Chinese orders for crane systems

Demag Cranes has enjoyed further success in the rapidly developing Chinese energy-from-waste sector, winning four new orders for a total of 12 process crane systems

An increasing volume of domestic and commercial refuse from China's most densely populated urban areas has created significant opportunities for the generation of electricity from waste incineration. Such activities are sparing the use of fossil fuels, reducing overall CO2 emissions and limiting the volume of waste sent to landfill sites. Demag Cranes has been working closely with a number of Chinese energy from waste operators in the development of new plants.

Demag Cranes has been awarded an order to supply four automated crane systems for a new energy-from-waste facility at Laogang, Shanghai. Each of the 33.3m span, 18 tonne SWL cranes will be fitted with a 12m3 grab and will benefit from high operating speeds for large capacity handling. The automatic systems will operate 24/7, blending and moving 1800t of refuse per day, filling the refuse bunkers, which feed the incineration furnaces. Additional features include scanner based permanent measurement, which maintains the fill height of the bunkers and an active load sway damping system for smooth travel and operation.When fully operational, it is anticipated that the Laogang plant will have the capacity to process well over two million tonnes of waste per year, making it the largest refuse incineration facility in the world.

The General Manager for the Laogang project, Xue Jun Jiao, commented: "We are already using Demag process cranes in several refuse incineration plants, including Shanghai Puxi and Chengdu I.

Our previous experience has given us the confidence to make this new investment in world leading technology." Demag Cranes has also won a contract to supply four automated process cranes for the BaoAn II energy from waste project. This facility will comprise two refuse bunkers and four incineration lines, with the capacity to process one million tonnes of waste per year.

Four 35m span Demag process cranes, fitted with 10m3 grabs and load sway damping systems, will operate automatically 24/7 to provide a handling capacity of 140t per day for each crane. The cranes' control systems have been designed to provide optimum feed levels and ensure the best possible blend of refuse for homogenous incineration.

Two further Demag semi automated process cranes, are to be installed within a new energy-from-waste project at Tanjin, near Peking. Both cranes have a 38m span, are rated at 12.5t SWL and fitted with 8m3 grabs. Demag Cranes will also supply two semi automated process crane systems at a refuse incineration plant serving Jinshan, Shanghai.

Thomas H. Hagen, member of the management board of Demag Cranes AG and COO, remarked: "These orders are further milestones for Demag Cranes in one of the most significant growth markets.

These contracts enable us to expand on our position as a global technology leader in the energy from waste sector."