Maintaining and servicing a crane during the rental

Breakdowns happen, whether the crane is rented or bought. What makes the difference is how quickly the crane is back at work. And that is decided before the contract is signed, not on the day of the breakdown.

What maintenance includes

Crane maintenance covers operations such as:

• checking the condition of the hoist ropes;
• checking the electrical connections;
• checking the motors and brakes;
• lubricating the parts that need it;
• checking the safety devices, such as the load and moment limiters.

Done on time, these operations keep the crane in good condition, prevent accidents and extend its service life.

The maintenance contract

CNCIR requires a maintenance contract between the company operating the crane and a specialised, authorised company. When renting, ask the supplier whether they provide this contract. FORTZA is ISCIR-authorised for crane maintenance and responds with mobile teams that are always in the field.

What to watch daily on site

The crane operator and the site manager are the first to notice signs of a problem:

• unusual noises, vibrations or movements;
• damaged or crushed ropes, or ropes with broken wires;
• warnings from the limiters or the anemometer;
• the radio remote control and the emergency stop working properly.

Report any such sign before continuing work. Daily checks follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the site rules.

When the crane breaks down

1. Stop work and secure the area.
2. Notify the service provider, giving the crane model and a description of the problem.
3. Do not attempt makeshift repairs: interventions are carried out by authorised staff.

Downtime depends on three things: how quickly the team arrives, whether the part is in stock and whether the technicians know the model. FORTZA has operational teams across Romania, spare parts in stock and sources missing parts directly from the manufacturers. For cranes that are no longer made, some parts are designed by FORTZA engineers and made in our own workshops.

Questions to ask before signing

• Who provides maintenance and service during the rental?
• How quickly does the service team respond?
• Which wear parts are in stock for the rented model?
• What happens to the rent if the crane stands still because of a breakdown?

In short

Timely maintenance prevents most problems, and a service with fast response and parts in stock solves the rest quickly. Service details are on the Crane service page.