In the past 30 years, we have designed and manufactured customized cranes for many steel coil mills. In addition to providing customers with maintenance spare parts, we have never taken over the crane refurbishment business. I happened to come across a crane refurbishment case recently. We analyzed the refurbishment process of this case and analyzed what work needs to be done between the crane supplier and the customer.
The cranes have served a steel coil store at its location in Germany, for 16 years.
Besides storing steel coils that are delivered to them by a shuttle, the cranes, which operate on two parallel runways, ensure that coils are staged in time for further transport by truck or rail.
The double-girder overhead travelling cranes, which are manually controlled from a cab, have a load capacity of 36t. The four cranes handle some 2.7m tonnes of steel every year.
After a detailed review by experts from the crane company, a set of measures was developed for the crane installation. A 35m long crane bridge will be replaced with a higher load rating (H3 B5). The end carriage will be replaced by an angular bearing end carriage and a frequency converter powered drive.
New crane electrical equipment will also be installed including the control system, which now meets the requirements of DIN 13849-1 Performance Class d and Safety Category 3.
The magnet equipment, the crabs with their 36t open winch units (MPW), the control cabs and the crane lights of the existing cranes will be kept and installed on the new crane bridges.
As can be seen from the above case, there seems to be great potential for the renovation of bridge cranes. For us, this can be an option for us to provide new services to our customers, but it is not necessarily the best option. The fact that we have not provided similar services to our customers for more than 30 years speaks volumes. We can conduct some specific analysis and comparison of the two methods.
Renovating a set of overhead cranes and purchasing a new set of overhead crane equipment are two distinct options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Renovating the existing cranes:
Pros:
Cons:
Purchasing new overhead crane equipment:
Pros:
Cons:
In conclusion, the option of renovating the existing overhead cranes or purchasing new equipment depends on specific circumstances and requirements. If cost is a significant factor, renovating the existing cranes may be more suitable. However, if efficiency and advanced features are essential, purchasing new equipment may be the better option. It is important to consider all the factors involved, including the lifespan, maintenance costs, upgrade options, and specific operational needs to make an informed decision.
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