Renewed Special Equipment License A for Cranes to 50t
Kelude renews Class A special equipment manufacturing license covering the full range of overhead and gantry cranes up to 50t. Kelude Heavy Industry has successfully renewed its Class A special equipment manufacturing license, extending coverage to the complete series of overhead and gantry cranes rated at 50t and below. Class A is the highest manufacturing qualification level in the crane industry.
The special equipment manufacturing license is a statutory entry requirement for overhead crane manufacturers, and the rigor of its renewal process directly reflects a company's sustained compliance capability within its product quality control system. Kelude Heavy Industry recently passed the special equipment manufacturing license review authorized by the State Administration for Market Regulation and obtained the Class A license renewal, covering the full range of overhead and gantry cranes rated at 50t and below. The renewal process spanned three phases — type testing, quality system audit, and on-site manufacturing capability verification — over a six-month period, covering 28 models across four product categories. This article provides a systematic overview of the technical requirements for the Class A license, the renewal review process, and the ongoing quality assurance system.
Class A Special Equipment Manufacturing License: Key Technical Requirements
Under TSG 07-2019 (Rules for Licensing of Special Equipment Manufacturing and Filling Units), the Class A crane manufacturing license applies to four product categories: general purpose bridge cranes (QD type), general-purpose gantry cranes (MG/MH type), overhead cranes for metallurgic plants (YZ type), and explosion-proof bridge cranes (QB type).
The Class A license imposes the following resource requirements on manufacturers: no fewer than 2 welding engineers (holding an International Welding Engineer (IWE) certificate or equivalent qualification); no fewer than 6 non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel, including at least 3 certified to UT Level II or above and at least 2 certified to MT Level II or above; no fewer than 5 quality inspection personnel covering incoming inspection, in-process inspection, and factory acceptance testing; and no fewer than 8 dedicated design personnel, including at least 2 senior engineers. Facility requirements include a steel structure workshop of no less than 5,000 m², at least 15 welding stations, and a maximum lifting capacity of no less than 50t. All hardware conditions were verified and passed in a single round of on-site inspection during the renewal.
The Three-Stage License Renewal Review Process
The renewal review was conducted in three stages. In the type testing stage, the Henan Special Equipment Safety Inspection and Research Institute performed unit-by-unit type tests on 28 models across the four product categories.
In the quality system audit stage, the review team examined the company's quality assurance documentation. Key audit focus areas included: conformity of the quality manual with TSG 07-2019, completeness and operability of procedure documents, and the standardization and traceability of quality records. The audit team selected three delivered cranes — a QD32/5t-22.5m bridge crane, an MH20t-30m gantry crane, and a YZS50/10t-28m metallurgical foundry crane — and traced their complete quality archives, verifying the integrity of signatures and dates at every step from the design calculation report through the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) report.
In the on-site manufacturing capability verification stage, experts visited the production workshop to verify the operating condition and accuracy of key equipment in real time.
Product Range Covered by the Class A License
The renewed license covers 28 models across four product categories: the QD series general purpose bridge crane with 8 models (5t/10t/16t/20t/32t/50t/75t/100t, spans from 10.5m to 31.5m); the MG/MH series general-purpose gantry crane with 8 models (5t/10t/16t/20t/32t/50t, spans from 18m to 42m); the YZ series overhead crane for metallurgic plants with 6 models (10t/20t/32t/50t/75t/100t, including the YZS foundry crane and YZY charging crane); and the QB series explosion-proof bridge crane with 6 models (5t/10t/16t/20t/32t/50t, explosion protection class ExdⅡBT4).
The metallurgical and explosion-proof crane categories represent the key expansion areas of this renewal. Metallurgical foundry cranes require 100% ultrasonic testing (UT) of all load-bearing weld seams plus 20% radiographic re-inspection, dual brakes and an overspeed protection device on the hoisting mechanism, and a metallurgical-grade electrical control system (IP54 Protection, temperature resistance up to 65°C). Explosion-proof cranes require all electrical components to carry explosion-proof certification, the complete crane manufacturing process to comply with explosion-proof construction specifications (GB 3836 series standards), and a full-machine explosion-proof performance test before delivery. The technical barriers associated with these two crane types are the defining distinction between Class A manufacturers and those at lower qualification levels.
Quality Assurance System Behind the License
The Class A license is valid for four years, during which the manufacturer must undergo annual supervision inspections by the provincial special equipment safety supervision authority.
Kelude Heavy Industry operates three management systems in parallel: the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System governing all quality activities across the full process, the ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding system ensuring full coverage of welding-related elements, and the special equipment manufacturing license system ensuring product type compliance. These three systems share process documents and record forms across personnel training, equipment management, procurement control, in-process inspection, and non-conforming product handling, eliminating management redundancy that often arises from running multiple systems independently. At the closing meeting of the renewal audit, the lead auditor described the effectiveness of the quality management system as "continuously improving, well-documented, and staffed by competent personnel."
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between the Class A license and ISO 9001 certification?
A: They serve fundamentally different purposes. Kelude Heavy Industry holds the Class A license along with ISO 9001 and ISO 3834-2 certifications simultaneously. The Class A license is a statutory administrative permit issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation — without it, a company is not legally permitted to manufacture or sell overhead cranes. ISO 9001, by contrast, is a voluntary management system certification that demonstrates a company's quality management system conforms to international standards. The Class A license review focuses on product type conformity and safety compliance in the manufacturing process, while ISO 9001 focuses on continuous improvement of the quality management system itself. For crane buyers, the Class A license is the most fundamental entry requirement — when sourcing an overhead crane, always verify that the supplier holds a valid Class A license first, then evaluate its ISO 9001 and ISO 3834-2 certifications as additional assurance.
Q: How does the manufacturing license differ for cranes rated above 50t?
Q: Does the Grade A license also apply to overhead and gantry cranes above 50 tons?
A: Yes, the Grade A manufacturing license covers overhead and gantry cranes above 50 tons, but the Type Test requirements are more stringent. For cranes below 50 tons, a coverage approach is permitted—one representative model from the same series undergoes testing, and compliance of other models is verified through design document review. For cranes above 50 tons, however, each model must undergo an independent Type Test. Additionally, design documents for cranes above 50 tons must be appraised by a technical institution authorized by the provincial special equipment safety supervision authority. Type Test preparation is currently underway for large Metallurgical Foundry Cranes in the 100t–320t range, with plans to complete the manufacturing license expansion for large-tonnage models by 2027.
Q: How far in advance of the Grade A license expiry should a renewal application be filed, and what are the consequences of a failed renewal?
A: Under Clause 3.6 of TSG 07-2019, a renewal application must be submitted six months before the license expiry date; failure to do so results in license revocation. After the provincial market supervision authority completes the formal document review, an on-site inspection is scheduled and must be finished at least three months before the license expires. If the renewal is not approved (i.e., the assessment concludes "non-compliant"), the license automatically lapses upon its expiry date, and the manufacturer must immediately cease all overhead crane manufacturing and sales activities. A new application can only be submitted after rectification is completed. It is generally recommended to begin renewal preparations 9–12 months before expiry, including scheduling Type Tests, updating quality system documentation, and verifying calibration of manufacturing equipment.
Q: How can buyers verify the authenticity of a supplier's Grade A license when purchasing an overhead crane?
A: You can verify the license number and validity period through the National Special Equipment Public Information Query Platform (https://cnse.e-cqs.cn). The overhead crane manufacturing license number follows the format "TS2410XXX-20XX," where TS denotes special equipment, 24 indicates lifting appliance manufacturing, 10 is the license category code, XXX is the serial number, and 20XX is the year of expiry. You should also request a stamped copy of the license from the supplier, confirm that the manufacturing address on the license matches the actual production site, and verify that the licensed scope covers the crane model and tonnage you intend to purchase.
