Runway condition influences how well a crane moves on its rails, and profoundly affects the usability and lifetime of the crane and its travelling machineries. A runway in poor condition reduces crane performance and can create serious safety risks. Periodically gathering data about the condition of the runway is key to sustaining peak crane performance. Konecranes RailQ Runway Survey is an industry-leading rail analysis that uses a remotely operated robot and total station combined with a visual inspection to provide an in-depth view of the alignment and condition of the crane rails.
“RailQ gives crane owners information about span, straightness, elevation and rail-to-rail elevation,” says Wayne Kennedy, consultation services product manager for Konecranes Region Americas. “Running RailQ’s robot down the rail versus someone having to walk it and take laser measurements is a faster, safer alternative.
“In the early days of runway surveys, runways had to be measured individually for span, straightness and elevation. Taking measurements was difficult, time-consuming and prone to human error,” Kennedy continues. “Today, RailQ can gather all of that information in one pass, and perform that same 500-foot survey in as little as four hours. Using a robot to place the prism instead of having someone up on the rail removes a major safety hazard.”
While some competitors may also use total stations, only Konecranes can analyze the information collected with its patented KC Trail software. This innovative software package evaluates the runway data and calculates the improvements needed. It is possible for the survey specialist to review the results even before leaving the facility. The software provides easy-to-read reports with 2D and 3D pictures of the crane’s runway alignment condition. Konecranes can identify the rails, the columns and each individual measurement point and compare the data to CMAA, ISO or other governing criteria. The survey can also be customized to report on specific criteria driven by the customer.
“It only takes our engineer working with KC Trail an hour or so after the survey is completed to deliver a report along with recommendations for repairs,” says Kennedy. “The software will find the best repair solution requiring the least amount of correctional movements, saving the customer time and money.”
KC Trail also has the ability to offer the customer more than one repair scenario to consider, ranging from a minimum correction sufficient to get the runway back within specification, to an optimum correction to make it perfect. The decision can be made based on long-term plans for that crane and building, short-term budget constraints or other contributing factors.
Konecranes RailQ survey uses the best total station equipment on the market to measure angles and distance with the best accuracy, and deliver xyz coordinates in three dimensions. With this data, Konecranes technicians can make repairs to the runway, re-run the survey, and see the changes immediately.
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