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MATERIALS HANDLING
Older cranes deliver new gains as industry prepares for rising production demands Nearly all industries depend on electric overhead travelling cranes (EOTs) for their heavyweight maintenance, manufacturing and process needs. EOT fleets have experienced exponential growth over the last 20 years, until the COVID-19 pandemic mothballed some sectors of industry and cut production in others. Now EOT fleet growth is poised to resume, as Asia-Pacific nations focus on renewed export drives and extensive infrastructure and industry projects to stimulate growth domestically. We are already seeing activity growth in a number of countries. Sectors such as manufacturing, metals, automotive, steel, mining and energy, construction, public and private infrastructure, logistics, waste-to-energy and utilities projects are among major sectors earmarked for expansion – in areas extending from China and India, down through South-East Asia-Pacific, to Australasia, according to Konecranes. With this resurgence in demand for EOT cranes, will come a renewed focus on achieving the highest standards of reliability, cost-efficiency and safety – a process driven not only by technology innovations in new cranes, but also by modernisations among the existing fleets of EOT cranes as the region has experienced the largest and longest economic expansion in its collective history. “As thousands of new cranes have entered service over the past 20 years, the countries of the region have built up a massive and maturing pool of existing cranes,” says Mark Beckwith, Operations Manager at Konecranes and Demag (a member of the Konecranes Group). “Many of these have been under-utilised in recent times, but are substantially sound and can achieve strong cost-efficiency, lifespan and safety gains by being modernised rather than replaced. “Some older cranes just won’t be able to compete with the efficiency of new crane technologies, but, for others, overhead crane modernisation can present a cost-saving alternative to buying new equipment. This will assist a wider range of business to benefit from the more efficient, updated technology that is available in brand-new cranes tailored to particular industries.”
Less weight, increased productivity, enhanced safety Crane modernisation increases operational productivity and profitability, as operators of upgraded equipment see a decrease in maintenance costs and control capital expenditures in highly competitive industries. “If you haven’t looked into crane modernisation, you’ll likely be surprised by the range of safety and productivity enhancements possible through updating older cranes,” says Beckwith. As well as being a leading global supplier of new cranes and the most advanced crane technologies, Konecranes is the world’s largest crane service organisation, with more than 600,000 assets of all major brands under service contract worldwide. This experience offers a unique combination of insights into the needs and economic lifespans of different cranes of all brands, the different needs in different industries, and how to achieve the best safety, reliability and cost-efficiency outcomes for the optimum investment.
Modernisations can extend the service life of overhead canes while meeting regulatory, safety, maintenance, and production requirements. They can also encompass automation and increased capacity.
AMT AUG/SEP 2021
Modernisation substantially reduces the weight of older cranes, since new motors, trolleys, hoists and other components are significantly lighter than original equipment. Reduction of dead weight like this can often increase the capacity of an overhead crane – an important consideration, as the load demands on equipment have often increased over the years. The objectives of any crane modernisation should be more efficient operation and improved productivity, both of which lead to increased profitability. Enhanced safety also is a key consideration. Sway control technology, one of the more popular safety upgrades in crane modernisation projects, prevents loads from swinging, while enabling operators to move loads faster and position them more accurately. A variety of automated features can be added in crane modernisation projects. For instance, cranes in busy, congested facilities can be automated to run on selected safe travel paths. And automated zone control allows a crane to be programmed to operate only in certain areas, to protect personnel and property. Another high-tech upgrade is distance-detection control, which senses proximity of other cranes on a runway to prevent collisions. Updated cabs also enhance safety and productivity. They provide operators a better view of their surroundings and feature ergonomically designed seats with built-in controls. These features promote operator comfort, reducing back and neck strain, and making the crane easier and less tiring to operate. Konecranes crane modernisation services encompass a progressive range of cost-efficient modernisations, extending up to TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring – one of the biggest advances in crane safety and cost-efficient management over the past decade. TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring can be added to Konecranes equipment as well as cranes made by other manufacturers. TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring collects condition, usage and operating data from control systems and sensors on an asset and provides alerts of certain anomalies. Remote Monitoring data is used in maintenance planning and in predicting possible component or equipment failure.
