Greater Flexibility in Manufacturing at Epiroc
Flexible Lifting Technology for the Production of Underground Mining Machines
When 21 assembly stations for underground mining machines are being set up in a new production facility, the lifting technology must be adaptable to different processes and changing operating ranges. To this end, Epiroc Rock Drills AB has converted a roughly 14,400 m² building in Pilängen, Örebro - originally built as a warehouse - into a production building for its Underground Division. Epiroc operates the manufacturing facility and uses the equipment in its day-to-day production; Carlhag supported the project as a Swedish ABUS sales partner and developed the solution in collaboration with Epiroc.
Adapting the warehouse for manufacturing posed special challenges for the lifting technology: The floor of the building was not designed to withstand the forces and moments generated by the 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 in late 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 Various Lifting Tasks
In the first phase of construction, two parallel crane tracks, each 130 meters long, were installed. Six ABUS overhead travelling cranes, each with a load capacity of 16 metric tons and a hook height of 10 meters, operate on these tracks. The building was also prepared for an additional crane track with three more overhead travelling cranes.
For the individual workstations, an alternative to the previously used jib cranes was developed in collaboration with Carlhag: twelve ABUS semi-goliath cranes, each with a load capacity of 500 kilograms. Unlike a jib crane, which serves a limited area around a fixed pivot point, the semi-goliath cranes can cover the entire lifting range of the respective workstation.
This facilitates the flexible arrangement of workstations and the lifting operations required there. Although their load capacity is lower, the semi-goliath cranes are used more frequently than the jib cranes that were previously in use.
The semi-goliath cranes were installed in several delivery phases. This made it possible to coordinate the installation with the ongoing work in the building.
“Although the semi-goliath cranes have a load capacity of only 500 kg, they are used more frequently than jib cranes. We have also trained our employees to use the semi-goliath cranes both as a lifting aid and as a safety measure when working at heights.”
— Ann-Sofie Jansson, Project Manager at Epiroc
Ergonomics and Safety
With the new lifting technology, work processes at the workstations were also reviewed. For safety reasons, a half-meter radius around the cranes must remain free of permanently mounted objects; Epiroc clearly marked this area on the floor of the building. A dedicated occupational safety team oversaw the implementation and identified potential risks. Employees were trained in the operation of the semi-goliath cranes—both for use as lifting aids and for working at heights.
To improve workplace lighting, Carlhag supplemented the system with three LED spotlights: Two are mounted on the crane and provide general lighting, while another is mounted on the hoist and illuminates the hook area.
In addition, a self-leveling 12-metric-ton load lifting attachment from Ganterud was used. Among other things, it is used for mounting jib arms on drilling rigs. According to the project report, this allowed the installation team to roughly halve the assembly time for a jib arm compared to the previous method.
A solution that can grow along with production
The project combines the load capacity of the overhead travelling cranes with the maneuverability of the semi-goliath cranes at the assembly stations. The provision for a third crane track opens up additional 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 implemented 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 for three additional cranes has been prepared.
- Twelve semi-goliath cranes, each with a load capacity of 500 kg.
Would you like to make your manufacturing process more flexible? ABUS can help you select the right crane solutions for your material flow.
