• Two double-girder overhead travelling cranes with 120-tonne load capacities for Saudi Arabia
• Designed for transporting molten masses
• One main hoist unit for handling ladles and one hoist unit for tipping

Terex Material Handling has been awarded a contract by Outotec for the delivery of two Demag casting cranes. The process cranes will be used in Jazan Economic City, Saudi Arabia, where Outotec is building a new ilmenite smelter for Christal Global, which is the world’s second largest producer of titanium oxide. The two identical cranes, which have load capacities of up to 120 tonnes, will be used for handling casting ladles and for feeding the casting furnaces with molten metal.

The many years of experience gained by Terex Material Handling in the development and manufacture of Demag brand cranes for the foundry sector were also a decisive factor for the award of the contract. Lutz Dowy, Head of Process Cranes explains: “Our focus on specific applications, such as those in the steel production sector, has enabled us to develop in-depth expertise in the industry. Our customers benefit from this wealth of knowledge, since we are able to offer them crane solutions that are engineered to meet their exact needs.” In addition, the crane manufacturer’s global presence also played a significant role in this contract award. Lutz Dowy further explains: “An important benefit from the customer’s point of view is our global sales and service network, which also provides for professional maintenance and rapid service in Saudi Arabia. The services we provide contribute significantly towards ensuring the high level of availability that owners of industrial equipment expect from all components used n their installations.”

Additional information

High level of process integration

The two identical double-girder overhead travelling cranes have spans of 22 metres and lifting heights of 13 metres. They are each equipped with two Demag hoist units (MPW multi-purpose winches) which have load capacities of 120 and 40 tonnes and are installed on one crab. The scope of delivery also includes special spreaders that are used to handle the casting ladles. While the 120-tonne hoist unit is used for lifting, the 40-tonne hoist unit is employed for the tipping motion. Since this requires exact positioning of the crane installations, the drive systems need sophisticated control in three motion axes. For this reason, all of the Demag drives on the cranes – the long and cross-travel drives and the hoist drives – are fed by frequency inverters.

High reliability in arduous ambient conditions

Both of the process cranes are designed to operate reliably in arduous environments. Besides high dust levels, temperatures reach up to 65°C in the application. To ensure high availability, the entire control system is installed in air-conditioned switchgear cabinets on the crane bridge. The cranes are controlled from an enclosed crane cab, which is also equipped with air-conditioning due to the high temperatures. Alternatively, radio control can also be used. Further special design features include an integrated weighing device that is used to measure and display the weight of the loads.

Experience and high level of service quality required

With its Demag brand, Terex Material Handling has the largest installed base of cranes and hoists worldwide and is present all over the world with a corresponding service organisation to safeguard the availability of crane systems – also in Saudi Arabia. This was an important argument that made the customer decide in favour of Demag crane installations. Since the cranes are integrated direct into the continuously running processes, very high demands are placed on availability.

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