Concrete is too soft to be able to support crane rails. Thus it is normal to surface the concrete with steel in the from of discontinuous or continuous sole plates. These are fixed in position with holding down bolts. It is most important that they are correctly levelled. Gantrail provide design advice as well as all the materials required for an installation.

Crane Rails on Concrete Many rails must be mounted on concrete. The components in such an installation are: The rail Gantrail Pad of a suitable type Gantrail adjustable clips to fix the rail Steel sole plates either continuous or discontinuous Grout to bed the sole plate Steel holding down bolts for dixing sole plates Continuous Sole Plates Continuous rail support on steel sole plates is the option for heavy duty applications with wheel loads of 30 tonnes and more. Sole plates are typically 6 meters in length and tend to be supplied with a thickness of 20mm or more. Sole plates are often galvanised for outdoor applications. When rail clips are to be welded this must be done before galvanising. Holding down bolts The most economical holding down bolts are made from fully threaded bar. These can have angle cut ends to help prevent rotation after installation. Grouts are formulated for the two applications on site: Fixing the holding down bolts Filling the gap between the sole plate and the concrete supporting structure Three formulations are routinely used when installing crane rails: Polyester – normally only used for fixing holding down bolts Epoxy – used for fixing holding down bolts and beneath the sole plate Cement based - used for fixing holding down bolts and beneath the sole plate The choice will be dependent on the application and other local conditions Preparing the Concrete Surface to ensure good Grout Bonding Rotary Percussion Drilling a New Concrete Beam at a Port Refurbishment Gantrail Discontinuously mounted rail The most economical system is to fix the clip and the soleplate into position with the same holding down bolts. This is only suitable for the lightest cranes. For heavier duty cranes the holding down bolts and the clip fixing bolts are separated. Four styles of soleplate are used. The choice is dependent on the horizontal force from the crane wheels Installation of New Rails for Refurbishment of Tank at Water Treatment Works Installation Accurate installation is imperative, as the dynamic forces from the crane will be magnified with misaligned rails. There are a number of ways to achieve accurate level and rail alignment. The method chosen will have an influence on the cost of materials, the speed of installation and the skill level of the workforce required to complete the installation. Gantrail are always happy to provide a method statement and typical drawings. Template for drilling Holding Down Bolt positions – flown from the UK to India for a prestige contract Rack and Pinion track at Sewerage Treatment Works. Discontinuous sole plates Gantrail have prepared a series of Data Sheets showing a range of installation options. Pouring Grout for a Continuous Sole Plate Installation Gantrail have prepared a guide to installation on concrete.