Ceiling-Mounted Crane Supports Pipe Handling at Omega Flex

Pennsylvania Crane, Hoist and Rigging Company installed a KBK ceiling-mounted workstation crane from Demag Cranes & Components Corp. at Omega Flex, Inc.’s facility in Exton, Pennsylvania, to support handling of larger-diameter pipe in its corrugation process.

Omega Flex, established in 1975, manufactures flexible metal hose and piping products used in applications ranging from residential and commercial fuel gas systems to industrial and medical environments. At its Exton facility, the company already operated multiple cranes, but increasing pipe diameters required an additional material handling solution.

The new system supports corrugation operations for pipe ranging from six to 16 inches in diameter. As pipe length and weight increased, the company required a lifting solution that could maintain production efficiency while accommodating heavier loads. The installation also needed to address structural challenges, including a ceiling with compound pitch in two directions, while preserving floor space.

The Demag KBK ceiling-mounted workstation crane was selected to meet these requirements. The system uses articulating suspension hangers and adjustable threaded rods to accommodate the sloped roof structure. According to Ryan Galer, light lifting regional sales manager for the Northeast Region at Demag Cranes & Components Corp., “We accommodated this by using our articulating suspension hangers with threaded suspension rods of various lengths.”

The installation includes 100 feet of runway across three bridges, 20-foot spans and a 16-foot height of lift. Each bridge is equipped with a two-speed, 500-pound capacity Demag DC-Com electric chain hoist designed for precise load control.

The ceiling-mounted configuration was selected after evaluating multiple options, allowing Omega Flex to maintain open floor space while supporting material handling needs.

“We couldn’t be doing what we are in the corrugation or manufacturing process without this crane,” said Brian Breitinger, engineering manager at Omega Flex.

The system also provides low rolling resistance for manual bridge movement, supported by the KBK design. George Hoagland, lead technician at Pennsylvania Crane, Hoist and Rigging Company, noted that “The industry-leading ergonomic features of the Demag KBK system allowed us to offer a manual system, which also represented a cost-effective and easy-to-install solution, since there aren’t any expensive motors or controls involved. The system checked all the boxes for ease of bridge movement, while many competitors would have recommended motorizing their bridges at such spans and capacities. Due to the nature of their design, such bridges are heavier, and their trolleys have the tendency to bind, so manual bridge movement becomes much less feasible.”

The KBK system became operational by the end of December 2025 and marks the fifth crane installation by PA Crane Co. at the facility.