In the crane and construction world companies are constantly faced with moving material. Often times these materials are extremely heavy and difficult to lift. These lifts require intensive planning to ensure materials are being transported safely and efficiently. They also require the proper equipment. This is where a material basket can be the perfect tool to promote safety and efficiency. In this blog we will explore all things crane material baskets. From the different types, their best uses, and how they can help on the job site.
What is a crane material basket?
A crane material basket very simply put, is a type of cage used to transport materials. These baskets can come in all sorts of different forms. The most common types of material they tend to be built from are steel, aluminum, and wire mesh. Which of these materials you decide to use will often depend on your needs and the limitations of your lifting device. Later in this blog we will also dive into some of the other uses of crane material baskets like dumping or transporting gas cylinders.
How to lift a crane material basket
A crane material basket should be equipped with some type of lifting system. With a crane basket there are two different common options, four lifting points or one single lift point. Four lifting points located in each corner provide the most stability and the safest lift. When utilizing a four point lift system a rope or chain assembly will be required with a crane. At Lakeshore Industrial we provide a non-tear wire rope lifting system.
The other way to lift a crane material basket is with a single lift point. Single lift points are often used when overhead height is limited. The ability to attach directly to the crane gives the user more flexibility in how high they are able to lift the cage because they no longer have to factor in the length of the bridle or chain system. Single lift points must be located directly in the center of the cage and the operated must be cognizant of not overloading material to a single side.
Safely transporting the cage
Once you have purchased a cage and have it on site, it becomes time to learn how to safely use it. When lifting your material basket be sure to have a professional, certified crane operator perform the lift. A certified crane operator will be able to maintain stability and avoid any quick unnecessary movements throughout the lift that may cause damage or material crashing. Once the crane operator has gotten the material to its desired location they should slowly lower the basket to the ground. Finally it’s time to release the crane hook or bridle assembly. At this point you may start unloading the lifted material from the basket.
The different types of crane material baskets
Transporting material via crane can mean many different things. At Lakeshore Industrial we manufacture three different types of material handling equipment. These three different types of baskets include, a standard material lifting cage, a gas cylinder transport cage, and a dump box. While this blog will primarily focus on the standard material lifting cages gas cylinder cages and dump boxes should also be touched on.
Gas cylinder cages are an excellent tool for safely lifting many different types of gas tanks. The most common tanks are typically welding gases or torch gases. Torch gases are very dangerous due to their flammable nature. This is why it is essential to utilize a proper gas tank lifting device like a gas cylinder cage. Gas cylinder cages can come equipped with a built in fire resistant wall to separate the gas tanks from each other. OSHA states these walls must be resistant from burn through for up to 30 minutes. The tanks should also be strapped down while lifting to prevent falling.
The other common type of material basket is the crane dump box. Often referred to as a skip pan or skip box, the purpose is for dumping. Typically the material being dumped are things like gravel, sand, and debris to clean up a job site. Skip pans come in many different sizes and capacities. At Lakeshore Industrial we offer 2,000 lbs. 4,000 lbs. 6,000 lbs. and 10,000 lbs. capacities. We also created the double dumper line. These double dumper boxes are manufactured capable of lifting and dumping with either a crane or a telehandler, providing the ultimate flexibility of use.
Custom material baskets
Lifting large or oddly shaped material often requires a specific basket built to fit the need. This is when a quality manufacturer should listen to the needs of the customer and provide them with a custom solution. Over the years Lakeshore Industrial has provided its customers with hundreds of different custom designs. We have built baskets to lift porta-potties, duct work, HVAC systems and much more. Some customization examples include gates on multiple sides of the baskets, large sizes and heights, increased capacities and solid sides.
The benefits of crane material baskets
- Increased efficiency
- The construction world is extremely competitive, winning bids often comes down to who can get the job done the fastest. When speed is such a major factor being efficient is what will set companies apart. Material baskets can be designed to carry multiple objects in one lift. They can also save time versus setting up a strapping lifting type of system when lifting large objects. Rather than resetting straps over and over with each lift simply utilize a basket that only needs to be set to lift one time.
- Versatile lifts
- The capability to custom design a material basket to fit many needs allows for the ultimate versatility. By adding expanded metal or solid steel sides you have the ability to lift small items without the worry of anything falling out. If you’d like to load and unload material with a pallet jack simply add a ramp to your basket.
- Cost effective
- By combining the versatiltiy of a crane material basket with the efficiency it provides the purchase becomes a no brainer. These baskets can be utilized over and over through many years of work, saving you money time and again.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to save countless hours of production time, save money, and promote safety on the jobsite, a crane material basket may be the perfect choice for you. Whether working on small or large construction sites, in a manufacturing shop, or on a mining site material baskets can help. If your looking for the best ways to improve material handling on your job site reach out to us at Lakeshore Industrial. We will listen to your needs carefully and suggest the product that best fits your specific needs.
