Crane use in cement plants
February 5, 2019 | Markus Lackner
Environmental protection and resource-efficient technologies are also important factors in order to remain competitive in the construction materials industry. Amongst other things, the existing oven system in the Upper Austrian cement plant was modernised and expanded.
A Goldhofer low-loader with a MAN tractor unit and Liebherr mobile cranes from Felbermayr were used for the transport and craning of the heavy components required for this. The heaviest involved here was the bottom section of the 'clinker cooler'. With a net weight of 96 tons and a length of nine metres as well as width and height of around five metres, this was certainly a challenge for the company's internal transport equipment. "Additional difficulties were caused by the winter weather" explains Felbermayr's head of operations Karl Berghuber. The gravel base of the storage area had softened up considerably in the preceding days due to the continuous rainfall. However, thanks to the familiarity and experience of the team, it was possible to drive the extremely heavy tractor unit with the 16-axle low-loader under the clinker cooler component which was set down on 'elephant feet'. Then the load bay was lifted by means of hydraulics so that the transport subject was then supported by it. After that the load was secured ready for transport to the destination within the company site.
Tandem lift
The spatial conditions made it necessary to use two truck-mounted cranes. Berghuber says: "We used an LTM 1400 and an LTM 1500 from the crane manufacturer Liebherr. The cranes were ballasted with 120 and 135 tons respectively. The maximum jib radius here was around 18 metres. "With the help of good preparation and the excellent cooperation of the two crane drivers as well as all of the companies involved, the lift was successfully completed within about thirty minutes.
A few days later further heavy components, weighing 60, 70, 82 and 86 tons, were lifted in. An LTM 1750 was used for moving these parts. "And that was the end of the majority of our task", says Berghuber, delighted to have been involved with the modernisation of what will soon be the most modern cement plant in Europe.
