Konecranes announced that its 42-ton overhead crane has started operations at Welser Profile’s Gresten plant, significantly enhancing the handling of steel coils weighing over 30 tons.
The crane features a 37.5m span and incorporates advanced systems like a DynaReg regenerative braking system and a fully redundant coil magnet control system.
It is equipped with smart features sway control, slack rope prevention, shock load prevention, load floating, Extended Speed Range (ESR), brake monitoring, and target positioning to enhance safety and precision.
The overhead crane is easily integrated with the plant’s warehouse management system.
Manufactured in Finland and the Czech Republic, the crane components were transported under special permits over several nights.
Two 40m trucks, driven by 750hp tractors, carried the oversized loads, accompanied by six escort vehicles to ensure safe transit along meticulously planned routes.
Konecranes, in a LinkedIn post, said: “Getting it there was no small feat. Manufactured in Finland and the Czech Republic, the crane components were transported over several nights under special permits.
“Two 40-meter trucks powered by 750hp tractors carried the oversized loads, supported by six escort vehicles to ensure safe passage along carefully planned routes.”
The installation process, completed in May 2025, involved dismantling the previous 36-ton crane and replacing a 175m crane runway and crane power supplies.
Konecranes conducted a design life analysis of the existing crane and runway, determining both had reached the end of their service life.
In collaboration with Welser Profile, the company assessed the actual crane usage and future production plans to meet the demands for handling steel and aluminium coils.
The crane features an ergonomic operator cabin mounted on a double-frame trolley.
Also, it comes with LED flood lighting for work area illumination, an emergency coil lowering function in case of power loss, and crane safety lights to indicate active lifting areas.
The order was placed in 2023 and concluded with the handover in February 2025.
