Energy chain for indoor cranes in foundry with high temperatures and contamination

Profile

• What was needed: Type E4/4 energy chains, designed as roller energy chains
• Requirements: High temperatures of permanently 55°C in the foundry, coupled with high levels of contamination from moulding sand, graphite and metallic dust.
• Industry: Crane construction
• Success for the customer: The chains are robust and allow long travel distances. As roller energy chains, the drive power of the crane for moving the chain was reduced to less than 25%. Long-term trouble-free operation was achieved in a very harsh environment.

This application involves three new cranes from crane manufacturer SHB Hebezeugbau GmbH. The automatic cranes were to be installed as indoor cranes in a foundry, where they will transport containers with molten metal.
Due to the particularly aggressive environmental conditions in the foundry, the highest demands were placed not only on the crane design itself, but also on individual components such as the energy and data management system. In particular, the application environment was characterised by particularly high temperatures of 55 °C throughout and very high levels of contamination due to deposits of moulding sand, graphite and metallic dust in the system.
The manufacturer was therefore looking for a cable carrier solution suitable for the adverse conditions that could achieve a long service life and minimise downtimes.

The crane specialist ultimately decided in favour of using energy chains on the cranes, more specifically our type E4/4 plastic energy chains as a roller energy chain. The energy chain is particularly suitable for realising the power and data supply of the trolleys on large cranes, as it guarantees particularly long travel distances effortlessly and reliably. The robust chain design enables high rigidity and resistance both indoors and outdoors in harsh weather conditions.
By opting for a roller energy chain, the drive power required by the crane to move the chain and cables has been reduced to less than 25%. This also supports high travelling speeds. The trolley can travel at 25m/min over a travel distance of 45m.
The result of the project: By using the e-chains, it was possible to achieve permanently trouble-free operation in a very harsh environment.