The Challenge: Cluttered workspaces and safety risks
In professional car racing, success is measured in milliseconds. At the Stewart-Haas Racing facility, the preparation of race cars is a rigorous, high-precision process that demands absolute reliability. To maintain a competitive edge, the team must ensure that every aspect of the vehicle, including the chassis and the final template checks, meets stringent standards.
Previously, the team relied on in-house, "A-style" frame cranes to position grids on the cars during the assembly process. While functional, these floor-mounted systems created significant operational bottlenecks. With multiple departments requiring their own "A" frame cranes, the production floor became increasingly cluttered.
This environment presented two primary challenges. First, having bulky production tools constantly on the floor posed a persistent safety risk for the crew. Second, navigating around these floor-mounted structures made it difficult to move grids efficiently to perform template checks. This limitation directly impacted the speed and flow of the high-precision build process.
The Solution: Gorbel ceiling mounted work station crane
To overcome these limitations, Stewart-Haas Racing integrated the Gorbel Ceiling Mounted Bridge Crane. By transitioning from floor-supported to overhead lifting, the team effectively reclaimed floor space. This change turned their manufacturing layout into a safer, more open environment.
The team chose the Gorbel system specifically for its ability to provide superior load positioning without the need for support structures on the floor. Unlike traditional cranes, the Gorbel enclosed track system is engineered for low rolling resistance. This design allows the crew to move heavy grids with precision and minimal physical effort.
The Execution: Precision engineering in action
The installation of the Ceiling Mounted Work Station Crane allowed the assembly teams to clear the shop floor of production tools during day-to-day operations. The visual evidence of this transition is clear. The shop floor is now free of the "A" style frames that previously cluttered the workspace.
During the assembly, the enclosed track of the system provides a smooth, rigid runway. This design ensures that the bridge does not move laterally or longitudinally in an uncontrolled manner, which enables technicians to hover the grids over the cars with pinpoint accuracy. Bobby Sheffield, Finish Fab Supervisor at Stewart-Haas Racing, explained that the crew now moves components along the bridge system effortlessly to allow a faster and safer production flow.
The Result: A faster, safer facility
The implementation of the Gorbel system has yielded measurable improvements for the Stewart-Haas Racing team. Removing production tools from the floor has created a safer shop environment for the entire crew. Furthermore, the elimination of cluttered workspaces has streamlined the build process to allow faster template checks and smoother assembly workflows. Technicians also reported that the system makes their job significantly easier due to the intuitive movement of the overhead crane.