Cement works

The challenge

New supporting wheel for a rotary kiln

A special job took the Prangl team to Deskle in Slovenia. The rotary kiln of the local cement works was to be given a new support wheel. Since the tube of the system has a diameter of over five metres, such a project is no small feat. Great care was required when dismantling the old and mounting the new support wheel.

Our solution

First use of 500-tonne telescopic crane

The client for the maintenance work in a cement works (the only one in Slovenia and the largest employer in the central Soča valley) entrusted our yellow specialists with its implementation. After a meticulous study, Prangl's supervisors chose the new 500-tonne mobile crane as the main player for this job. A 160-tonne telescopic crane was used as an auxiliary crane. Production was of course halted during the delicate work on the rotary kiln. Before the strokes could even take place, the tube section with the old support wheel had to be cut through.

Tandem lift

The two telescopic cranes were placed next to the tube so that they could best fulfil their task. The part that had been cut free was lifted out by the 500-tonne mobile crane. With the help of several men using ropes to guide it past the adjacent building into the correct position, the load was set down by the 500-tonne crane and then turned and brought into a horizontal position with the help of the 160-tonne crane in a tandem lift. In the next step, the old 80-tonne drive was lifted down together with two motors. After that, it was the new drive's turn.

New drive

The new drive also has two motors, but at 33 tonnes, it is almost a lightweight compared to its predecessor. It was lifted, brought into its final position and installed. After that, the new support wheel could follow – a tube section weighing 131 tonnes and with a diameter of 5.14 metres. Both Prangl cranes erected it together in a tandem lift. The fitters attached steel ropes to both sides of the main hoist to follow the curves. The 500-tonne crane then carefully took over the heavy load and slowly lifted it.