A Tata steel distribution centre at Redcar has invested over £1.5 million in special cranes from Street Crane to improve order turnaround.
The installation of four 12 tonne overhead travelling cranes is of a radically different design to improve material processing and speed of delivery to customers.
Chris Lindley-Smith, sales director at Chapel-en-le-Frith-based Street Crane, said: “The high rates of material flow demanded a more innovative crane configuration.
“Four cranes have been provided of a very unusual double bridge design.
Two linked beams span the 20-metre bays and on these is fitted a 27-metre crane bridge, bearing twin six tonne hoists, so the orientation of the cranes are at 90 degrees to the more conventional arrangement.
This permits zoned north/south and east/west material flow allowing steel to be brought into the processing bay, with transfer through various processes before the finished steel is shipped out to customers.”
Business is booming at Street Crane, the UK’s largest factory crane producer and a major exporter.
The new hoist works, opened in September, will significantly increase capacity and create further local opportunities for skilled engineers and apprentices.