The crane entered the site, and as soon as the legs were released, the old master circled around the car, squinting his eyes at the ground and muttering to himself, 'We need something to cushion.'. At this moment, if you hand over a wooden board, he may shake his head; Handing over the steel plate, he weighed it and found it too heavy. But if you bring out a pillow that looks dark and shiny with a special smell, the old master is likely to be impressed - this thing is reliable.

This is not ordinary wood, but anti-corrosion sleepers used on railways. This thing belongs to the "hidden treasure" in the field of hoisting, and those who are knowledgeable are using it.

Why it?

Let's first take a look at the core requirements of crane sleepers: firstly, they must be able to bear weight. Even if several legs of the crane are dispersed to bear weight, the sleepers need to be able to withstand several tons or even tens of tons without breaking or cracking; The second requirement is portability and durability, after all, the construction site environment is complex, using it today and moving it tomorrow, and being exposed to sunlight and rain is commonplace.

Anti corrosion technology that transforms wood

The production of anti-corrosion sleepers is essentially a tough battle against the natural enemies of wood - water, fungi, and insects.

The processing procedure is not complicated, but very effective. After the pine logs are cut into standard sizes, they will enter a huge sealed tank. By vacuuming and applying high pressure, the anti-corrosion oil is deeply "pressed" into the depths of the wood. The essence of this process lies in "depth" - qualified anti-corrosion sleepers must have an oil immersion depth of at least 13 millimeters.

This depth means that the anti-corrosion effect is not floating on the surface. Even if the surface of the wooden pad is worn and scratched over many years of use, the internal anti-corrosion oil still firmly protects the wood, making it difficult for fungi and insects to invade. It's like putting a protective armor on the wood from the inside out, not just a fragile raincoat.

After this treatment, the lifespan of the sleepers can be extended from a few years of ordinary wood to 20-30 years, which is why they can withstand decades of wind, rain, and train impacts on railways.

The 'load-bearing cornerstone' under the foot of the crane

When this type of sleeper comes to the crane construction site, its advantages are fully demonstrated.

Amazing load-bearing and impact resistance: The pressure transmitted by the crane legs is enormous and has impact resistance. The toughness of pine wood itself, combined with the enhanced integrity after anti-corrosion treatment, enables it to evenly distribute pressure without sudden fracture like some brittle materials. It has a certain "softness" and can absorb some of the impact energy to ensure the stability of the legs.

Excellent durability: On construction sites, the wooden pads are either lying in mud or exposed to sunlight. Ordinary wooden boards may rot, warp, or crack within a few months. However, anti-corrosion sleepers have almost no effect on this. It is not afraid of water or insects, and can handle various harsh construction environments with ease. It can be used together for many years.

Unparalleled portability and economy: This is its absolute advantage over steel pads. Steel pads with the same load-bearing capacity require mechanical handling, making it much easier for two people to lift an anti-corrosion sleeper. For construction sites that require frequent transitions, the savings in manpower are enormous.

Compare other materials briefly

Ordinary wooden boards/square logs: may be cheap, but have low strength, are prone to decay, belong to consumables, and have safety hazards. They may cause accidents due to sudden crushing.

Steel cushion block: It has the highest strength, but it is heavy, inconvenient to transport, costly, and prone to slipping when in contact with the ground. It may also corrode in humid environments.

Engineering plastic cushion block: lightweight, but its impact resistance and long-term aging resistance are questionable, and its performance may decline under extreme load and sunlight.

Looking around, anti-corrosion sleepers have achieved an excellent balance between strength, durability, portability, and cost. It may not be a single champion, but it is definitely an all-around player.

Next time on the construction site, when you see the master skillfully placing that black sleeper under the crane leg, you can smile knowingly - it's not an ordinary piece of wood, it's an industrial grade forged "construction site iron backbone", unknown but truly carrying a heavy burden.