Big Frame Flipper for 180 Degree Turning: Crane Chain Turner or Floor-Mounted Flipper

Executive summary A crane-hung chain turner rolls a long welded steel frame in mid-air. For repeated 180° turns, the equivalent is a floor-mounted flipper: our FPMF range covers 2–40 t, turning in 20–35 s. The choice comes down to load shape, turn frequency, and air-borne or on-table turning.

Table of Contents

What the machine does

A long welded frame hangs in two endless chain loops from a motorised turner on a crane hook. As the chains run, the frame rolls from a tilt to lying flat.

The turner is a crane accessory, not a floor machine; below it is weighed against our floor-mounted flipper.

How a chain turner rolls a load

A chain turner hangs from the crane hook. Two endless chain loops pass under the load, and a motor drives them: one side rises, the other lowers, and the load rolls inside the slings.

In practice:

  • The crane carries the full weight for the whole turn; the crane rating, not the turner, sets the limit.
  • The load turns about its own centre of gravity. Off-centre slings make the load swing towards the low side.
  • Any angle is possible, because the load is not clamped to a table — useful for welding positions.
  • No floor space: the turner moves with the crane.

Our equivalent solution: the floor-mounted 180° flipper

For parts turned over many times a day, we build a floor-mounted flipper: the load sits on a table between two platens, and the machine turns it through 180°. The crane only places and removes the part.

Values from our 180° flipper range (FPMF, on our mould flipper page):

Model Max. loading Power Turning time Machine weight
FPMF-02 2 t 4.5 kW 20–30 s 2.0 t
FPMF-05 5 t 5.5 kW 20–30 s 2.5 t
FPMF-10 10 t 8.5 kW 20–30 s 3.0 t
FPMF-20 20 t 10.5 kW 20–30 s 3.5 t
FPMF-30 30 t 12.5 kW 20–35 s 4.0 t
FPMF-40 40 t 16.5 kW 20–35 s 5.0 t

For long frames, our mould flipper table range (FPFT) lists bed sizes [manufacturer rating], from FPFT-05 3010 × 1200 × 300 mm to FPFT-40 5560 × 2400 × 500 mm (L×W×H).

Table and machine size are designed per load. For a long frame we lengthen the table, so the frame is supported along its length rather than at two sling points. Like all our machines it is configured per project, so power and machine weight move with the part.

Chain turner or floor flipper: how we choose

Question Chain turner Floor-mounted flipper
Turns per shift occasional frequent, repeatable
Load shape long, open frames that can hang in slings moulds, blocks, frames that sit flat
Crane time crane busy for the whole turn crane only loads and unloads
Angle any angle 180° (or 90° on an upender)
Floor space none fixed footprint

If your crane is the bottleneck, or the same part is turned many times a shift, the floor flipper pays back first. If turns are rare and parts vary in shape, a crane-hung turner is the lighter investment.

Turning long welded frames safely

Long frames flex, and their centre of gravity is easy to misjudge.

  • Support along the length. A frame hung at two points sags between them; a floor flipper’s long table supports it continuously.
  • Find the centre of gravity first. For a fabricated frame, take it from the CAD model, not by eye, and place slings or the table centre on it.
  • Protect machined pads. Turning contact should land on raw steel, not machined faces.
  • Keep people out of the turning zone. A rolling frame can move sideways if it slips.

Selection checklist for a big frame flipper

  • Heaviest part, its length, width, height and centre of gravity.
  • Turns per shift and spare crane time.
  • Turning angle needed: 180°, 90° or free positioning.
  • Faces that must not carry load during the turn.
  • Crane rating and hook height at the turning point.
  • Floor space and foundation for a floor flipper.

Controls and safety

The standards that apply depend on the destination market. For CE markets, ISO 12100 sets the risk-assessment method and EN 415-10 covers general requirements for packaging machines, which fixes guarding and the emergency-stop arrangement.

On a floor flipper the turning zone is fenced or marked, and the table only turns with the load clamped. With a crane-hung turner, everyone stays clear of the swing path for the whole turn.

Engineering FAQ

Q: How does a chain turner differ from a floor-mounted flipper? A: The chain turner rolls the load in slings on the hook, and the crane carries the full weight. The floor flipper turns the load between two platens; the crane only places and removes the part. Our FPMF range covers 2–40 t.

Q: How long does a 180° turn take on a floor flipper? A: Our FPMF table lists 20–30 s up to 20 t and 20–35 s for the 30 t and 40 t models.

Q: Can a floor flipper take a long frame? A: Yes. Table size is designed per load; we lengthen the table to support the frame along its length.

Q: When is a chain turner the better choice? A: When turns are occasional, the crane has spare time, and parts vary widely in shape or need odd angles.

Q: How does a floor flipper relieve a crane bottleneck? A: The crane only places the part and lifts it off again; a chain turner ties up the crane for the whole turn.

Q: What decides the machine size? A: Weight, size and centre of gravity together — a bulky part can need a larger frame and motor than weight alone suggests.

Next step

Sizing takes three steps:

  1. Submit your part drawing with weight, centre of gravity and turns per shift, to info@fhopepack.com.
  2. Receive a proposal within 48 hours, with the flipper type, table size and turning time for your part.
  3. Book a site survey to confirm crane access, floor space and loading direction.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-10-29

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