Smithwick Engineering

We’re excited to be at an on-site event today! We love connecting with our customers to discuss the benefits of crane, runway, and rail surveys and assessments.

We’re hiring a Field Engineer in Greenville, SC. Join our growing team and be part of what we’re building!

We’re proud to share that we’ve been awarded the Avetta Safety Star by Avetta ⭐️

This recognition reflects our team’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, accountability, and excellence in everything we do.

A huge thank you to our crew for making safety a top priority every day. This achievement is a direct result of your hard work and dedication.

1/4" doesn't sound like much.

Until it's four times the allowable tolerance on your crane runway.

During a recent inspection, we found the same issue repeated across multiple spans: runway girder-end elevations misaligned at the column, some by more than 1/4".

The spec is clear.

AIST TR-13, Section 5.17.5.3 requires that adjacent girder top of fl**ge elevations at the columns vary by no more than 1/16".

When that tolerance is exceeded, the rail loses continuous bearing. It bridges the gap or rocks between high and low points. Every wheel pass creates local high stresses in the rail and girder-end that likely have not been accounted for in the design.

This single wheel load with peak stress conditions gets repeated at every passing wheel. This repeated loading over time can potentially lead to fatigue cracking.

What starts as a shimming issue becomes a structural repair.

The fix is straightforward. Shim the lower girder to re-establish flush bearing. But it has to be found first. And it won't show up on an inspection that only looks at the crane.

The runway is part of the crane system.

When was the last time someone checked your girder splice elevations?

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Many crane and runway issues do not show up as immediate failures. They show up as small, repeatable symptoms that slowly shorten the life of your crane, rails, and structure.

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 & 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

If you are experiencing any of the following, it is worth taking a closer look:

• Uneven or accelerated wheel wear
• Crane skewing or drifting during travel
• Audible “popping” or movement at runway beams or connections
• Rail joints opening up or showing visible misalignment
• Frequent crane alignment or wheel maintenance
• Noticeable vibration under load
• Cranes that “feel” rough even though controls are functioning properly

These are often indicators of underlying rail alignment, elevation, or runway beam movement issues, not crane mechanical problems.

Q1 is an ideal time to schedule Crane & Runway Inspections and Rail Surveys so you can:

• Identify issues before they become failures
• Plan repairs around production schedules

👉 If any of the items above sound familiar, give us a call (361) 229-7214 or email us at [email protected].

Early inspections reduce downtime, extend equipment life, and eliminate surprises later in the year.

Today we honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.