MarketWatch
Konecranes to Provide Powerhouse Cranes for Rio Tinto Alcan's smelter
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Rio Tinto Alcan has selected Konecranes to provide two 225-ton SMARTON(R) powerhouse cranes with tandem lift capability for its aluminium smelter in northern British Columbia. The turnkey contract also includes installation, remote diagnostics and an operator training package from The Konecranes Training Institute.
Rio Tinto Alcan's BC Operations, based in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada supplies the majority of the aluminium products for the Pacific Rim area. The smelter is currently undergoing a $3.3 billion USD modernization that will be powered exclusively by the hydro power from the company's wholly-owned power facility, located 55 miles south of Kitimat on the Douglas Channel.
SMARTON(R) from Konecranes, with all of its standard safety features including anti-sway and shock load prevention, fits the bill. Its maintenance-friendly configuration was also a benefit, as was the remote diagnostic capability. The two SMARTON(R) cranes purchased by Rio Tinto Alcan each have a capacity of 225 tons. Each crane has two auxiliary hoists, facilitating handling of diverse equipment for maintenance purposes, including water pumps, circulating pumps and the rotors themselves. Each crane has one monorail hoist plus an auxiliary trailer that follows the main hoist. The two cranes together can perform tandem lifts with a combined capacity of 450 tons.
"This is a remote location, handling heavy and valuable loads," says Botros. "Capital operating equipment at the site has a significant financial value, and employee safety is paramount. So, safety technologies like anti-sway and shock load prevention have a corresponding importance to protect equipment and personnel."
The cranes will be built in Franklin, OH and will be delivered and installed in July 2012. Installation at this location also presents a unique set of challenges. The delivery will be by barge, and the cranes will be installed inside an excavated mountain cavern.
Rio Tinto Alcan's BC Operations, based in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada supplies the majority of the aluminium products for the Pacific Rim area. The smelter is currently undergoing a $3.3 billion USD modernization that will be powered exclusively by the hydro power from the company's wholly-owned power facility, located 55 miles south of Kitimat on the Douglas Channel.
SMARTON(R) from Konecranes, with all of its standard safety features including anti-sway and shock load prevention, fits the bill. Its maintenance-friendly configuration was also a benefit, as was the remote diagnostic capability. The two SMARTON(R) cranes purchased by Rio Tinto Alcan each have a capacity of 225 tons. Each crane has two auxiliary hoists, facilitating handling of diverse equipment for maintenance purposes, including water pumps, circulating pumps and the rotors themselves. Each crane has one monorail hoist plus an auxiliary trailer that follows the main hoist. The two cranes together can perform tandem lifts with a combined capacity of 450 tons.
"This is a remote location, handling heavy and valuable loads," says Botros. "Capital operating equipment at the site has a significant financial value, and employee safety is paramount. So, safety technologies like anti-sway and shock load prevention have a corresponding importance to protect equipment and personnel."
The cranes will be built in Franklin, OH and will be delivered and installed in July 2012. Installation at this location also presents a unique set of challenges. The delivery will be by barge, and the cranes will be installed inside an excavated mountain cavern.
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