Konecranes replaced 11 single girder cranes with more efficient, low maintenance and high safety models at B&D Doors and Openers’ manufacturing facility in Revesby, Sydney.
This was part of a complete materials handling package delivered by Konecranes to B&D Doors towards ensuring efficiency, safety and standards compliance for the client.
Konecranes initially carried out Crane Reliability Survey (CRS) reports on the old cranes, which ranged from 2T to 6T, and determined in partnership with B&D that it would be more economically viable to supply 11 new cranes than to pay for maintenance and upkeep of the ageing cranes.
According to B&D Maintenance Supervisor, Mr Brian Allen, price being a major factor in the decision to upgrade, Konecranes was able to give them great value for money. However, more than anything, it was the professionalism, expertise and efficiency of the Konecranes staff that made B&D feel confident they had made the right decision.
B&D, a manufacturer of high quality commercial and residential garage doors prides itself on engineering ingenuity and innovation, and also places a high emphasis on efficiency, safety and standards compliance. Towards this, Konecranes performed additional upgrades including modifying one existing crane from 2 to 3.2t to meet B&D’s requirements and upgrading four power supply systems to the Koneductor down shop power supply system, as the previous ones did not comply with the latest standards.
Konecranes’ conductor bar system for crane power supply, Koneductor is a method of conducting electricity from the power grid to the crane. The absence of plug connectors provides an extremely smooth connection that minimises brush wear on the connector trolley. The system’s structure is very sustainable and safe, avoiding problems associated with added resistance at joints and increased voltage drop characteristics when joints loosen or corrode.
According to Mr Allen, Konecranes was really good when it came to compliance, recommending inspections, surveys and upgrades.
The Konecranes Group, which has more than 420,000 cranes of all makes under service contract worldwide, utilises RailQ and RopeQ surveys on crane componentry vital to reliability and safety. These technologies utilise laser alignment verification of the rails or runways on which overhead cranes must run smoothly and safely, and real time monitoring of the wire ropes vital to the safety and reliability of all lifting equipment.
For B&D, Konecranes recommended a RailQ inspection on five crane runways, which varied from hook bolted to welded rail types. Konecranes followed it up with the repairs and modifications required to have the rails comply with the latest standards.
All of the upgrades, and the installation of the 11 new cranes, were undertaken according to an agreed program that ensured minimum downtime and disruption for B&D. Konecranes has also obtained the maintenance agreement for ongoing service of the cranes.
Sydney Sales Manager Glenn Cresswell says that the maintenance contract has helped build a strong relationship with B&D Doors, with a focus on safety and compliance. All programmed work was finalised and the new cranes commissioned over the Christmas period in 2013 to minimise any interruptions to the facility.
