A GREENER COMPLEXION
As we communicate sustainability to the outside world, we are aware of our own responsibility to ensure sustainable operations.
A fitting example is a project that we have now implemented to renew our crane runway girders in Cold Rolling Mill 1 at the voestalpine production site in Linz. These runway girders are essential components of our production infrastructure and typically remain in use for a whopping 50 years. This renovation project provides us with an ideal opportunity to optimize girder capacity as well as the way in which they are sustainably produced.
READY TO BEAR FUTURE BURDENS
Since 2012 voestalpine has been working on a comprehensive investment program for the renewal of the existing crane runways. Every year, one or two crane runways are replaced at voestalpine in Linz. As part of this program, the runways are revamped to reflect state-of-the-art technologies.
With continuous development and expansion of the production facilities and the ever-increasing tonnages being transported, the cranes—particularly the crane runway girders—must grow in both size and load capacity. Earlier cranes had a lifting capacity of 40 tons, while the new runways are designed for cranes with a lifting capacity of 45 tons.
The crane itself in Cold Rolling Mill 1 has an impressive dead weight of roughly 200 tons and will run along the new 600-meter-long crane runway girders.
A DREAM MATERIAL FOR RECYCLING ENTHUSIASTS
One thing about steel that cannot be said about most other materials is its ability to be recycled again and again. Steel is 100% recyclable and is the world's most recycled material—even more than plastic, aluminum, glass or copper, for example. Thanks to loss-free reusability, steel is a pioneer in the circular economy.
It is only logical that the old and dismantled crane runway girders are being reused in the steel production process. For the first time, steel from the greentec steel Edition is being used to produce the crane runway girders. This amounts to a reduction of 220 kg of CO2 per ton of steel and a smaller ecological footprint. Based on the railway structure of the new crane runway, a total of 121 tons of CO2 will be saved.
PRODUCTION OPERATIONS ON TRACK
The shape-cutting facility at voestalpine Steel & Service Center is producing 550 tons of heavy plate components made of CO2-reduced greentec steel. Zekon sp. z o.o., a company in the Zeman Group, processes and assembles these plates to make modern crane runway girders. With over 30 years of experience in the innovative and efficient production and assembly of large steel structures, Zekon is the ideal partner for this project. That sounds like perfect teamwork for the production of crane runways that are fit for the future!
voestalpine has once again shown that sustainable development and technological innovation can go hand in hand. This project combines the further development of industrial production with true environmental compatibility at voestalpine.
Our environment is important to all of us, which makes it all the better for everyone that heavy loads will be transported by cranes supported by sustainable runways in the future. A big decision that substantially reduces CO2 emissions.
Stella Sustainable, Sustainability Expert