Product Focus
DICA FiberTech Outrigger Pads are available up to 600 PSI crush ratings and 170,000-pound rated capacities.
supporting materials, it’ s important that they meet several key requirements. First, they must be strong enough to prevent physical failure under load. Second, they must possess sufficient stiffness to effectively distribute the load and create an effective bearing area that meets the minimum requirements. Lastly, they must be stiff enough to minimize deflection to acceptable levels.
Steiner: Each material has its pros and cons. Wood pads are more rigid, so they will not deflect, but can break if overloaded. Composite pads have a natural acceptable deflection, which is what prevents them
from cracking or breaking. Maintenance and replacement is a key consideration for pads as composite pads have a lifetime guarantee while wood pads do not.
Geography is the main factor, as different climates present different challenges for certain materials. For example, wood pads can last up to 10 years under typical use, but if the outrigger pad is being used in a dry climate that does not see a lot of rain it can last much longer. If the equipment will be operating in climates that can be rainy one day and then humid and muddy the next, or in snowy / icy climates, then a composite pad would be better suited for the job, which allows for fewer replacements.
There are instances when both materials can be utilized. If the ground conditions are exceptionally poor, using a combination of wood and composite pads is the safest set up because a wood pad will spread the load more effectively to the composite pad, preventing deflection and giving a wider footprint for the outrigger float.
What practices should be employed for maintaining pads to ensure safety and long service life?
Koberg: Materials should be inspected before each use, and any that no longer meet the necessary structural integrity to
Bigfoot Construction Equipment offers both Custom Composite and water sealed wood outrigger pads in a variety of sizes and colors as well as Steel Crane Mats.
28 CRANE HOT LINE ® November 2024 • www. cranehotline. com