Electric hoist for 35 tonne crane at BMW Swindon 

Part of a project to replace older lifting equipment, the crane is rated at 35-tonne capacity and is fitted with a Eurobloc VT5 electric wire-rope hoist from Verlinde. Based on an overhead double-girder system, the crane was designed, manufactured and installed by Pelloby, Verlinde´s UK distributor.

The hoist travels along dual 21.7m beams that are supported by an existing gantry structure. Variable speed options for longitudinal travel, cross travel and hoist motion are controlled via a radio-controlled remote joystick. Operator training in how to correctly use the crane was delivered to BMW staff, along with a full spare-parts package to help keep operational downtime to a minimum during scheduled maintenance routines.

Featuring a total of 13 patents, the Verlinde Eurobloc VT5 includes a maintenance-free DC disc brake, four-position limit switch (up, down, high-position deceleration and reversed-phase protection) and load limiter. The crane at BMW Mini provides 9.8m height of lift and, to ensure workplace safety, two walkways were built on either side for maintenance access. 

In addition to the 35-tonne crane in the press shop, Pelloby has also recently supplied a semi-portal system for a nearby tool shop at the same site. The 10-tonne crane features a Verlinde Eurobloc VT3 low-headroom electric wire-rope hoist, which was selected to suit the 610 x 229 x 140kg UB. It offers two hoisting speeds (5.0 and 0.8m/min) and 3 to 20 m/min variable travel speed. The pendant-controlled Verlinde hoist also features a digital display so that operators can see the exact weight of the load being lifted at a glance.

This 10-tonne trackless semi-portal crane consists of an 8m beam with two end carriages, one of which is supported by a floor-mounted travelling column while the other runs along an elevated rail mounted to the wall of the workshop at a height of 3.8m.