Found on the Web: White is the New Green
ADEGEM – Energy consumption and environmental impact are becoming increasingly important when a company invests in new material handling equipment. In other words, nowadays the impact on the environment caused by a material handler needs to be minimized. Additionally, the cost to handle one ton of bulk material also has great importance, as this shows the economic feasibility.
As a result, over the last few years, there has been a tendency towards more energy efficiency. Several manufacturers now supply material handlers with hybrid systems, where the energy that is released during the boom down function is stored into accumulators. When the boom is lifted, the stored energy is utilized to support this movement. Usually an additional cylinder is required in combination with an energy storage system. Suppliers claim to save customers 30-35% on their energy bills.
At the same time, more and more electrically powered machines are becoming available, instead of the traditional diesel powered material handlers.
At E-Crane, they have been doing things quite differently for the last 25 years. Utilizing the principle of equilibrium, where the stick is connected to the rotating counterweight by means of a connecting rod, the load can be moved from point A to B at a fraction of the energy usually required.
The philosophy is simple according to E-Crane; it’s better to start with an energy efficient design rather than adapting to a fundamentally inefficient one.
On an E-Crane, the center of gravity of the machine always stays within the slewing ring as the movement of counterweight and stick are synchronized. As a result of this, a balanced state is maintained and guaranteed at all times. When working with lighter loads, the movable counterweight moves the stick out almost spontaneously as it pulls the boom up. When working with heavier loads, the movable counterweight assures that smooth lifting is possible at low hydraulic working pressures.
Additionally, electrically powered machines are nothing new for Belgium’s only manufacturer of bulk handling cranes. All machines are equipped with an electrical motor as the power source, and have been for many years. When no shore power is available, the machines can be equipped with a diesel generator set. Switching between shore power and diesel is always possible.
This was clearly illustrated during the E-Crane Demo Days, which were held recently at the headquarters of the E-Crane Group of Companies to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
During this open house, an E-Handler® with a maximum outreach of 29 meters and a lifting capacity of 10,5 tons was shown and available for demonstration. It was impressive to see that this machine only required a 132 kW electric motor to power it. The E-Handler gives E-Crane a big advantage when entering the market of traditional material handlers.
Where E-Crane was formally known as a manufacturer of mostly large harbor cranes and also as a market leader for cranes for scrap catering inside steel mills, they now enter a segment where this equipment is within reach of a larger public. Consider recycling facilities where a shredder, shear or baler is fed.
The E-Handler can comfortably cover an area of 2,700 m2 and store material at heights of 15 m or more. The E-Handler becomes one efficient unit together with, for instance a shredder, and can carry out all tasks involved: unloading trucks, storing material, feeding the shredder as well as loading the processed metals.
Finally, the elevated position of the operator adds to the safety as he/she always has the best possible overview while working.
Source: Read more– Recycling Inside
