Temporary Construction Cranes for the Electric Slag Furnace Rebuild at Olympic Dam (SA)

When client BHP Billiton wanted to utilise temporary special construction cranes for their Electric Slag Furnace Rebuild (ESFR) at Olympic Dam Mine Site (SA), they turned to Eilbeck Cranes and both worked closely together to bring to light a bespoke engineered solution for this special application.

Lifting hoists travel synchronously while maintaining 5 + 5T (2 off 5T) MRC and independently maintaining 5t MRC each.

The temporary construction cranes were planned to be used for the ESFR Major Shutdown (MSD) at the Olympic Dam facility.

The requirement was for the temporary construction cranes to be specifically designed ‘fit-for-purpose’, fabricated, tested and commissioned to meet the construction requirements of the ESFR strict standards whilst complying with Australian and key BHP Billiton Standards.

The Scope comprised the supply of several crane, of which two were specifically designed and built for the ESFR:

• ESFR-01: Transfer Crane – 10t
• ESFR-02: Circular Crane – 10(5+5)t

The hoists travel together circumferentially (long travel of the crane) and travel both independently and synchronised in the radial direction in full 360° (cross travel). The hoists are able to lift independently and synchronised.

The centre line diameter of circular monorail is 11.08m, and it had to be divided into sections for ease of handling and installation on site. The assembly and erection plan of the circular monorail had to be engineered in a very specific way in order to be executed safely and efficiently on site.

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