Proactive Measures to Crane Maintenance for more productivity and safety
With critical advancements being made in crane design for more productivity and safety, manufacturers are upgrading their maintenance and training standards for higher product availability along with the necessary service and support. NBM Media reports.
“At Liebherr cranes, usually we perform the maintenance of our cranes by identifying the source of origin of the problems. This could be in the fuse, sensors or connectors. Based on the identification of the snag, we analyse the root cause of the error by simulating them in our software based on error codes, through a trouble shooting methodology supported by LICCON-2 Liebherr Computerised Controls. Followed by identification of the problem and by resolving the same, we direct the crane operators over phone, the method to rectify the problem. Generally, through this approach, we are able to address and deliver the solutions in 95% of cases. However, wherever this approach is not feasible, we sent our service engineers to indentify and resolve the problem.” Says. Subhajit Chandra, Divisional Head- Liebherr Cranes India.
He elaborates, “ There is an increased demand for cranes to enhance productivity standards along with higher availability requirements in conjunction with enhanced lifecycle. This is due to steep variation in the external dynamic forces acting on the cranes during hoisting and precisely heavy lift operations. Taking cognizance, all our crawler and tyre mounted cranes are now EN 13000, based on advanced European norms. This is much advanced than the earlier DIN standards. The advanced standards highly focuses on safety and leaves no room to bypass the operation of the cranes mainly while lifting. While it ensures that there are no room for the operators to lift higher loads, at the same time it has kept reserved 25% lifting capacity. Based on the higher safety norms due to the advanced standards, Liebherr has carried critical improvisations in the boom, winches, motors, pumps and all supporting equipment. Based on the advancement, required training is rendered to our maintenance personnel.” Liebherr has set up a new simulation-based training centre in Kolkata and Mumbai. The simulation facility along with enabling the operators to get acquainted with the functionalities of the cranes alsosu assists towards trouble shooting to identify the case of defects during operation.
Crane design is going through a rapid transformation. In fact, the design upgradation is all pervasive from the software for controls to the systems for hoisting. Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director, Action Construction Equipment Ltd., avers that they are bringing in newer technologies in their cranes to make them more reliable across their lifecycle. Improvisations are being made in the engines, hydraulics, and transmissions.
“The cranes are being made more robust so that they can withstand higher external dynamics during operation and while hoisting heavier loads, and to give them a longer life span. So, we are improvising with ropes, strengthening the fabrication of booms, turntables and the superstructure, improving the welding through submerged arc welding and semi-robotic welding, all of which is being backed by our strong in-house R&D,” he says.
The company is also training operators and service personnel on real machines so that they can understand the design advancements being made and carry out the right maintenance.
Sany, which has been directly supporting its cranes through its own channels, have decided to increase the service touch points at strategic locations. We will be engaging our existing dealer network for other products. “Our objective for engaging dealers is to ensure that timely and proactive maintenance is done on our equipment with timely parts supply, and to also expand our service network. Partnership with dealers will help us to have more service engineers and also strengthen our services as the dealers’ engineers will be backed by our own team,” informs Sanjay Saxena, Vice President & Business Head- Heavy Equipment, Sany Heavy Industry India.
The company has set up an operator training program with Crane Owners Association of India, following completion of which, operators are examined and certified by IESC (under CII). So far, 150 operators have been trained.
Crane Maintenance for enhanced productivity standards
He elaborates, “ There is an increased demand for cranes to enhance productivity standards along with higher availability requirements in conjunction with enhanced lifecycle. This is due to steep variation in the external dynamic forces acting on the cranes during hoisting and precisely heavy lift operations. Taking cognizance, all our crawler and tyre mounted cranes are now EN 13000, based on advanced European norms. This is much advanced than the earlier DIN standards. The advanced standards highly focuses on safety and leaves no room to bypass the operation of the cranes mainly while lifting. While it ensures that there are no room for the operators to lift higher loads, at the same time it has kept reserved 25% lifting capacity. Based on the higher safety norms due to the advanced standards, Liebherr has carried critical improvisations in the boom, winches, motors, pumps and all supporting equipment. Based on the advancement, required training is rendered to our maintenance personnel.” Liebherr has set up a new simulation-based training centre in Kolkata and Mumbai. The simulation facility along with enabling the operators to get acquainted with the functionalities of the cranes alsosu assists towards trouble shooting to identify the case of defects during operation.
“The cranes are being made more robust so that they can withstand higher external dynamics during operation and while hoisting heavier loads, and to give them a longer life span. So, we are improvising with ropes, strengthening the fabrication of booms, turntables and the superstructure, improving the welding through submerged arc welding and semi-robotic welding, all of which is being backed by our strong in-house R&D,” he says.
The company is also training operators and service personnel on real machines so that they can understand the design advancements being made and carry out the right maintenance.
The company has set up an operator training program with Crane Owners Association of India, following completion of which, operators are examined and certified by IESC (under CII). So far, 150 operators have been trained.
Lifting & Specialized Transport — October-December 2018
Lifting & Specialized Transport October-December 2018
