Konecranes Wins Hot Metal Crane Order from Xstrata's Sudbury, Ontario Nickel Mine
HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 24, 2008) Xstrata Nickel, a business unit of Falconbridge, Limited, has ordered two 100 tonne, four-girder ladle cranes from Konecranes. The purchase is part of a major upgrade of the converter aisle at Xstrata's Sudbury smelter in Ontario, Canada. The cranes will be used to rotate, tip and pour ladles of molten nickel, conveying it through a multi-stage refining process.
The cranes are AIST 6, Class 3, and are rated for severe continuous duty. Their unique four-girder configuration on a 60-foot span includes two larger girders 25 feet apart, equipped with a main 100 tonne trolley, plus two smaller girders holding a 40-ton auxiliary trolley that runs between the two sets of ropes for the main hoist. The main hoist lifts the ladle, while the auxiliary is able to tip and pour the ladle in either direction as the container of hot molten nickel, or matte, moves from one converter to the next along the converter aisle. The crane also carries ladles to an area where slag is poured off. At the end of the converter process, the crane transports the molten matte, now 80 percent pure nickel, to the granulator where it is blown into peanut-sized pieces for further refining elsewhere in the plant.
According to David Clamp, Regional Sales Manager for Konecranes, the cranes exemplify the proven AC-powered, hot metal technology that Konecranes has become known for.
"Key features of the cranes are redundant controls and mechanics, including motors, drums, gear machineries, and electrical systems, plus wired-in spare inverters ready to go to work at the flip of a switch," says Clamp. "All of the features that have set new standards for reliability in hot metal cranes are included in this package. We were able to offer Xstrata references for this technology and how it has performed in very similar environments-a proven track record."
The cranes are designed to operate reliably in the sulfurous atmosphere of the converter aisle, with special protection for all exposed devices. They replace two 60-ton DC-powered cranes built 40 years ago and, with other process improvements, will nearly double throughput from 65,000 tons per year to 100,000 tons per year. They will be installed in an existing building, which offered special challenges in terms of design and startup.
"The sixteen-wheel design, spreading the wheel loads, was the result of Xstrata's request to offer cranes that could work in the existing space, without modifications to the structure," said Tom Laughlin, Konecranes' Project Manager. "Using this design strategy, Xstrata did not need to increase existing rail size or reinforce the runway girders in the building."
Installing the new cranes without shutting down production required additional proactive engineering. Laughlin says Xstrata will construct a 60 x 100-foot addition to its 600-foot building where the cranes can be installed without impacting production. When Konecranes completes crane installation and load testing scheduled for May of 2009, the wall between the two areas will be removed and the old cranes taken out during the first two or three days of a planned two-week shutdown.
The cranes will also include many of Konecranes' proven load control technologies: DynAHoist and DynAC for inverter control of hoisting and traveling motions, DynAPilot anti-sway, and DynAMonitor condition monitoring. DynAReg recycles braking power back into the power grid, and AutOPilot control will be used for positioning assist, to quickly position the crane at pre-programmed ladle positions.
"Xstrata will be able to handle 80 to 90 percent of the facility's production with either crane, and each crane can continue to operate even with half of its motors not running, which is peace of mind for a facility that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," said David Clamp. "These are true process cranes. Even though Xstrata commissioned two cranes, they wanted the redundant features to ensure the highest level of crane availability. And as one of the world's largest nickel suppliers with global customer commitments, safeguarding the process was of the highest importance," Clamp stated.
Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity-enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment and machine tools of all makes. In 2007, Group sales totaled EUR 1,750 million. The Group has more than 9,350 employees at more than 470 locations in 43 countries. Konecranes is listed on the OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange (symbol: KCR1V).
Linda T. Graham
President
Wordsworth Ltd.
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38218 Wildwood Point
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Doug Maclam, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Konecranes America Inc.
281-445-2225
