SOMIRAM installs two cranes at WALTEFAUGLE.

SOMIRAM, member of the VERLINDE EUROPONT network has installed two box cranes equipped with VERLINDE hoists in the new workshop at their WALTEFAUGLE production facility located at Dampierre sur Salon, in the Franche Comté region of France. What distinguishes this installation is a maximum span obtained by modifying the hoist trolley hook crossbeams.

Metal framework manufacturers for 150 years, WALTEFAUGLE is a specialist in metal frame buildings, with 13,500 metric tons of annual production. The company produces over 400,000 square meters of buildings per year and employs 180 people.

WALTEFAUGLE's two new double-rail box cranes- a 10-ton and a 12.5-ton- were manufactured and put into operation by SOMIRAM. The new production line at the WALTEFAUGLE factory has two major machines. One cuts 2x14-meter sheets of metal and the first crane handles these big sheets and the cut parts. The second crane handles the final welded reconstituted beams. The two workstations are 40 meters apart and work simultaneously. In the new workshop, WALTEFAUGLE makes variable inertia beams, which offers new sales horizons. Variable inertia beams are used especially for buildings where extra floor space is needed.

Seven meters high, with a span of around 21 meters, the two cranes are made with mechanically welded boxes. They are equipped with radio-controlled VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT electric cable hoists and can both be run from the same control. They both have a spreader with suction-cup grips for handling sheet metal and beams.

VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT electric cable hoists were modified to enable the crane steering trolley to travel along the full length of the boxes for a maximum approach. By modifying the hoist trolley hook crossbeams, SOMIRAM was able to "embed" the hoist into the boxes and thereby maximize use of the approaches against the workshop pillars.

For further information, e-mail: jean-yves.beaussart@verlinde.com

New inch & metric magnetic disk couplings
from Sterling Instrument feature no wearing parts

A new series of magnetic disk couplings from Sterling Instrument (ISO 9001:2000+AS9100B Registered Manufacturer) features no friction or wearing parts, uses no electricity and no magnetic particles to leak. These units, identified as the S50DCM... (inch) and S50DCMM... (metric) Series are stocked in 8 different bore sizes ranging from .1875" to 1.000" (5 mm to19 mm).The couplings consist of two opposing disk halves with powerful rare earth magnets. The torque applied to one disk is transferred through an air gap to the other disk. Because of its simple flat design, one can have angular misalignment of up to 3O or parallel misalignment of up to 1/4" and still transmit nearly full rotational torque.

These 416 Stainless steel couplings incorporate an NdFeB, nickel plated magnet. The hub sections are offered singularly and are offered with or without a keyway and are fastened to shafts with an included set screw. The coupling O.D. ranges from 1.72" to 2.86" (43.7 mm to 73 mm).

Other features include being incredibly accurate, repeatable torque control, and easy to adjust, easy to apply, smooth with no friction since there is no physical contact between driving and driven parts.

Applications include: material handling such as for conveyor belts, film transport, capping of syringes or bottles, shrink wrapping, constant wire tension coil winding, and film tensioning. Quotes, online orders, and 3D CAD Models are available at our new eStore at: www.sdp-si.com/eStore.
 
Detailed specifications are contained in Catalog D795, available free upon request from Sterling Instrument, 2101 Jericho Turnpike, P.O. Box 5416, New Hyde Park, NY, USA 11042-5416. Tel: 516-328-3300, Fax: 516-326-8827. Website: http://sdp-si.com/web/html/newprdcouplings9.htm   Refer to page 54

VERLINDE chain hoists for the RER Limal construction site in Belgium

Europa Levage, a VERLINDE brand integrator, was selected to supply an overhead travelling crane intended for manipulating concrete girders for the construction of a roof over the railway. A first in Belgium, the traffic will not interrupted, and the trains will pass under the crane.

It is intended to build a covered cutting on the RER site in Limal, Belgium, to isolate the urban area from the noise created by the new tracks. The Société Momentanée GALERE-CEI DEMEYER, responsible for this service, will build a roof with concrete girders each weighing 80 tonnes, and set every 6 metres. Due to their weight, these girders cannot be moved and therefore will be produced on the spot.

Europa Levage has supplied the SM GALERE CEI DEMEYER with an overhead travelling crane fitted with two VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT5 chain hoists with a 40 tonne capacity. It is placed over the rail tracks, even through they are still in service, which is a first in Belgium. The concrete girders are moulded between the legs of the crane, then with corbelling, themselves fixed onto the supporting wall. To protect them from bad weather, such as rain or wind, the chain hoists are weatherproofed to an IP66n level. To eliminate all external cabling, the crane is also radio-controlled, and equipped with an electricity generator. In fact, the Europa Levage teams have incorporated a generator directly onto the bridge crane. In this way, all the power is supplied by the generator and therefore functions without any cable link to the ground, totally independent of the electricity network.

"For several years, we have been working with EUROPA LEVAGE and VERLINDE. They have also supplied our equipment department and some of our building sites with overhead travelling crane. We consulted a great many firms, in France, Germany and Italy, and they made the best proposal, while offering a service nearby", Mr. CLEMENT, Project Head, told us.

VERLINDE in profile
VERLINDE are a leading French manufacturer and exporter of hoisting and handling equipment, manufacturing a range of 30 types of hoisting equipment, with a presence in more than 55 countries including 10 sales agencies in France and 11 EUROPONT approved manufacturers of overhead travelling cranes.

Europa-Levage in profile
Europa-Levage is the distributing agent in French-speaking Belgium for VERLINDE lifting equipment such as:-electric or manual chain hoists, with cable, chain or belt-jib cranes and winches, and explosion-proof equipment.

Europa-Levage is also the exclusive manufacturer of VERLINDE EUROPONT travelling cranes for French-speaking Belgium, based on components supplied by VERLINDE. The EUROPONT range includes overhead travelling cranes: standing or suspended, single-girder or twin-girder, made up either of a profile or a welded caisson with a lifting capacity up to 120 tonnes over 34 metres.

For further information, e-mail: jean-yves.beaussart@verlinde.com

PEMEX gets FAITH from Netherlocks for partial stroke testing

Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) has chosen Dutch industrial safety specialist Netherlocks B.V. to supply its FAITH partial stroke testing systems for three offshore facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. The FAITH tests ESD (emergency shut-down) valves with a partial stroke operation, therefore not interrupting production during the test.

PEMEX is Latin America's largest enterprise, and one of the few oil companies that operates the entire production chain from source to market, with a yield of over 3m barrels per day in 2006. The company has used Netherlocks safety equipment for several years, and continues to rely on the simplicity, reliability and functionality of its mechanical safety systems for critical applications.

Refer to the picture: The mechanical nature of the FAITH system ensures that the specified degree of opening (test angle) is not exceeded during the test.

Partial stroke testing is of major importance to end users, as an important safety step to ensure that an ESD valve will operate as intended, when needed.  All valves can become worn or stuck over time, so something as vital as an ESD must be tested frequently in order to meet SIL (Safety Integrity Level) standards. A partial stroke test enables testing without halting process flow, meaning tests can be carried out more easily and more often, which should then also create a more reliable ESD system.

The mechanical nature of the FAITH system ensures that the specified degree of opening (test angle) is not exceeded during the test. The Netherlocks device can also be used to block the actuator to perform maintenance on the ESD during production. Instead of relying on a potentially complex electronic system for a simple - but vital - operation, the FAITH is itself a simple, maintenance-free mechanical device that can still offer electronic feedback with optional added components.

For further information, e-mail: sales@netherlocks.com or view website: www.netherlocks.com