Repeat Order from Japan Testament to MHE-Demag’s Quality & Service
MHE-Demag manufactured a 50t gantry crane to Japanese Industrial Standards and conducted a stringent Factory Acceptance Test.
Repeat customers are the litmus test for product and service satisfaction.
Pleased with their initial order of six cranes for their power plant in Moka, Japan, a Japanese power company has reappointed MHE-Demag to design, manufacture and install a 50t gantry crane.
Engineering capability, fit-for-purpose design, high-quality components, competency and exceptional follow-up are among the factors why MHE-Demag was awarded a contract by one of the biggest power generation companies in Japan to manufacture a 50/10t gantry crane with a 23m span with a maximum hook height of 31m.
Upon accepting the order from the power generation company for a 50t gantry crane, MHE-Demag’s regional design and the project team worked tirelessly in the fulfilment of the stringent standard set by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
MHE-Demag’s Project Manager, Victor Lum said, “Besides complying to Japan’s seismic requirement, the crane was also designed to comply to more stringent out of service wind load requirements.”
Lum added, “We had developed and invested in a new set of Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) to weld Japanese Industrial Standards’ (JIS) structural pipes for the gantry crane’s legs. In order to perform the tasks, we have also made sure that our welders are certified and qualified for the new WPS.”
An extensive Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) took place in MHE-Demag’s manufacturing facility located in Bukit Raja, Malaysia and it was inspected by the QAQC engineer of the power generation company before the delivery and final installation in Kobe, Japan.
A conventional FAT for a gantry crane typically only involves tests on the girder and crab, without the legs, but this special crane was tested with the legs assembled.
The test procedure started with the setting up of the rails and walkway, and the mobilisation of the pre-assembled girders with a tie bar and control panels to the testing ground. On the first day, the crane’s legs were assembled to the girders before placing the crab smoothly on top, followed by the installation of all leg bracings, stairs, and platforms on the second day. All functional tests, including the cross travel, long travel and lifting (also known as hoisting) were carried out with full load capacity at 100% and overload capacity at 125%.
The actual erection of the crane took two days, supported by four mobile cranes, two sky lifts, and ten highly skilled workers. The client was impressed and pleased with the comprehensive test and results.
This FAT also marked an important milestone for MHE-Demag as it is the first gantry crane to be fully erected at MHE-Demag’s factory. This attests to MHE-Demag’s capability in offering the market an extensive FAT for gantry cranes, with the option of full erection before delivery to the final site, which can greatly reduce costly errors by identifying potential assembly challenges pre-delivery.
The 50t crane is expected to be delivered to Japan for commissioning in June 2020.
Previously in 2015, MHE-Demag secured our first order from this Japanese client for a power plant in Moka, Japan. The order comprised of six cranes:
- Two units of 200/25/4t double girder overhead cranes with a span of 16m
- Two units of 68/25t double girder overhead cranes with a span of 28m
- Two units of 10t single girder electric underhung crane with a span of 8.95m