Retrofitting of Cranes

For many old crane systems, a retrofit can make more sense than replacing them with a new crane. Most of the time, these are special systems that are no longer feasible today, or whose new purchase is extremely expensive. By replacing outdated crane components and adding new, contemporary technological developments (e.g. frequency converters, PLCs, etc.), existing systems are brought up to date again. The advantage for the system operator is the modernization of the system and the associated increase in productivity at significantly lower costs compared to purchasing a new system. The stable basic substance of the crane is retained. Existing protection for a system that would probably no longer receive a new construction permit can also be preserved through a retrofit.
Advantages of a retrofit
- Lower investment costs than when installing a new machine/system
- No new foundation costs
- Steel construction of the crane can be retained
- Less personnel training effort, as the crane is largely known
- No new, and therefore lengthy, approval process
- Further time savings through only partial renewal
- Increase in performance
Objectives
- Extension of service life
- Increase in production volume or product quality
- Greater efficiency of the Crane-System, e.g. through energy savings
- Compliance with legal requirements (e.g. emission reduction, occupational safety)
- Ensuring the supply of spare parts
- Creating the possibility of embedding old machines in a modern IT environment (Industry 4.0)
- Sustainability (environmental protection)