The new load lifting equipment at JSC KMEZ will operate at high speed
At Kyshtym Copper Electrolytic Plant, as part of the technical modernization of the Tankhouse, installation of two technological cranes manufactured by the Austrian company «KUENZ», specializing in the production of load lifting equipment for the electrolysis process, is nearly finished.
The new cranes are designed for loading copper anodes and cathode plates into electrolysis cells, as well as for unloading cathode plates with cathode copper and anode residues. The payload of each crane is 28 tons. As an additional option, both cranes are equipped with two auxiliary lifting hoists – five-ton telphers, which will be an excellent help in routine task and will allow us not to use a “sledgehammer to crack a walnut”. For example, for handling any four-ton container from place to place will not be used “the big guns”, but just such a telpher.
“These new cranes equipped with a universal gripper that handles both anodes and cathodes,” says Mikhail Chulichkov, Chief Mechanical Engineer of JSC KMEZ. “The gripper of the lifting equipment, which is currently used in the Tankhouse, is designed either for one thing (anodes) or for the other (cathodes), so respectively, depending on the product, it has to be changed. Thanks to the universal grip, we will be able to bypass the stage of “dress changing”, which will increase the processing speed of electrolysis cell and minimize the degree of human engagement. The new cranes operate at higher speed: they handle the load with a speed of 200 meters per minute, which is twice as fast as the equipment we are used to.”
A great advantage of the purchased equipment is its ability to operate in three modes: manual, semi-automatic and automatic. Prior to this, the Kyshtym workers operated the cranes only in manual mode.
An Electrical Engineer from Austria, a representative of the KUENZ company, Michael Engelbogen, was directly involved in installation of the technological equipment. He spent almost a month and a half in Kyshtym. Michael took part in installation of such cranes in many countries of Europe and America, but he has never been to Russia before.
“The atmosphere here is completely differs from those places where I happened to work,” admits a specialist from Austria. “I have faced the task, together with the plant staff and builders, to assemble and carry out the initial commissioning of two technological cranes. I got used to the fact that during installation period all other construction work stops, and for the first time in my life I saw the situation where the construction did not stop for a minute. I was amazed by the ability of the Ural builders and metallurgists to improvise, to quickly find non-standard solutions in non-standard situations. We ended up as a good team together.”
Indeed, the Tankhouse technical modernisation constantly requires from all of its participants high professionalism, outstanding ingenuity, ability to think nontrivially and act quickly. Otherwise, it will not be possible to fit modern equipment into the limited space of existing walls. Such was a problem for the installers during installation of the lifting trolley. It was calculated that for the installation of the so-called «carriage» it would be necessary to partially disassemble the roof of the building. But at the very last moment, together with the contractors from SMU-2 LLC, another, more optimal option was found: the trolley was raised under the very roof, a special traverse was made and a crane bridge was brought underneath it and then the “carriage” was installed. Thanks to this solution, it was possible to save considerable amount time, effort and money.
The new cranes are almost ready for the next stage in accordance with the schedule – semi-automatic and automatic operating modes setting up. KUENZ company representatives will also come to Kyshtym to adjust the automation.
Technical modernisation of the Tankhouse at the Russian Foil factory will increase the output of copper cathodes from 140,000 to 230,000 tons per year. The project is being implemented in two stages, the first of which consist of 336 cells installation and commissioning. By the time the second stage is launched, the KUENZ technological cranes will serve the entire Tankhouse — 672 cells.
