10 KONECRANES


design limits,” says Zamzow. “This way, we also use trend analysis to provide the best possible picture of any change within the condition of the gearbox.” The result for Palm was that


seven of the eight cranes were found to be healthy, as in the gear oil contained few to no foreign elements or waste substances indicating contamination or wear. However, the gear oil of the automated No 5 crane, used in the roll warehouse, was found to have a noticeable increase in its wear partial count, triggering the lab to issue a ‘Caution’ notification on the analysis report. Says Zamzow: “Steel particles in the oil can be an indication of increased wear and a deeper look was required for this particular hoist.”


Crane Reliability Study has the solution The reason for the wear must be clearly identified and removed, or the gear may be permanently damaged. “If the gear is jammed while


there is a roll on the hook, it becomes very difficult to recover it and repair the crane,” explains Zamzow. To determine whether damage has already occurred, the Konecranes experts used the company’s Crane Reliability Study (CRS). The modular analysis enables them to check safety- relevant components, such as the hoisting gear as well as the steel structure, the motors, and the electrical equipment of the crane. In addition, the maintenance


experts question the crane drivers and technicians. The analysis result flows into a detailed report for crane owners – with recommendations for action. In the case of Palm, Konecranes


March/April 2019


A closer look: The cranes in the roll warehouse of Palm’s paper mill at Wörth am Rhein in Germany are in use at all times


Pulp Paper & Logistics


used a high-definition video endoscope to investigate the hoisting gear. “Just like in medicine, we use the endoscope to reach inaccessible places without having to dismantle the entire gear,” says Zamzow. “For the CRS, we use a special, oil-resistant model that was developed for industrial use and can be fitted with different lenses.” Following the endoscopic investigation, the Konecranes


service experts were certain that the hoisting gear had to be replaced. Further, the cable drum, the cable drum support, the slip- ring unit, the cylinder coupling, and the motor coupling had to be renewed. “Thanks to discovering the


wear early on, there was no risk to safety and we were able to replace the old gear with a new one without affecting production,” explains Zamzow. Mark Goringe, service area


director in Midwest Europe for Konecranes Industrial, adds: “The benefit of oil analysis as a predictive maintenance tool for identifying problems early on is proven to minimise the risk to production and safety. We, in the United Kingdom, now offer this as a standard solution to support our existing customers.”


Transport will remain safe The Palm paper factory will continue to use services such as


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