Konecranes provides a wide range of reliable and versatile crane systems and other material handling solutions specially designed to operate under extreme conditions in the steel industry – from raw material handling to steelmaking, rolling and refining processes. Crane types include ladle, charging, billet, slab, bar and plate handling, coil and scrap yard. They offer high levels of flexibility, performance and safety and all conform to the requirements of international and national standards.
Konecranes continually invests in research and development and can also design customised equipment to meet specific customer requirements. Furthermore, the cranes can be equipped with automation function options, which, according to John MacDonald, sales and marketing manager for Konecranes southern Africa, lead to enhanced safety and productivity.
Performance, flexibility and safety
Because of the high risk level associated with transporting molten metal, the ladle and charging cranes have special safety features. The main hoist mechanism of the ladle cranes includes redundant rope reeving, double service brakes on primary shafts and backup brake acting on the rope drum. Rope equaliser beams are provided with a dampening unit to slow down equaliser beam tilting in case of wire rope failure. An upper emergency stop limit switch is also used in the main hoist. In addition, overload protection, main hoist overspeed supervision and end limit switches are standard features of the equipment.
Safety is also a key issue in the charging cranes, together with a redundant control system and load-precise control. Advanced crane control features executed with modern automation technology help guide the operator in the precise placement and safe transport of the load along its path. Charging cranes are shielded from flames and are designed to operate in high ambient temperature. They include a higher lifting capacity for infrequent maintenance tasks such as lifting the furnace shell.
Taking care of safety without reducing productivity
Billet and slab cranes feed the rolling mill and are therefore critical to its operation. Sometimes they incorporate a rotating trolley or a rotating loading device in order to position the product correctly in relationship to the conveyor. Slab and billet handling cranes must be able to handle radiant heat. These are high production cranes with high speed requirements. Konecranes’ Sway Control technology is used for smooth, accurate positioning of the load and assists the operator in maximising throughput.
The billet crane can be equipped with lifting magnets or with a billet tong when billets are extremely hot. Furthermore, the slab cranes can be equipped with a mechanical or hydraulic tong for single or multi-slab handling.
Combining operating efficiency and protection of the coil
Coil, bar and plate handling cranes are used to perform material handling in rolling mills, finishing mills and storages. Sometimes these cranes incorporate a rotating trolley or rotating loading device in order to position the product correctly in relation to the plant layout.
Easily moving large amounts of scrap steel, scrapyard cranes can be equipped with lifting magnets, hydraulic grab or both together to move scrap steel from one place to another. To keep productivity at a high level, the travelling speed of the scrap yard cranes can go up to 140 m/min, and lifting capacity can be up to 40 tons with a loading device.
Dependable crane service for the steel industry, Konecranes offers service on all makes and models of overhead cranes. This is focused on lowering costs through preventive maintenance and improving performance through better technology. The Konecranes service commitment includes a comprehensive offering for all makes and models of heavy-lifting equipment. This includes inspections, maintenance programmes, modernisation, consulting and training, spare parts service, operator training, crane reliability surveys and 24 hour response. In addition, Konecranes offers its sophisticated Truconnect remote service for online reporting and troubleshooting.
For more information contact John Macdonald, Konecranes, +27 (0)11 864 2800, john.macdonald@konecranes.com, www.konecranes.co.za
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