New cranes for Jebel Ali

Dubai Aluminium has taken delivery of six new overhead cranes from Street Crane Company as part of recent extensions to its $5bn Jebel Ali complex.

The extensions will allow the giant aluminium smelter – which has its own 1450MW power station – to produce 536,000t of aluminium per year from its six pot lines. It is scheduled to enter service early in 2000.

The new overhead cranes have been engineered for heavy use in difficult operating conditions. Cranes in the complex’s hot metal bay, casting bay and finishing bay all have mechanisms engineered to M8. Cranes in the mould shop and workshop are rated M5.

Load stability is crucial because the cranes handle hot metal. All cranes have Street’s proprietary SC Smartdrive inverter control on all motions to minimise load swing. Open barrel hoists are used to ensure true vertical lift and, for safety reasons, pendant control is from the ground.

The lifting equipment has been engineered to work in ambient temperatures of up to 60°C. Oversize motors have been used to avoid overheating and electrical wiring has been specially rated to cope. Control cabinets have chillers to keep circuitry temperatures at an acceptable level.