industry, where precision and safety must go hand in hand, such protection is essential for maintaining both productivity and workplace well-being.
The chain electric hoist also has good adaptability.
The layout and environment of the new energy vehicle production workshop may change due to different production needs, and the chain electric hoist can flexibly adapt to these changes. Whether it is lifting parts in a narrow space or operating in work areas of different heights, it can adjust its own parameters and operating methods to meet production requirements well and ensure that the assembly of auto parts can proceed smoothly.
In the vigorous development of new energy vehicles today, the chain electric hoist, with its excellent carrying capacity, convenient operation mode, high degree of safety and good adaptability and many other advantages, plays a vital role in the assembly of components in the production process of new energy vehicles, effectively ensuring the efficient and smooth progress of new energy vehicle production, and laying a solid foundation for the wide application of new energy vehicles in the market.
Lift Trucks/Forklifts
Forklifts are mainly used in automobile manufacturing, moving parts or components during assembly, and even loading and unloading trucks.Work indoors and outdoors.
Material handling in the automotive industry needs to be able to handle large metal plates and frame molds.These items usually weigh 6 to 8 tons and are stored in an indoor environment.This makes electric forklifts the perfect choice.
There are very specific requirements in the automotive field. People prefer to use electric forklifts because this application is almost entirely carried out indoors. Electric forklifts help reduce noise in the working environment and eliminate harmful emissions. This can not only create a cleaner working environment but also improve operator comfort.
Automated Guided Vehicle
As one of the earliest industries to use AGV and cooperate with AGV suppliers, the automotive industry is in the four major processes of automobile vehicle manufacturing (stamping, welding, coating, and assembly). In different process links, AGV robots play different roles to help realize the automation and intelligence of logistics handling.
- The production process of the automotive industry is fixed and has a high degree of standardization, which is suitable for the application of AGV.
- The automotive industry has used AGV for more than 10 years, and AGV has become the standard equipment in the automotive industry.
- The overall production cycle of the automotive industry is high, and the demand for AGV is large.
- The automotive industry has a high degree of automation and strong applicability of AGV.
- It can improve the degree of automation and flexibility of the customer’s factory, and reduce a lot of labor costs.
Casi
Geely automobile Xiangtan assembly workshop
Hanteng automobile Jiangxi assembly workshop
Toyota Tianjin assembly workshop
