Street Cranes for MMD expansion
Overhead cranes help Mining Machinery Developments expand production at their Alfreton site
MINING Machinery Developments (MMD) have expanded the size of their heavy-duty mineral sizer production facility in Alfreton, Derbyshire, with the addition of two new bays for the manufacture of heavy fabrications.
The multi-million-pound expansion sees new overhead travelling and jib cranes, supplied by Street Crane Company, being used to provide a flexible system for efficient and reliable lifting, handling and production flow that can be easily adapted to meet future expansion.
There are three 20-tonne overhead cranes operating on full-length freestanding 60m gantries in each bay. These cranes are used for offloading vehicles and moving products through the various stages of production. The units feature a double girder box beam design and have infrared anti-collision systems so they can operate safely on the same track.
They also feature hoists from Street’s ZX Series for reliability and ease of maintenance. For heavier lifts of up to 40 tonnes, the overhead cranes can be used in tandem and weight is distributed through a spreader beam.
Also in the new bays are 10 one-tonne jib cranes (seven units in one bay and three in the adjoining bay), each of which support a workstation manned by two welders or platers. The slewing jib cranes are attached to the gantry legs with fittings that can be dismantled, allowing the units to be readily relocated as production needs change.
Within the original factory buildings where the sizing machines are assembled, Street have installed two 50-tonne double girder cranes and an additional 25-tonne unit. The heavier cranes feature custom-built hoists from Street’s VX Series. These heavy-duty hoists offer vertical lift to safeguard products from lateral movement and increase safety. The jib cranes utilize chain hoists from the company’s LX Series.
Since expansion, the new facilities and cranes have helped MMD to speed up throughput, reduce delivery times and increase productivity for orders from quarrying and mining customers.
