The Challenge: Growing the Business Through Strategic Equipment Investments
Graco Anoka is a US-based manufacturer of fluid and powder material equipment. They have been in business for 100 years as of 2026 and contribute much of their success to an engaged workforce and long-term growth mindset. One way they support long-term growth is through strategic investments in equipment.
When the decision was made to outfit one of their existing manufacturing cells with an overhead crane, their engineers had concerns:
Space Limitations: The machine the new workstation crane would support is located near the corner between two forklift aisles.
Proximity to Obstructions: Existing machinery and support structures limited the workable space to just a few inches in some areas.
The Solution: A Custom-Made Gorbel® Workstation Crane with a GS Series Hoist
Graco Anoka engineers decided to work with Technical Tool, an industrial equipment supplier whose expertise in crane systems is invaluable. Having previously purchased Gorbel® equipment and being impressed by the quality, Graco Anoka was confident when making their choice – but this new Gorbel® crane needed to have specialty features to accommodate the space:
Staggered Runway Supports: Specially placed supports enabled the system to be installed without changing the existing manufacturing cell or impeding ergonomics.
Unique Coverage: Despite nearby obstructions, the Gorbel® Workstation Crane fully covered the work cell and complimented the established workflow.
The Execution: On-the-Spot Adjustments and an Easy Installation
When installation day arrived, there were minor adjustments made to overcome the space limitations and obstructions. These adjustments were easy for the installers to make without delaying the process, which made the process less stressful for Graco Anoka’s manufacturing engineers and personnel. The video footage provides a better look at the space, especially the installed crane’s proximity to other machinery.
The Result: A Built to Last Workstation Crane Delivered Under Budget
Once installation was complete, employees were able to use the crane for its intended purpose – moving tombstone structures. Tombstones are multi-sided structures that hold multiple workpieces during the CNC machinery process. The crane is also occasionally used for part inspection and repairs. While Graco Anoka considers their new workstation crane to be low-use, it boosted productivity while reducing downtime for these specialized tasks.
Graco Anoka’s manufacturing engineers were happy to report to their managers that the new crane came in under budget, and had all the features they needed:
Capacity: 2,000lbs lifting limit easily accommodate the ~1,600lbs structures and parts workers are moving.
Optimized Flow: The forklift aisles on either side of the work cell were not disrupted or changed, allowing workers to continue their standard processes.
Maximized Space: The Gorbel® crane was installed without making any changes to the existing infrastructure or machinery.