German crane manufacturer BANG Kransysteme has completed the retrofit of process cranes at the BMW Group’s press shop.
The project involved updating existing cranes instead of replacing them, an approach intended to enhance both safety and efficiency while offering a more cost-effective alternative to installing new equipment.
The primary focus of the retrofit was the full replacement of the cranes’ electrical systems.
This included the installation of a main cabinet fitted with the Siemens Sinamics S120 drive system, a modular, high-performance drive used for complex motion-control applications in industrial machinery.
The Sinamics S120 enables precise control of speed, torque, and position, and is utilised in demanding sectors such as packaging, printing, and metal rolling.
As part of the upgrade, regenerative power feedback was integrated into the crane system. This feature can enable energy savings of up to 40%.
Other improvements included complete rewiring of the crane, installation of an igus energy chain, and the addition of a camera-based anti-sway system to assist with stabilising loads during crane operations.
The company said: “Adding safety and efficiency to existing process cranes is sometimes more economical solution than a new crane.”
BANG Kransysteme describes itself as a full-service provider offering crane solutions with extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities.
The company supplies crane systems designed for heavy industrial use, including automated solutions for sectors such as automotive and steel, and claims its cranes are capable of handling loads of several hundred tons.
BANG Kransysteme manufactures its cranes in Germany and has operations across multiple global markets.
The retrofit conducted at the BMW Group press shop reflects a wider trend of extending the operational life of industrial equipment through targeted upgrades, rather than total replacement, where feasible.
In June, BANG Kransysteme installed a process crane in the warehouse bay at Schwermetall Halbzeugwerk, with the system becoming operational after a two-week installation and commissioning phase. The crane had a lifting capacity of 35t and ran in semi-automatic mode.
