FEATURE | STEEL CRANES
by an overhead charging crane.
An auxiliary hoist on the crane opens and closes the bucket during loading. Depending on the facilities, a basic oxygen furnace or an electric arc furnace could be used. Iron ore and coking coal are combined in a direct reduction process to produce metallic iron. A ladle crane lifts the melted iron. The molten scrap is added to it; a teeming crane helps to mix the red-hot liquids in the right proportions.
Once the mix is right, liquid steel is then cast into shape. The molten steel is moved to the moulds overhead in huge open vessels – they are called tundishes, and the overhead cranes that move them are called tundish cranes. So severe heat, dangerous loads and continuous production demands typify the process.
The charging crane, ladle crane, teeming crane, and tundish crane are all similar in
construction and can be defined by their location and function in the plant. They are usually overhead traveling
Fire, molten metal, and a 220t/60t crane from Konecranes.
cranes that are fitted with special attachments to lift the giant ladles that contain liquid metal. They often perform more than one function and are used as backup for each other. Auxiliary hoists can be attached for scrap charging and maintenance functions, such as cleaning the empty ladles or lifting the furnace shell. And it goes without saying that all of these must be reliable. Steel production by its very nature has to be continuous; you cannot shut down a furnace for an hour or two just to repair a crane. Despite operating 24 hours at a stetch, seven days a week, in the harshest of environments these cranes simply must not be allowed to fail. Redundancies, fail-safes and back-ups must be the order of the day. Even when the metal has been cast and cooled, the need for lifting and handling is far from over. The metal must be rolled, stored, cut to size, delivered. The hoists, cranes and lifting gear in the steel industry is perhaps as varied, and as rugged, as you could find.
KONECRANES SUPPLY GREEN STEEL PLANT
Konecranes will provide 16 cranes to Hybar, an environmentally sustainable scrap metal recycling and steel production company in the United States. They include ladle, charge, rolling mill, and shipping bay cranes to support Hybar’s steel rebar production. The order was won in September 2023; deliveries are scheduled for 2024 and early 2025.
produce a full complement of high-yielding rebar for large industrial projects. Once operational, Hybar expects its
greenhouse gas emissions to be the lowest among all North American steel producers, and likely the lowest in the world’s steel making community. It will be directly connected to an adjacent It will be a transformative initiative, and for
it Konecranes will deliver a diverse array of heavy-duty cranes that are engineered to withstand challenging conditions including high temperatures and dust. The cranes will have unique features and
needs. Two shipping cranes are equipped with
bundles, and two ladle/charge cranes come equipped with operator cabins specially designed for optimal visibility, ensuring safe and precise handling of molten metal. “The team at Konecranes understands the complexities of moving steel,” said Ari Levy, Hybar’s CFO. “They also share our dedication stewardship and, above all else, safety.” “Hybar’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions aligns very well with our
sustainability approach, which makes this order for high-quality steel mill cranes that said Juergen Gieske, VP, Process Cranes Sales, AME, Konecranes. “This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.”
26 | June 2024 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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