Refurbished an old 10t double girder electric overhead travelling crane

 Linian crane and hoist company refurbished an old 10t Wharton double girder electric overhead travelling crane, probably dating from the 1950s.

Linian crane and hoist company were approached by Tratos UK Ltd to assess whether or not the crane could be employed again and made fit for use for lifting and handling large reels of heavy cable. The building itself had been vandalised over the years having had all the wiring and electrical supply stripped out.

Whilst carrying out a detailed survey of the crane, Linian hired a large generator, installing some temporary controls and powered up the crane so that they could determine what parts did and didn’t work satisfactorily. As expected there had been such deterioration of all of the component parts over the years of lying idle that it was necessary to completely refurbish the crane. However, the bridge beam and supporting gantry rails were still in good order.

Tratos required Street hoists and so, the company purchased and supplied to Linian a completely new hoist unit.

Linian designed and manufactured a completely new hoist crab unit to fit the existing non- standard rail gauge and to accommodate the new hoist unit within the tight headroom restrictions.

Linian also manufactured replacement end carriages to a specific size and specification that would ideally suit the refurbished crane and its loadings and duty. The old hoist crab unit was taken down using a large hired-in forklift truck and then the crane bridge itself was taken down and placed on suitable bearers at floor level making it easier to work on. The old end carriages were removed from the bridge beams, Linian’s new carriages were fitted and then the crane bridge was lifted back up and set down on the crane rails. The new Linian hoist crab unit complete with the new hoist was then lifted up and placed on to the crane bridge beam rails.

Linian manufactured and fitted a complete new control panel using telemecanique component parts and replaced all old cables with new. Linian also fitted a new cross crane cable festoon power feed system and a new downshop protected conductor bar power feed system. The power feed systems and control pendant were supplied by Hamilton Powersafe Ltd.

Meanwhile, a new electrical power supply was installed into the building and up the crane. When Linian’s engineers were totally satisfied that all of the crane refurbishment work had been completed properly and to the required industry and safety standards the crane was fully tested and certified safe to use in full accordance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.

Linian also provided training for Tratos staff in overhead crane operation, lifting and slinging and supplied them with suitable slings for lifting and handling the reels of cable.

Ian Watson, managing director of Linian crane and hoist company, said “Tratos UK Ltd now has a completely refurbished high quality crane which in every respect is as good as a brand new crane and yet it has cost them a full 25% less”.

John Light, director of Tratos UK Ltd, added: “Linian was professional to work with and stuck to its scheduling which was refreshing and necessary at the time due to all of the other works going on in the factory”.

Refurbished an old 10t double girder electric overhead travelling crane