When a crane lifts a heavy object, its four outriggers bear the entire weight of the crane and its load. If the ground is not firm enough, the pressure under the outriggers can easily exceed the limit, causing the ground to sink and the crane to tilt. This can lead to lifting failure or even a rollover accident. Why do modern cranes generally choose PE outrigger pads? There are three reasons!

First, under the same load, a polyethylene outrigger pad weighs only one-eighth of a steel plate, making it easy for a single person to handle, while traditional wooden sleepers can easily weigh tens of kilograms. Second, polyethylene has excellent impact resistance and toughness; under overload, it will only bend and deform rather than suddenly shatter like cast iron or inferior plastics, giving operators time to react. Third, it does not damage the ground and is not corroded by damp, acidic, or alkaline environments, with a service life far exceeding that of wood.

In actual operation, the selection of crane outrigger pads directly affects safety. The general principle is: the larger the tonnage and the softer the foundation, the larger and thicker the pad needs to be. For example, a 25-ton crane typically uses a 60cm square, 5cm thick outrigger pad on hardened ground; on muddy ground, it is recommended to increase the size to 80cm square. Sometimes, a roadbed box or multiple layers of pads are laid underneath to further increase the support capacity.

From small truck cranes to large crawler cranes, from temporary repairs to long-term construction, polyethylene crane outrigger pads are always adaptable to different scenarios, using their inherent characteristics to solve various ground support problems. Without a complex structure, they provide a solid safety barrier for every crane operation with their highly practical functions, becoming an indispensable and important guarantee in heavy machinery operations.

This article was edited and compiled by Henan Jinhang Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd. (www.upeplastic.cn), editor: Jinhang. The company focuses on the research and development and production of outrigger pads. Reproduction is welcome, please indicate the source.