New crane nearly eliminates breakdowns at Ahlstrom Brazil

A crane past its prime

The 40 year-old dry end crane at an Ahlstrom facility in Brazil was not designed to function in the dusty environment of a paper mill. Without dust-proof enclosures or air conditioning, the electrical controls and components deteriorated at an accelerated rate. The crane still used its original contactor controls, which did not have precise speed control options necessary for careful load positioning and ultimately caused premature wear to the gears, motor and brakes. As a result, the dry end crane broke down on a monthly basis.

Ahlstrom made plans to rebuild the crane, but quickly encountered a major obstacle: due to the age of the crane, many parts were obsolete and would need to be custom-made. The crane was critical to production and could not be out of service for an extended period of time.

New crane proves its worth

Konecranes successfully demonstrated the value of purchasing a new 20-ton capacity, three-trolley dry end crane. The sealed enclosures of the crane protected against water, humidity and dust. The new inverter technology placed less stress on internal components, minimized equipment wear and reduced load sway.

To minimize downtime, Konecranes technicians installed and commissioned the new crane before removing the old crane during scheduled downtime. This strategic installation allowed Ahlstrom to remain productive throughout the entire process. Since its installation five months ago, the crane has not had a single breakdown.