New orders for Konecranes UK

Konecranes UK has won an order to supply Alcan Rolled Products' Division a new open winch crane for its smelter plant at Rogerstone in Gwent, Wales.

The crane is 60t capacity with a 32.6m span and is to be fitted with a twin hoist arrangement to lift trays of aluminium from the furnace.

Konecranes' DynA family technology is fitted throughout. The crane is to have DynAHoist and DynAC Vector invertor speed control on all motions to deliver fast cycle times and accurate load positioning. The cabin control is backed up by Konecranes Remox radio control equipment. Safety features include anti-collision with other cranes in the operational area, full platforms on both girders, trolley platforms, load weighing and condition monitoring. New K-bar long travel conductors are also included and rated for the new and existing cranes.

Gordon Adie, managing director of Konecranes UK said: “This crane has to operate smoothly and safely in an arduous environment on a continual basis, so we are building it to A8/M8 duty classification and we are using the latest in drive technology to ensure a smooth repetitive operation. To assist Alcan in the operation of the crane our maintenance services group, Lloyds Konecranes will also be servicing the crane for the warranty period and to allow accurate planning we will have our condition monitoring system that will allow service activities to match the crane utilisation, ensuring an efficient maintenance regime.” The crane is being built at a cost in excess of £400k and will be delivered in May 2001.

The modernisation division of Konecranes UK has won a contract to refit a British Steel crane installation at its mill in Scunthorpe and to upgrade a portside crane in Belgium.

The British Steel project, worth more than £110,000 ($165,000) is for the fitting of vacuum lifting equipment with new controls and new wiring. The work, when completed in January, will enable the crane to lift steel plates from the rolling mill that are in excess of 400°C.

In Belgium, a crane which was built in 1978 and which has been working in an arduous environment lifting timber and other imports is to have the main girder replaced by Konecranes UK. This will give the crane at least another 10 working years and enable it to operate at a higher classification than before for a relatively low supply and upgrade cost.

A recently completed project by Konecranes UK was the installation of a new crane at UK Paper's Kemsley Mill at Sittingbourne in Kent.

The 50t rated, 21.8m span crane is fitted with Konecranes’ DynA family technology. True vertical lift is achieved using Dynalift Invertor variable speed control on the hoist mechanism and Dynamove Invertor variable speed control on the cross and long travel motions. This delivers fast cycle times and accurate load positioning with increased productivity a welcome bonus for UK Paper.

The crane is also fitted with Konecranes’ Remox radio control with pendant back-up and enjoys load summation between the hoists to ensure safe weight control at all times.