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davit crane

OZ Lifting Launches Davit Crane Wheel Base

Published November 9, 2023 | Overhead Crane & Hoist Magazine

 

Winona, Minnesota-based OZ Lifting Products LLC has launched a Wheel Base that can be used with its full range of davit cranes up to 1,200 lb. capacity.

The USA-made Wheel Base is adjustable and has four different length positions: it measures from 56.57” to 77.57” long; 32.44” wide; and 36.87” high. It weighs 140 lbs. when fully assembled, without a crane’s pedestal base, so total weight will depend on the davit being used. Wheel Bases will be shipped on a pallet and require assembly at the point of use.

Offering durable steel constriction with powder-coat finish, oversized casters make rolling the base and moving the crane easy. The Wheel Base features a patented floor anchoring system, which allows the davit to rotate 360 degrees, even when under load. The manufacturer will part-number and sell the Wheel Bases with the pedestal base to match the davit crane the user wants. This will make the process straightforward for the customer.

 

Mobile crane

Richard Miller, sales manager at OZ Lifting, said: “Demand for such a solution has steadily increased over the last few years. Our customers try to leverage the benefits of our lightweight davit cranes with the ability to use them in different ways and locations. The [wheel] base allows them to move the crane to various points within a facility; the applications are limitless. The main benefit is that users do not have to permanently mount a base at the pick location.”

The base will be compatible with the majority of the company’s cranes, including the 500 lbs. and 1,200 lb. capacity versions of the Tele-Pro, which allows users to leverage the benefits of other lifting technologies in its range, while telescoping the boom in and out under load. (This line also features a 2,500 lbs. model, not suitable for use with the Wheel Base.)

It will also be widely utilized with the Alumi-Lite series of ultra-portable davit cranes, an aluminum series targeted specifically at applications where portability is beneficial; the XR Series; and the steel davit crane. In each of these cases, 500 lbs. and 1,000 lbs. models are available. The CompOZite and CompOZite Elite carbon fiber models, meanwhile, are both offered in 1,200 lbs. capacities.

 

Safe use

OZ Lifting will ship the Wheel Base with a detailed operator’s manual, which highlights the dos and don’ts when using it. For example, the user must have the legs adjusted to the appropriate length, depending on the crane, so that the end of the boom is in line with the front wheels. The davit crane must also be locked in place using a special locking collar, so the boom doesn’t go outside the width of the legs, causing it to tip over.

Miller said: “Only when the Wheel Base is anchored using our patented system, can they rotate the davit crane when under load.”

 

New wheels

Having previewed the Wheel Base at the recent Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago, OZ Lifting will show it at the AHR Expo (Booth S10534), which takes place January 22-24, 2024, also at McCormick Place. The Wheel Base will be showcased alongside the full range of davits at an expo that attracts a delegation of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) professionals.

OZ Lifting is preparing for a January 1, 2024 launch, with the product likely to be drop-shipped to the end customer.

“We are always looking at adding new and innovative products to market,” added Miller. “You will see more in 2024—stay tuned.”

Rooftop Davit Crane Makes Building Maintenance Easier And Safer

The 1,200-lb. capacity Davit Crane, model OZ1200DAV, sourced from OZ distributor Sharrow Lifting Products, was the latest in a series of products and services delivered to the facility by Hilmerson, which has provided rooftop fall protection solutions and training for the organization since 2011.

Hilmerson has worked with its partners to pioneer continued improvement of working at height best practices at the site and ensure compliance with OSHA and other standards.

The hospital is an ACS verified Level I Trauma Center for both children and adults, and was Minnesota’s first pediatric trauma center to gain that status. The facility will use the crane on a regular (monthly) basis as contractors and third parties perform preventative maintenance on equipment, such as changing filters on rooftop units, air conditioning, fans, and condensers.

Debra Hilmerson, president and CEO at Hilmerson, said: “The OZ unit is one component in an overall, ongoing roof access safety and maintenance project. It is a user-friendly, easy-to-install solution for a valued customer.”

John Quinn, CEO at Sharrow, said: “We are proud of our long association with Hilmerson. While the crane was installed as a permanent fixture, the end user enjoys the luxury of being able to remove it for storage away from the elements. The crane was fitted towards the corner of the rooftop, where it can add the most material handling capability and coverage to the user.”

The crane is made from a composite material, for which OZ holds a patent on the design. Practically, this means the product does not rust, while the steel components are zinc plated. In this case, the crane is mounted on a socket base—model OZSOC1—that was covered with sheet metal. The total weight of the crane is just 80 lbs., with the heaviest component weighing it at only 43 lbs.

Visit our davit crane page to learn more or locate a distributor near you.