How to Choose Overhead Cranes for Tire Plants

Mixing Area Cranes: Sealed Protection for Carbon Black Dust

Mixing is the first step in tire manufacturing, where the internal mixer blends raw rubber, carbon black, and additives into a homogeneous compound. Each internal mixer weighs 10–30 t, and its rotor chamber requires periodic replacement every 3–6 months, with lifting loads of 5–10 t. The biggest challenge in the mixing shop is carbon black dust—particles as fine as 10–500 nm that easily become airborne. We recommend an LH-type overhead crane rated at 10–20 t, featuring electrical cabinets sealed to IP54 or higher and fully enclosed motors with forced air cooling. Kelude's LH-type cranes for tire mixing areas come standard with air-filtered electrical cabinets and carbon black dust guards, and have been successfully deployed in multiple tire plants across China. A wash-down system beneath the crane rail is recommended to periodically remove accumulated dust from the rail surface. Lifting speed should be two-speed at 6/1.5 m/min.

The carbon black automatic feeding system in the mixing shop positions its silos and weighing hoppers on an elevated platform, so the crane must cover this platform area for equipment maintenance. Kelude recommends a dual-crane configuration for the mixing area: a primary LH-type crane covering the internal mixer itself, plus an auxiliary LD-type 5 t crane covering the carbon black feeding level. Mixing generates significant heat (discharge temperatures reach 160–180°C), so operators in the crane cabin or using remote control should be protected with thermal insulation. For new tire plants, we recommend a rail height of at least 12 m in the mixing shop to provide ample clearance for mixer maintenance and lifting operations.

Building Area Cranes: Mold and Component Handling for Tire Building Machines

The tire building process includes tread feeding, ply cutting, carcass building, and green tire inspection. The core components of a tire building machine are the building drum and the roller assembly, weighing 500–2,000 kg. An LD-type 5–10 t overhead crane is recommended. The tread feed unit (extruder head) in the building area requires periodic cleaning and weighs 300–800 kg. Kelude's building-area cranes come standard with remote control operation, allowing operators to maneuver flexibly between the tread feed line and the building machine. Cleanliness requirements in the building shop are stricter than in the mixing area—semi-finished products must not pick up contaminants—so crane rail lubrication should use food-grade grease to prevent drips from standard lubricating oil.

Green tires (uncured) weigh 30–200 kg for passenger tires and 500–2,000 kg for OTR tires. Transfer from the building machine to the curing press typically uses overhead conveyor chains or AGVs, but large OTR green tires still require crane assistance. Kelude recommends installing an LD-type crane between the building and curing areas for OTR green tire transfer, capable of covering 2–4 curing presses. Investment for a building-area crane is approximately $15,000–$37,000. For plants producing over 100,000 tires annually, we recommend adding KBK workstation cranes for rapid turnover of building components.

Curing Area Cranes: Precision Lifting for Large-Tonnage Molds

Curing is the heaviest-tonnage process in tire manufacturing. The vulcanizing press heats and presses the green tire inside a mold to produce the finished tire. OTR tire curing molds weigh 5–20 t each (a 27.00R49 mold weighs approximately 15 t), while passenger tire molds range from 500–2,000 kg. Vulcanizing presses stand 3–6 m tall, requiring cranes with sufficient lifting height. We recommend a QD-type double-girder bridge crane rated at 20–50 t with a lifting height of 12–18 m. When changing molds, the mold must be pulled horizontally out of the press before being lifted vertically—the combination of mold temperature and weight makes this operation doubly demanding. Kelude's curing-area cranes come standard with variable frequency hoisting (creep speed of 0.5–5 m/min) and anti-sway control, keeping mold swing within ±20 mm during lifting.

Vulcanizing press platens operate at 150–180°C, making the curing shop 5–10°C warmer than typical workshops. Crane electrical components require adequate heat dissipation. Kelude's QD-type cranes for curing areas use heat-resistant cables (silicone rubber insulation rated to 200°C) and high-temperature travel switches. For individual workstation cranes above each press, we recommend installing KBK rails rated at 0.5–2 t across the press matrix for fine mold positioning and routine press maintenance. Investment for a curing-area crane solution ranges from $37,000 to $120,000. Dual brake configuration is standard on curing-area cranes, ensuring absolute safety during mold handling.

Inspection and Warehouse Cranes: Finished Tire Storage and Shipping

Finished tire inspection includes X-ray inspection, uniformity testing, and dynamic balancing. Inspection equipment weighs 3–8 t and requires crane support during maintenance. An LD-type 5–10 t crane is recommended to cover both the inspection area and the finished-goods warehouse. Individual OTR tires in the warehouse weigh 300–3,000 kg, and palletized loads stacked multiple layers high reach 2–5 t. Kelude's warehouse cranes can be configured with a WMS interface that automatically records tire model, weight, and storage location with each lift. The special requirement for tire warehouse cranes is the lifting spreader—we recommend tire-specific grippers (clamp arms) or vacuum lifters to avoid wire rope damage to the tire sidewall.

Crane Configuration Comparison for Full Tire Manufacturing Processes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)