Crane Information Management System

Case background

Large crane operations are usually found in very rugged environments. This case study applies to a large iron and steel enterprise where harsh conditions for electrical equipment are very challenging. These challenges includes high temperature, high humidity, vibration, dust and high electromagnetic interference protection are required. There are six 140T cranes in this system, four cranes are used in the continuous casting area (span of 500 meters) crane, two cranes used in the converter area (span of 600 meters). In order to ensure the efficient transport of high temperature steel both safely and in the 24-hour continuous production, the steel company installed the MH Crane Information Management System (MHCIMS). This with the view of improving and ensuring e the safe operation of cranes and crane maintenance and spare parts costs reduction.

Case background

Large crane operations are usually found in very rugged environments. This case study applies to a large iron and steel enterprise where harsh conditions for electrical equipment are very challenging. These challenges includes high temperature, high humidity, vibration, dust and high electromagnetic interference protection are required. There are six 140T cranes in this system, four cranes are used in the continuous casting area (span of 500 meters) crane, two cranes used in the converter area (span of 600 meters). In order to ensure the efficient transport of high temperature steel both safely and in the 24-hour continuous production, the steel company installed the MH Crane Information Management System (MHCIMS). This with the view of improving and ensuring e the safe operation of cranes and crane maintenance and spare parts costs reduction.

Case resolution

This system consists of three parts namely the crane maintenance station, a wireless device and the ground data center. The Crane maintenance station was installed on the crane electric indoor cab and is used to communicate with the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), collected field data and monitoring and control of the real-time operation of the crane. The wireless device installed in the crane end beam was, responsible for crane maintenance station data over a wireless network to the ground data center. Ground data center installed in central monitoring control room collecting data of all crane maintenance station and centrally controlled the 6 cranes. The ground data centre also communicated with Enterprise MES system and transferred production and operational information.

System function

In order to meet site demand the crane maintenance station has a compact structure design. Crane Maintenance station has an embedded controller/industrial computer as a data processing unit. The human-machine interface uses a lightweight monitor and all these devices are rugged and use anti-vibration design with a high degree of protection and high temperature resistance. The wireless devices were all equipped with multiple inputs and multiple outputs and the antennas are equipped with strong anti-jamming features and technology ensuring high accessibility and stability of wireless data transmission.

Crane scheduling is performed by the MHCIMS system communicating with enterprise EMS system. MHCIMS periodically reads the MES system tasks and sends the information to each crane. This schedule displays the required assigned tasks planned and orderly implementation of all crane lifting and material movement tasks. All the statistics of crane workload, efficiency, the regular analysis of cranes operation are recorded and made available to management.

The MHCIMS offers alarm management and file and document management (drawings, technology information) improving fault analysis and repair. Operational variables are analyzed processing problems and provides powerful of information support; calculations of the crane equipment key equipment statistics of electrical components are made available. These include of life cycles and operational times of motors, frequency drives, contactors and brake operation. This offers information for preventative maintenance of equipment and provides equipment efficiency. In addition assists in the management and procurement of spare parts leading to reduced spare parts inventory volumes through intelligent analytics of the reference data.

User Benefits

Since the system was put into use in September 2012 MHCIMS fully met the crane management requirements offering centralized monitoring and management reports. The cranes have run with better safety, production and are some of the most efficient in the State.

In the future this system will also be extend to include asset Item Check Management functionality; equipment set up monitoring, management, analysis and integration of the data platform; comprehensive optimization of crane operation, full maintenance management to again further improved safety and productivity; reduce maintenance, spare parts and personnel costs.