An Indiana steel mill took advantage of Bushman’s ReNEW service to recondition one of its pieces of below-the-hook equipment—a 45-ton capacity slab tong. The lifting device is used in a caster line to unload slabs from a run out table.

The engineering challenge being faced was that the 23,000 lb. tong had been severely damaged and required reverse engineering of critical components. An obsolete auto-latch mechanism was replaced by a Bushman custom-engineered auto-latch mechanism as part of the solution.

Bushman’s ReNEW Repair Services, performed in-house or on-site, keep material handling equipment operating safely and efficiently. Other brands besides Bushman Equipment, Inc. can also be inspected and repaired.

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In addition to below-the hook lifting solutions, Bushman custom designs and manufactures a variety of floor-based, heavy-duty material handling equipment. The product line includes hydraulic upenders, mechanical upenders, load inverters, transfer cars, lift platforms, jib cranes, mobile gantry cranes and other special machines.

A recently completed project was custom designed for a Midwest manufacturer of small diameter, high strength welded tubes. The hydraulic upender was customized for the customer’s specific goal of tipping large tube fabrications.

Along with the specifications came this engineering challenge and requirement: Keep the upender as close to the floor as possible.

When completed, the upender weighed approximately 10,000 lbs. and featured an 80” x 80” platform capable of handling a 20-ton capacity.

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When one of the country’s largest Steel Manufacturers and Recyclers needed a below-the-hook lifting device to lift varying sizes of steel sheets with magnets, they selected Bushman Equipment, Inc. to engineer the solution.

The end product was a 14,500-pound motorized telescoping magnet beam.

“Telescoping” in mechanics describes the movement of one part sliding out from another, lengthening an object. For this project, there’s a fixed frame with telescoping inner frames on each end.

There are five magnet locations in all: [1] centered on beam, [2] fixed at 12’ centers and [2] telescoping from 18’ to 32’centers.

Capacity equals 32,000 pounds live load plus the five magnets at 4,100 pounds each—making for a total load with magnets at 52,500 pounds.

The telescoping feature allows the user to handle a wide range of sheet sizes and adjust for different-sized sheets quickly. The robust construction, which Bushman is known for, allows the beam to handle shock loading that occurs when lifting with chain mounted magnets. The beam also features twin mounted replaceable bail pins.

Contact Bushman Equipment for a quote on a Telescoping Magnet Beam for your heavy duty material handling needs.

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Since 1950, Bushman Equipment has had a reputation for the custom design and manufacture of rugged, Heavy-Duty Overhead Crane Attachments and Below-the-Hook Lifting Equipment; as well as Floor-Based Material Handling Solutions.

At the company, the term “enginuity” is used to convey “the powerful convergence of engineering and ingenuity that produces superior solutions and proven products.”

That concept was applied recently in designing and manufacturing a Hydraulic Sheet Lifter for a major steel supplier and distributor in the Midwest.

The engineering challenge Bushman was faced with was designing an adjustable sheet lifter, as the specification called for the capability of lifting the sheets from multiple, different conveyor setups or configurations. This was a task Bushman figured could be accomplished by adjustable forks, so each carrying arm is equipped with nine adjustable forks.

The Bushman equipment will be used to lift steel bundles up to 38.5” in stack height, 96” in width and 20’ long. The sheet width is adjustable from 36” up to 96” and a maximum sheet length of 25’ can be accommodated.

Capacity is 25 tons/50,000 lbs.

Another feature is that the customer is able to connect the sheet lifter to a motorized crane and operate with little to no electrical modification—essentially creating a “Plug and Play” setup. Lifter mounted phase sensing controls operate directional valves to open and close the drop legs.

For a comprehensive Quote on a Hydraulic Sheet Lifter custom designed for your application, contact Bushman Equipment today.

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Many users of slitting lines know the inconvenience of having to clean out scrap metal from the bottom of the looping pit. It’s dangerous work that oftentimes requires a confined space work permit or hiring an outside service company.

Bushman Equipment, Inc now offers the Pit Bull™, an air-powered scrap grapple designed specifically for cleaning out looping pits.

Steel Technologies, Inc. in Decatur, AL recently placed their Pit Bull™ grapple into service. General Manager Daniel Naron offered his comments: “I was a bit pessimistic at first, but after a few hours of use, I’m impressed. Our workers will no longer have to go down into the pit. And because it’s easy to set up and use, we will clean our looping pits more often.”

Pit Bull™ attaches to the overhead crane that services the slitting line. No crane modifications are needed. Grapple lifting capacity is 1,000 lbs. Pit Bull™ is powered by a standard 90-110 psi air supply line typically available near the slitter. It is operated by a hand-held non-licensed radio remote control transmitter. The radio receiver and solenoid air valves are powered by a battery with battery charger and 120v plug outlet that are housed inside the welded steel plate box of the Pit Bull™. Double acting air cylinders operate the high strength steel plate jaws.

If your crane hook will not reach near the bottom of your looping pit, Bushman offers an optional electric chain hoist that attaches to your crane hook and lowers the Pit Bull™ to the pit floor. It is operated from the same hand-held radio transmitter. Pit Bull™ has fork pockets for moving between bays and comes with a storage stand.

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A 15,000 lb capacity unit (shown on the left) handles ring gears from 3 to 10 feet in diameter and up to 23” thick.  Multiple sets of lifting pads were provided to match the workpiece being lifted.

A 10,000 lb capacity unit (shown on the right) can rotate pinion shafts 10” to 36” in diameter, up to 90” long.

The lifters are designed to operate on 460/3/60 power supply.

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Arguably, your Below-the-Hook lifting Devices can be considered the “hands” of your operation. You might have great metal processing machines, but they cannot produce your product or value-added service unless the master coils, plates, structural pieces, sheet bundles and burned/cut parts can be efficiently and safely gripped, lifted and set into and moved out of your line.

This article will offer important things to consider before buying a lifting attachment, either separately or with a new overhead crane.

Below-the-Hook (BTH) Lifters in a Metal Service Center Commonly Include:

• Coil lifters (C-hooks, manually adjustable coil lifters, motorized coil grabs, slit coil I.D. lifters)
• Sheet/plate lifters (manual or motorized)
• Lifting magnets
• Vacuum lifters
• Specialty devices (for beam/plate flipping or cleaning out slitting line looping pits)

Any of these devices can significantly impact the design and functionality of the overhead crane it attaches to.

Here are some recommendations:

1. CONSULT FIRST with a manufacturer of BTH lifters.
   1. This discussion will define your lifting process and duty cycle and helps create the specification for the lifting system that best meets your needs.
   2. As a minimum, the net weight of the lifter needs to be added to your heaviest load to arrive at the crane’s required lifting capacity. The lifter’s function and physical envelope (length, width, height) are important to know when establishing the crane hook end-approaches, maximum lifting height and total lift needed.
   3. An electrically-powered motorized lifter with numerous motion interlock sensors adds another layer of complexity to the crane’s electrical system design…from the type of motion buttons on the crane operator’s station to the physical location of motor control enclosures and means of getting electrical power to the lifter.
   4. Once the BTH lifter specification is defined, these critical pieces of information can be passed on to the crane manufacturer or service provider:
      • Lifter net weight
      • Lifter envelope dimensions
      • Lifter power supply
      • Type/size and location of lifter motor controls and operator controls
      • Number/size of electrical wires needed by the lifter.

2. Consider buying a PACKAGE.
   1. You might think that you will save money by purchasing a BTH lifter separately from a new crane. Think again. As mentioned above in 1.c, a complex electrically powered lifter is really an extension of the crane. The BTH lifter manufacturer and the crane OEM need to collaborate during the early design stage to ensure a seamless lifting system. This will avoid finger pointing during field installation and start-up. Operation, maintenance and spare parts information will be combined in one set of documents. Operator training and early operational snags can be handled through a single point-of-contact.
   2. If you are sold on the BTH lifter brand that you worked with to develop the lifter specs, you can specify that brand to the crane OEM(s). Then your selection is narrowed to choosing a crane OEM and not having to worry about what BTH lifter they are providing.
   3. If you are adding a new BTH lifter to an existing crane, the crane may need modifications so that the lifter can operate with it. Consider working with the crane OEM or a reputable crane service provider to lead the way. This is especially important when applying an electrically-powered lifter.

3. INSPECT the BTH Lifter WITH THE CRANE.
   1. As providers of a small segment of industrial equipment, most BTH lifter manufacturers do not have full-time field service technicians and inspectors. However, many reputable crane service organizations can perform basic inspections of BTH lifters.
   2. Safety Standards for BTH lifting devices are developed and published by the ASME B30 committee, as are similar Standards for overhead and gantry cranes. Frequent and periodic inspections described in the Standards for BTH lifters and cranes can and should be performed on the same schedules.
   3. Therefore, it is recommended that inspections of BTH lifters be included in the scope of the crane inspection if not already done so.
   4. Unlike the crane, if a BTH lifter needs an extremely detailed inspection or a major overhaul, it can usually be returned to the OEM or other reputable lifter manufacturer to perform the work rather than attempt a complex field-repair.

To Summarize:

• Specify a new BTH lifter BEFORE specifying a new crane.
• Consider SINGLE-SOURCE RESPONSIBILITY. Combine the purchase of a BTH lifter along with related crane modifications or a new crane as part of a single contract.
• INSPECT BTH lifters on the same schedule as your overhead cranes.

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Bushman Equipment, Inc. recently shipped a mechanical upender (tipper) rated for 100 tons (200,000 lb).

The loading and unloading platforms are 168” x 132”.  The drive motor is 25 HP and is controlled by an AC flux vector variable frequency drive.

The upender will be pit-mounted so that the platforms are flush with the finished floor.

The upender cradle rails rest on four (4) two-wheeled bogies for load equalization.

Bushman mechanical and hydraulic upenders are engineered-to-order in capacities through 200 tons.  They can include many optional features that provide operational safety and efficiency for your business.

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Bushman has a long history of product leadership in the design and manufacture of rugged, built-to-order material handling equipment. And now for slitting line users, we are introducing the Pit Bull™—an air-powered scrap grapple designed specifically for cleaning out looping pits.

Here are the Features that make it Special:

• Attaches to your overhead crane with no crane modifications needed
• Lifting capacity is 1000 pounds
• Powered by a standard 90 – 110 psi air supply line
• Operated by hand-held non-licensed radio remote control transmitter
• Heavy duty double acting air cylinders operate the high strength steel plate jaws
• Optional electric chain hoist that attaches to your crane hook and lowers grapple to the pit floor (if crane hook can’t reach the floor pit)

The Pit Bull was designed and developed to address inconvenient and dangerous scrap metal cleanup.

The post Bushman Equipment Unleashing The Pit Bull—A Scrap Grapple with Real Teeth! appeared first on Bushman Equipment, Inc..

Bushman Equipment, Inc, a manufacturer of custom-engineered material handling solutions, four custom-designed screw lifts to a Wisconsin customer— one of the world’s leading producers of brazed aluminum heat exchangers.

Each of the Bushman® screw lifts measures nearly 37’ long and 6’ wide and is raised by eight 5” diameter screws. All of the screws are connected through drive shafts and bevel gear boxes, and driven by a single 50 HP electric motor. Lifting capacity is 145,000 pounds and lift stroke/travel height is nearly 8’.

One of the units features additional mechanical functions including a power shuttle that allows for placement or repositioning of loads and a “kick stand” that safely holds the load in-position to allow access to all sides while on the lift.

The units are pit mounted so a great deal of the machinery is below floor level. The machines are used during the fabrication of the heat exchangers.

The company is a repeat customer, as it had been using three 80,000 pound capacity Bushman® lifts for years. The Project Manager complimented Bushman at its plant expansion grand opening ceremony “for delivering all of the lifts ahead of schedule and having flawless startups”.

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