When most companies call looking for a new crane system, it usually makes sense. When Facebook called looking for a fully motorized, 2-ton T-Trac crane, it understandably raised a few eyebrows. Why does a software company need to lift 2 tons of anything? Turns out Facebook is also a hardware company. The best wanted the best equipment, so they came to Kundel. We were given the basic dimensions and got to work. Usually, our engineers and drafting department like to see photos or even a video of the area the crane is going in to make sure the client hasn’t overlooked any details. We received a quick and stern “no”, so we carried on with the process. After receiving the order, making the build drawings and sending the order into production, the rumors started to fly. Everyone wanted to know why Facebook wanted a 2-ton crane system. We applied the custom white paint scheme, shipped the crane across the country and started scanning the internet. After a few months, all became clear as to what Facebook has been up to.
Facebook has built a new, 22,000-square-foot hardware lab at its Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters. The lab is called Area 404, a nod to the 404 error message you get when searching online for something that the server can’t find. The new lab, sporting over 50 work benches, 3D printers, waterjet cutters and yes, a state-of-the-art T-Trac crane system, is used to manufacture servers, networking switches, wireless antennas, drones and VR gear.
Kundel cranes can be found in just about every industry one can imagine. We have established a list of clients any manufacturing company would be proud of. However, there is only one Facebook and when they wanted a Kundel crane, we knew we are doing something right.
Written by: Drew Graham