Smithwick Engineering

Name: Smithwick Engineering
Address: Houston, TX, US
Telephone: +12813894206

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Smithwick Engineering

Lifting and Securement Services Service in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama & more!

04/22/2026

We’re proud to introduce Jacob Gross with Smithwick Engineering, serving as an Overhead Crane Specialist based out of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Jacob is known for his reliability, strong work ethic, and easygoing, team-first attitude. He takes pride in building solid relationships and being someone others can count on.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time with his wife Shelby and their three kids. He stays active coaching youth sports and is passionate about surf fishing and bird hunting. He also enjoys cooking and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, always finding ways to stay active and engaged.

We’re excited to have Jacob on board and look forward to the impact he’ll make. Please join us in welcoming him to the team!

04/16/2026

We’re excited to be at an on-site event today! We love connecting with our customers to discuss the benefits of crane, runway, and rail surveys and assessments.

04/01/2026

We’re hiring a Field Engineer in Greenville, SC. Join our growing team and be part of what we’re building!

03/30/2026

Most runway systems get accepted the same way: the contractor says it's done, and the owner signs off.

But "done" and "within tolerance" are not the same thing.
CMAA and AIST establish specific geometry and alignment criteria for crane rail & runway installations: rail straightness, span, elevation differential, runway girder end alignment. These aren't suggestions. They're the baseline conditions the crane and runway were designed to operate within.

The question isn't whether your contractor is competent. It's whether anyone independently verified the finished conditions before the crane went into service as an assurance that the system was installed per contract tolerances.

Independent inspection and survey at turnover does a few things:
It creates an objective record of installed conditions identifying critical geometry and its compliance with the specified tolerances.

It surfaces geometry issues while they're still an installation problem, not an operations problem. Misalignment that gets caught at turnover costs rework. The same misalignment found after a year of service costs rework plus wheel wear, rail damage, and downtime.

It gives the owner something to stand on. If performance issues emerge later, you have documented baseline data.

The assessment by an independent party removes bias and keeps the conversation between owner and contractor objective.

03/27/2026

We’re proud to share that we’ve been awarded the Avetta Safety Star by Avetta ⭐️

This recognition reflects our team’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, accountability, and excellence in everything we do.

A huge thank you to our crew for making safety a top priority every day. This achievement is a direct result of your hard work and dedication.

02/17/2026

1/4" doesn't sound like much.

Until it's four times the allowable tolerance on your crane runway.

During a recent inspection, we found the same issue repeated across multiple spans: runway girder-end elevations misaligned at the column, some by more than 1/4".

The spec is clear.

AIST TR-13, Section 5.17.5.3 requires that adjacent girder top of fl**ge elevations at the columns vary by no more than 1/16".

When that tolerance is exceeded, the rail loses continuous bearing. It bridges the gap or rocks between high and low points. Every wheel pass creates local high stresses in the rail and girder-end that likely have not been accounted for in the design.

This single wheel load with peak stress conditions gets repeated at every passing wheel. This repeated loading over time can potentially lead to fatigue cracking.

What starts as a shimming issue becomes a structural repair.

The fix is straightforward. Shim the lower girder to re-establish flush bearing. But it has to be found first. And it won't show up on an inspection that only looks at the crane.

The runway is part of the crane system.

When was the last time someone checked your girder splice elevations?

02/03/2026

Crane and runway inspections are about measurements, not guesses.

A proper crane and runway inspection goes far beyond a visual walkdown.
It focuses on geometry, structural condition, and compliance with industry standards.

CMAA Rail Geometry
• Rail straightness
• Rail Elevation
• Rail-to-rail elevation
• Crane span

Geometry beyond CMAA Tolerances
• Runway Beam Straightness & Sweep
• Runway Beam Roll
• Runway & Rail Eccentricity (AIST TR-13)

These measurements directly affect wheel wear, crane tracking, and long-term structural loading.

We perform a structural observation of the rail and runway system including:

Structural Condition
• Corrosion and paint condition
• Damaged or deformed steel
• Cracks and excessive wear
• Missing or loose hardware
• Non-engineered field modifications

What We Look At
• Rails and rail securement
• Runway beams and girders
• Columns, girder seats, and tie-backs
• Bolts, welds, and end stops
• Supporting building structure

Standards Used
Assessments are performed in accordance with recognized industry codes and specifications, including:
AISC Code of Standard Practice
AISC Design Guide 7
AIST Technical Report No. 13
CMAA Specification No. 70 or 74
OSHA 1910.179
ASME B30.2
AWS D1.1 and D14.1

01/27/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Many crane and runway issues do not show up as immediate failures. They show up as small, repeatable symptoms that slowly shorten the life of your crane, rails, and structure.

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲 & 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

If you are experiencing any of the following, it is worth taking a closer look:

• Uneven or accelerated wheel wear
• Crane skewing or drifting during travel
• Audible “popping” or movement at runway beams or connections
• Rail joints opening up or showing visible misalignment
• Frequent crane alignment or wheel maintenance
• Noticeable vibration under load
• Cranes that “feel” rough even though controls are functioning properly

These are often indicators of underlying rail alignment, elevation, or runway beam movement issues, not crane mechanical problems.

Q1 is an ideal time to schedule Crane & Runway Inspections and Rail Surveys so you can:

• Identify issues before they become failures
• Plan repairs around production schedules

👉 If any of the items above sound familiar, give us a call (361) 229-7214 or email us at [email protected].

Early inspections reduce downtime, extend equipment life, and eliminate surprises later in the year.

11/11/2025

Today we honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

10/15/2025

🎉 Celebrating 10 Years of Smithwick Engineering! 🎉

This month marks a decade of innovation, growth, and collaboration at Smithwick Engineering. What started as a small vision has grown into a team we’re incredibly proud of, serving clients across the industry with dedication, integrity, and technical excellence.

A huge thank you to our employees, clients, and partners who have been part of this journey. Your trust and support have made these ten years possible, and we’re just getting started.

Here’s to the next decade of engineering success! 💙

09/30/2025

📢 New Hire Announcement – Welcome Luis!

Smithwick Engineering is excited to welcome Luis as our newest Engineer, P.E.

Luis was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and brings more than 20 years of experience as a structural engineer in the offshore oil and gas industry. He is also an Iraq War Veteran, having served honorably in the United States Navy Reserves Civil Engineering Corps (CEC) as a CEC Officer with the Navy Seabees from 2003 to 2011.

He currently lives in Houston and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and four kids.

Please join us in giving Luis a warm welcome to the Smithwick team!

Address

Houston, TX

Telephone

+12813894206

Website

http://www.smithwickeng.com/

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