CENTRAL EUROPE | REGION REPORT
R Verlinde’s new overhead crane at the Mauzac hydroelectric plant
VERLINDE: Verlinde are long-established French hoist makers. Its partner Meije has for 40 years been involved in the installation, repair and maintenance of lifting equipment at the Mauzac hydroelectric plant in the Dordogne. The plant was opened in 1924 and
several pieces of equipment dating from that period are still in use. An example was the overhead crane used for maintaining the turbines. As an early 20th-century design it operated with a single lifting speed and without a load limiter. Too old now and obsolete, it no longer met current safety standards. It also had design issues as it brushed against the plant wall when moving. Its use was suspended in 2019. As a temporary replacement, a mobile crane or jib crane was occasionally used – an expensive and unsatisfactory solution. The hydroelectric plant therefore issued
an invitation for bids. Because of the narrowness of the installation and of the potential difficulties for positioning, the invitation was initially simply for the retrofit of the overhead crane. Given the structural and design flaws of
the current machine, Meije responded by offering a complete replacement, rather than a refurbishment, for an equivalent
24 | February 2022 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
budget. Having similar experience on another EDF (Électricité de France), electric utility company site, Meije was able to resolve installation difficulties. It built a custom-designed overhead
crane with an MWL of 63 tons, a span of 14.5m and a height of 12m. The crane is fitted with Verlinde Eurobloc VT5 hoists with two speeds for all directions, a load limiter and radio control. Lighting of the work area by LED
projectors and load readout were added at the customer’s request. An additional 3.2 ton auxiliary hook on a Verlinde Eurobloc VT2 hoist is there for small manoeuvres. To tackle the installation challenges
Meije assembled the crane outside the building and made an opening in the roof. The modern and down-sized design of the new overhead crane fits perfectly into the buildings, and unlike its predecessor it does not touch the walls. Installation was completed in the Spring
of 2021. The entire project took Meije only six months to design, manufacture and commission and the plant is once again fully serviceable with a practical, functional and standards-compliant overhead crane.
P Kito and Erikkila signposting the way
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
