Sere Maintenance has partnered with KP1, which supplies prefabricated construction systems, to design and manufacture a custom-made overhead process crane for the transportation and handling of concrete at one of its production plants in France.
Sere Maintenance, in Vertou, specializes in the design and sale of lifting equipment, handling systems and overhead cranes in Brittany. It is a distributor of Verlinde and a member of Europont, a network of crane manufacturers in France, Belgium and The Netherlands.
KP1 has 39 plants including 20 production units across France. The group's investment is ongoing for the optimization of manufacturing performance and logistics, in programs for major repairs to its concrete plants and production lines, and constantly integrates new processes for its products.
The company assigned the renewal and maintenance of its lifting devices and systems to Sere Maintenance five years ago. It previously used an overhead crane that had become obsolete and whose design was inappropriate for its concrete slab manufacturing process.
The crane had to move loads of 3.6 tons of concrete from the production plant to the hoppers, a distance of approximately 10 meters, where the slabs are poured. When the system was upgraded, KP1 needed it to be automated to assure greater security of concrete loads as their liquid nature made them unstable and because they were off-center in relation to the crane.
As the approach dimensions were reduced, the crane had to be made to measure.
Sere Maintenance proposed a 5-ton double beam bridge (5 x 14 meters) with a Verlinde Eurobloc VT3 electric hoist and wire rope dual outlet. As the load is offset from the crane, the two lifting points ensure its stability. The hoist offers variable travel speed for very precise positioning of loads together with an ergonomic hook.
In top position, the load is held in a funnel by means of electric jacks which ensure it is closed. Its handling is then secure.
The double-beam crane is suspended which reduces its approach dimensions in particular of the casting area where an operator assumes manual control of the load. The double-rail trolley is also suspended.
Sere Maintenance carried out the project in five months, from design to commissioning. KP1 is satisfied with the benefits provided by the new process crane: more compact, increased safety and easier handling.
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