Tandem lift using truck-mounted cranes and in-plant cranes - Move-in of a monoblock press

However you turn it, one thing is certain: The key is having experienced installation professionals and the right equipment on hand. The SCHOLPP team from Chemnitz was commissioned by Hettich Holding GmbH & Co. oHG in Kirchlengern, East Westphalia, to install a 90-metric-ton monoblock press in a new workshop. Since the hall door was too narrow to bring in the blue steel block in a horizontal position, it had to be rotated into a vertical position after being unloaded by two truck-mounted cranes in a tandem lift. During positioning inside the building, a further rotation into its final position was performed using three in-plant cranes.

Hettich, based in Kirchlengern, was founded in 1888 and is now one of the world’s largest and most successful manufacturers of furniture hardware. This makes the company one of the leading suppliers to the furniture industry. A new workshop has recently been built at the site. One of the first machines to be installed was a new 90-metric-ton monoblock press for manufacturing sheet metal parts.

Tandem lift with two truck-mounted cranes: Combined lifting and tilting maneuvers

The press was delivered from Italy lying horizontally on a lowboy truck (horizontal dimensions: width 4.55 m x length 5.80 m x height 2.75 m). Upon arrival at the factory premises, the SCHOLPP team from Chemnitz took charge of unloading, transporting, and positioning the equipment. Two truck-mounted cranes (160 metric tons each) were needed to lift the press off the truck and, in a combined lifting and tilting maneuver, move it into a vertical position.

Narrow workshop door: Moving the press in vertically on flat heavy-duty moving skates

It was necessary to position the press vertically because the workshop door was not wide enough to allow the press to be moved inside horizontally. The two crane operators positioned the monoblock press so that the SCHOLPP installers could place very flat heavy-duty moving skates (120 metric tons) underneath it, as there were only a few centimeters of clearance between the press and the top of the door. Using a forklift (16 metric tons), the team safely moved the press at a slow speed to a location near where it was to be installed.

Positioning: Rotating into final position, lowering into the foundation pit

Once there, three in-plant cranes were used simultaneously to position the press. These special industrial cranes - Ormig (60 metric tons) and Valla (40 metric tons) models - are characterized by their compact design, high maneuverability, and high load capacity. First, they lifted and rotated the press from its vertical position into its final position, then they moved it into place and lowered it into the foundation pit to its designated location. The customer, Hettich, and the press manufacturer were then able to install the system and put it into operation on schedule.

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