Greater flexibility in manufacturing at Epiroc
Flexible lifting technology for the production of underground machinery
When 21 assembly stations for underground machinery are being set up in a new production hall, the lifting equipment must be adaptable to different processes and changing operating ranges. To this end, Epiroc Rock Drills AB has converted a building in Pilängen, Örebro – originally built as a warehouse and covering an area of around 14,400 m² – into a production facility for its Underground division. Epiroc operates the production facility and utilises the equipment in its day-to-day operations; Carlhag supported the project as a Swedish ABUS sales partner and developed the solution in collaboration with Epiroc.
Adapting the warehouse for production placed particular demands on the lifting technology: the floor of the building was not designed to withstand the forces and moments exerted by jib cranes. At the same time, it was not yet clear exactly how the individual workstations would be used. Epiroc and Carlhag therefore jointly developed an alternative solution. The project began at the end of January 2024; there was only a tight timeframe remaining until the planned start of production in October. Instead of jib cranes, ABUS semi-goliath cranes were specified, which can be attached to existing crane supports and thus allow for greater flexibility.
ABUS cranes for a variety of lifting tasks
In the first phase of construction, two parallel crane tracks, each 130 metres long, were installed. Six ABUS overhead travelling cranes, each with a load capacity of 16 tonnes and a hook height of ten metres, operate on these tracks. The building was also prepared for a further crane track with three additional overhead travelling cranes.
For the individual workstations, an alternative to the jib cranes previously used was developed in collaboration with Carlhag: twelve ABUS semi-goliath cranes, each with a load capacity of 500 kilograms. Unlike a jib crane, which operates within a limited area around a fixed pivot point, the semi-goliath cranes can cover the entire lifting area of the respective workstation.
This facilitates the flexible arrangement of workstations and the lifting operations required there. Although their load capacity is lower, semi-goliath cranes are used more frequently than the jib cranes previously employed.
The semi-goliath cranes were installed in several delivery phases. This made it possible to coordinate the installation with the work already underway in the building.
“Although the semi-goliath cranes only have a load capacity of 500 kg, they are used more frequently than jib cranes. We have also trained our staff to use the semi-goliath cranes both as a lifting aid and as a safety measure when working at height.”
- Ann-Sofie Jansson, Project Manager at Epiroc
Ergonomics and safety
The new lifting technology also prompted a review of work processes on the workstations. For safety reasons, a half-metre radius around the cranes must remain free of permanently fixed objects; Epiroc clearly marked this area on the floor of the building. A dedicated health and safety team oversaw the roll-out and identified potential risks. Staff were trained in the use of the semi-goliath cranes – both for use as a lifting aid and for working at height.
To improve lighting at the workstation, Carlhag added three LED spotlights to the system: two are mounted on the crane and provide general lighting, whilst another is fitted to the hoist and illuminates the hook area.
In addition, a self-levelling 12-tonne load lifting attachment from Ganterud was used. Among other things, it is used for fitting jib arms to drilling rigs. According to the project report, this enabled the assembly team to roughly halve the time taken to fit a jib arm compared with the previous method.
A solution that can grow in line with production
The project combines the load capacity of the overhead travelling cranes with the manoeuvrability of the semi-goliath cranes at the assembly stations. The provision for a third crane track opens up further possibilities for future expansion. Epiroc and Carlhag have been working closely together for 15 years. Carlhag supports Epiroc with lifting and material-handling solutions at its production facilities in Örebro and maintains the lifting equipment under service agreements.
The following were installed as part of the project:
- Two parallel crane tracks, each 130 m long, and six overhead travelling cranes, each with a load capacity of 16 t and a hook height of 10 m. A third crane track has been prepared for three further cranes.
- Twelve semi-goliath cranes, each with a load capacity of 500 kg.
Would you like to make your production processes more flexible? ABUS can help you choose the right crane solutions for your material flow.
