Crane servicing and maintenance is a costly but necessary component of crane ownership and operations. When faced with a maintenance invoice, it’s worth remembering that the cost of a comprehensive crane servicing programme is substantially cheaper than the cost of replacing equipment and, crucially, the cost of downtime.
All that being said, there are a few things that you can do to help reduce the cost of crane servicing.
It might seem mildly contradictory to talk about reducing servicing costs by increasing the frequency of them but that is the case. This is particularly true when you consider that a routine service or maintenance visit on a crane can start from around £90 plus travel.
Regular servicing of your equipment helps you identify wear and tear before they turn into serious, productivity-impacting failures. Consider the difference between identifying a damaged rope or worn hoist brakes? Replacing brake pads or worn rope is inconsequential compared to the nightmare of a dropped load. The risk to personnel, the cost of major repairs and the bureaucracy of notifying the relevant authorities.
Complete your pre-operation checks every day… or if your site operates around the clock, then you should complete your checks at the start of every shift. Identifying issues early will save you in the long run. We’ve put together a daily checklist that can help you cover key areas and allow you to spot issues before they escalate.
Areas to cover include:
By identifying any of these issues and evidencing them through a written record, you can flag up any potential problems and that it is being maintained in line with the regulations. This will also keep a potential breakdown at bay, as well as reduce the overall cost to your company due to the downtime caused by an out-of-service crane.
Customers routinely enter into ‘maintenance agreements’ with the crane supplier and, as such, don’t shop around. This often continues long after any initially agreed upon warranty period has expired. This is understandable and we find ourselves doing it in our personal lives too. But the fact of the matter is that you could be getting a better deal by reviewing your policy and shopping around, particularly if you’re looking for a more unbiased service.
Using the original manufacturer provides a perceived view that you’re working with specialists and to some extent that is true but what if your site contains cranes from multiple sources? A manufacturer will always try to fit their own equipment, not necessarily look around for the best option for the customer. Reaching out to multiple providers gives the customer more choice on cost and suitability of the equipment being supplied.
There’s also the question about access and tertiary services when it comes to crane servicing. Does your provider have everything required to effectively maintain your cranes? Can they easily provide access equipment? Alternatively, if you have your own equipment on site, will they reduce the fee and pass on the saving?
Shopping around can help you find a cheaper, customer-focused service provider.
Unfortunately, there’s probably no magic wand when it comes to majorly reducing the cost of your crane servicing. Keeping on top of your daily checks, maintenance and using the equipment within the guidelines of the manufacturer’s specifications will ensure that any inconveniences and issues are spotted early.
Fundamentally, paying for routine crane servicing and will save you money in the long run. It’s an age-old case of failing to prepare is preparing to fail. The cost of crane breakdowns & complete crane failures can run into the 10s of thousands of pounds. Yearly retainers on servicing and a proactive approach to maintenance can help you save money and potentially lives by averting any crane accidents.
Our experts have created a handy checklist of the areas you should review daily to keep your cranes running and avoid downtime
