Colmac Coil Manufacturing has recently added a Shuttlelift DB30 (60,000 lbs. capacity) mobile gantry crane to their location in Paxton, IL. Colmac is a 3rd generation family-owned company that was founded in Washington state in 1971. What started as heating and cooling coils for the HVAC industry expanded into commercial and industrial refrigeration, and the need for their Midwest production factory in 2009.
When Colmac launched their A+P Insulated Penthouse Air Coolers they needed to expand their loading capabilities and began looking for a solution. After gathering information on multiple different crane manufacturers, it became clear the Shuttlelift rubber-tired gantry crane gave them the versatility and efficiency they were looking for. “Prior to owning the Shuttlelift we had to load units indoors, slowing down and effecting our production rate negatively”, says James Phelan, VP of Operations at Colmac in Paxton.
Since Colmac builds a fully custom product, they needed a lifting solution with the versatility to handle different sized products with a varying number of lift points. To accomplish this, Shuttlelift designed and fabricated two custom spreader bars that are used in conjunction with a dual trolley system capable of spacing from 60” to 160” on center. “The custom lift bars are a game changer”, explains Phelan. He adds, “They give us maximum flexibility for number and location of lift points.”
The new DB30 mobile gantry crane at Colmac has a wireless remote control and linkageless two-wheel steering for added efficiency and reduced maintenance costs. It is also equipped with Shuttlelift’s optional Automatic Variable Throttle (AVT) which gives the machine the ability to ramp the RPM’s up or down depending on what function the operator is asking of it. This in turn reduces the wear on components and saves on fuel consumption.
The Shuttlelift crane will not only help Colmac with their A+P product line, but will also streamline large scale projects with large units or ones that have many pieces expected to load and ship in short timeframes. This enhances their customer’s experience by allowing them to match the crane or equipment schedules when a building is being erected. Phelan states, “This has been a huge shift in our business when it comes to providing customers the experience and service needed when shipping orders.”
Colmac has earned a reputation for quality and innovation throughout the years and now services customers across North America and internationally. When deciding on a crane manufacturer for this project they looked for a company that was similar to their own. “At the end of the day Colmac does business with people we are comfortable with and can trust”, said Phelan. “We looked at two other very visible brands of gantry cranes but the moment I walked in Shuttlelift’s shop it reminded me of Colmac and provided the comfort level I needed to make the purchase decisions.”
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Shuttlelift rubber-tired gantry cranes are the preferred customer inspired solution for heavy lifting requirements and are manufactured to specification for a multitude of applications worldwide. The Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin USA-based company manufactures cranes with capacities ranging from 30 to 1,000 U.S. tons and greater, all of which are supported by a global network of experienced dealers. Through superior engineering innovations, Shuttlelift has become one of the premier lines in today’s material-handling industry.