Crane System Construction Kit eepos one at the IVECO Fire Protection Center
eepos cranes impress with their excellent condition after 5 years of continuous use
The complete renovation of IVECO Magirus production demonstrated what aluminum cranes from eepos, based in Wiehl near Cologne, can truly achieve: the eepos cranes and handling systems, dismantled after almost five years of use, were “almost like new”. Despite initial skepticism, it became clear how sustainable the investment in the aluminum modular system eepos one really was.
Dieter Wettengl, Master of mechanical maintenance, has been working at the Ulm plant for 40 years: “Of course, we planned to reuse as much of the existing crane system as possible during the conversion,” he explains. “But we never expected that the equipment would come down from the hall ceiling in such excellent condition after five years of full production.”
Fast conversion thanks to lightweight design
The conversion of the production lines in Ulm was a tightly scheduled project that needed to be completed as quickly as possible efficiently as possible. “During the renovation, we trained the fitters in a small hall on the specific requirements of the fire engines.”, Dieter Wettengl illustrates the time pressure. “What benefited us during the conversion was the low weight of the eepos aluminum rails,” observes the experienced master. This made dismantling quick and easy. Even parts six meters long can be held by just one person. Pallet trucks, screwing tools and our own employees - that's all it took to dismantle the old production facility. The parts are neatly sorted and stored: around 700 meters of rails are sent to new workstations in the completely new production area without long delays. The remainder will be used in other IVECO Magirus plants. The experience with the robust and smooth-running eepos system is too good to go without.
“The connections between the individual crane runway sections are very easy to make using side plates; anyone can do it. And the rail transitions are perfectly smooth; you simply can't achieve that with steel!”
Dieter Wettengel
Master mechanical maintenance
at the IVECO Magirus Fire Protection Center in Ulm
eepos convinces even aluminum skeptics
It wasn't always like this: When ladder production in Ulm required new bridge cranes five years earlier, there was a point in the layout where the IVECO factory planners disagreed on the crane system: a 12 degree curve in a 90 meter narrow frame to navigate, with a fixed grid spacing of only five by five meters, including the necessary safety distance. “Back then, some people refused to accept anything except steel,” remembers Dieter Wettengl. “Aluminum – they said – it’s so light, it can’t be any good…” was the common opinion at the time. Meanwhile, the eepos technicians worked on the design program and were the only provider to successfully solve the technical challenge.
Lightness has many dimensions
With this large-frame construction project, eepos convinced IVECO in 2008 and simultaneously earned the trust of IVECO workers, as they are always included in the planning process. The new lightness, in several dimensions, was unbeatable. Aluminum is light: it is easy to assemble and disassemble.
“The eepos system is completely well thought out,” assures Dieter Wettengl: “The connections between the individual crane runway sections are very easy to make using side plates; anyone can do it. And the rail transitions are perfectly smooth; you simply can't achieve that with steel!” At the same time, the eepos modular system, with its standard dimensions, is so flexible that an optimal crane solution can be found for every production task. Modifications are also easy. The so-called service stations, easily unscrewable units in the rail, allow access to individual segments if, for example, a tool is now needed on the left instead of the right, or an additional crane is required. Last but not least, light means smooth running.
The chassis rollers are made of the special plastic Lauramid, which, as proven after four years, shows virtually no wear and contributes to the smooth running of the eepos system. “No one here believed it back then,” That’s why measurements were taken, as the workers had already complained about the sluggishness of the old steel transport system. Anyone who has to position extreme weights of up to 200 kg with millimeter precision for eight hours a day is grateful for any relief.
Tensile force measurement shows 50% less effort
The tensile force measurements showed that workers using the eepos system need to apply only half as much force as with the old steel system under the same conditions. In addition, the drive rollers are arranged to ensure smooth operation even when pulled diagonally, without tilting. Last but not least, the maintenance department, which services and inspects all crane systems, is also very satisfied with the eepos handling systems: “We have had continuous operation since 2008 with no problems, malfunctions, replacements, or need for any spare parts,” confirms Michael Korn, Head of Maintenance. Production for the new IVECO Magirus fire protection technology in Ulm includes pre-assembly of individual components and three assembly lines. eepos cranes also serve pump production, four pump test benches, mechanical production, carpentry, metal processing, and shipping. Telescopic eepos cranes extend the reach where needed, making the work even more flexible. today, nobody in Ulm questions the reliable functionality of eepos systems: “Light yet robust, durable, reliable . Our workers have been real fans of eepos aluminum cranes since 2008,” confirms Dieter Wettengl.
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