Yuantai Crane Machinery, a Chinese crane manufacturer, has successfully delivered a 5-ton LH series overhead crane with an electric hoist trolley to a cement mixing facility in Yemen.
The new crane, designed to operate in high-temperature and dusty conditions, replaces manual chain hoists and forklifts, addressing limitations in load capacity and reach.
The Yemeni plant, located in Sana’a, required a compact crane capable of handling 1-ton to 5-ton cement bags, mixer covers, and maintenance parts.
The LH crane, with an 8 m/min lifting speed and 20 m/min trolley travel, meets ISO A4 duty class standards and operates between –20 °C and +40 °C.
Before the crane’s installation, the plant relied on chain hoists with a 1-ton capacity and forklifts, which could not reach the mezzanine-level mixers.
It caused handling delays, load swings, and increased insurance costs due to minor injuries.
The new crane, capable of lifting up to 5 tons, reduces handling time by 45% and has recorded zero lifting-related injuries in six months.
The LH crane features two parallel box girders, a three-phase motor, and a pendant control with a dead-man switch.
It meets GB/T 14406 standards and holds CE/TUV approvals. The crane’s components are IP54-rated to resist dust ingress, and it uses a strain gauge limiter for overload protection.
Yuantai required two days to install the crane, where its engineers conducted a site survey to confirm beam capacity and runway alignment.
After installation, operators received training, and the crane now handles tasks such as lifting mixer covers, moving cement bags, and transferring motor assemblies.
The LH crane resulted in a significant reduction in lift cycle times, from 120 seconds to 65 seconds per lift, and an increase in the plant’s daily handling capacity by 30%.
The plant has achieved a 95% uptime in the first year, compared to 80% with previous equipment, saving €4,500 in maintenance costs.
The crane’s performance has optimised operations under challenging conditions, meeting the plant’s need for efficient material handling solutions.
