Energy chains successfully replace trailing cables on bridge cranes in concrete plant

• What was needed: Reliable complete system that constantly supplies the cranes with energy
• Requirements: Easy to open, robust system that can withstand external conditions, reliable operation
• Product: readychain® ready-made energy chain
• Area of application: Overhead cranes
• Success for the customer: With a completely pre-assembled system from igus, installation times were kept short and a longer production downtime was avoided.

About the overhead cranes:
With the two overhead cranes, which are travelling on the same rails mounted on the long side of the hall at Beton Kemmler GmbH, the entire pipe production is largely fully automated. Until 1993, the crane bridges were supplied with power and controlled via trailing cables.

In the harsh environment of concrete processing, cable carriers must make a decisive contribution to the stability and reliable operation of the indoor cranes and gantry robots. In the huge production, drying and storage hall, two gantry cranes equipped with gripper robots have to be supplied with power.

Until 1993, the crane bridges were supplied with power and controlled via trailing cables. Time and again, however, this method led to malfunctions. At more or less regular intervals, the trolleys got stuck in their rails, which not only brought the entire system to a standstill, but often also led to lengthy and cost-intensive repair times due to broken cables.

A few years ago, an energy supply system was installed in the concrete pipe production facility that not only minimised downtimes, but also set new standards for the power supply within the Kemmler plant.
For many years now, the system has been running almost faultlessly with energy chains from the tried-and-tested Series 50 and has since covered a distance of around 6.6 million metres. The energy chain series impresses with opening bars that can be opened on both sides and useful accessories, such as a wide range of internal partitioning and integrated strain relief.
 
The cable carriers were replaced as part of preventive maintenance measures. Special plastics and the special design of the chain joints give the igus products a mechanical stability that is otherwise only achieved by metal chains.

By supplying pre-assembled energy supply systems, so-called readychain systems, igus offers a solution in which all power and control cables are already pulled in during chain assembly (according to the user's specifications).
 
Another important advantage of the readychain is that cables from our own tested chainflex range are used. Thanks to the bundle stranding, the gusset-filling extruded inner sheath and the outer sheath material optimised for use in energy chains, the flexibility of these cables can be optimally adapted to the application-related bending radius of the energy chains.