Unlike buildings and civil works where design/build is a relatively new process, most equipment purchases have always been from manufacturers that engineer their own product rather than tender to a buyer’s detailed design.  The Buyer either orders a standard off‑the- shelf product or bases the purchase on a custom performance specification that stipulates the Buyer’s requirements.

A buyer of a design/build product often elects to retain a specialist to be the acting Engineer of Record (EOR).  The EOR’s role depends on the buyer’s own capabilities and can vary from minor to major.  For a major role, the EOR may furnish technical specifications and drawings, review buyer’s draft tender package, recommend Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) selection, review OEM design and construction, and witness final commissioning and acceptance testing.  A minor role could include only one or two of these purchasing steps.

Today, most crane manufacturing is done in Asia where labor cost is low.  Engineering and manufacturing Quality Control (QC) can vary from very good to very bad.  Severe price competition makes the time tested adage Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) a concern for all major purchases.  Much of our practice is devoted to helping buyers contract for the machinery they want to own and then assist in enforcing the contract’s technical requirements so the buyer gets what the contract stipulates is to be provided.

CP&A has assisted many crane manufacturers and owners with all phases of crane projects worldwide. We have:

A.    Technical specifications

B.    General concept designs

C.    Peer reviewed general concept designs prepared by others

D.    Structural and Mechanical design

E.    Independent structural, mechanical, and electrical design review

F.    Supervision and inspection during fabrication and erection

G.    Designed voyage bracing and sea fastenings

H.    Design and field supervision for modification and repairs to existing machines

I.      Crane condition surveys and appraisals

J.    Acted as Owners representative as expert witness during acceptance testing