At HMMI, we’ve mastered the art of four-seam boom welding and streamlined the process with our innovative multi-seam welding capabilities. However, decades of experience have shown that welded booms aren’t always the way to go. When boom trucks and mobile cranes demand lighter, longer, and stronger booms, the solution is to reduce the seams, utilize a lighter material, and form the sections from single sheets of metal.
Formed Booms: Reach Further, Lift More, Weigh Less
Depending on the overall complexity and size, formed booms, poles, columns, and tubes are fabricated from one to two sheets of high-strength lightweight steel, reducing welding requirements by half or more. This improves crane booms’ structural integrity by removing unnecessary weak points introduced during the welding processes by heat-affected zones that can compromise the material’s properties. Enhanced structural strength and durability provide increased safety and reliability for longer reaches and heavier loads. With fewer seams and thus fewer weak points, lighter materials can be used while still maintaining the high strength required for optimal performance.
The Art of Formed Boom Manufacturing
Formed booms, or any long, narrow, and hollow component, demand absolute precision during the forming process to prevent fit-up issues down the line. The longer the component is, the tighter the bend tolerances will likely be, requiring greater accuracy and skill. These high-risk components undergo advanced step-bending techniques that result in a more durable, stronger end product but are prone to misalignment and poor fit-up. As such, only a handful of fabrication shops have what it takes to continuously produce precision-formed booms without alarmingly high scrap rates and rework requirements.
Formed Crane Booms Manufacturing & Capabilities From Start to Finish
HMMI is one of those shops offering comprehensive formed crane booms manufacturing and capabilities in oversized fabrication. Utilizing advanced press brake technology and highly trained operators, we produce precision-formed booms, utility poles, structural components, and more that are up to 14 feet long with minimal scrap and rework. Once our newest, most advanced press brake is fully operational at the end of the year, our capacity will skyrocket to accommodate forming of long and narrow components up to 60 feet long with cutting-edge 10-axis capabilities.
The HMMI Advantage in oversized manufacturing is leading the industry in precision at scale from first cut to final delivery. Our full-service facility includes comprehensive services from precision forming and AWS-certified welding to machining post-weld and in-house oversized finishing capabilities, all backed by our company-wide dedication to complete satisfaction.
Don’t Wait! Put the HMMI Advantage to Work for You!
Contact us today to learn more about our state-of-the-art formed crane boom manufacturing capabilities, or request a quote, and put the HMMI Advantage to work for you.
