H&E Gives Manitowoc 4600 Dragline Crane New Life
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July 1, 2015 - Productivity is important for United States Gypsum Company, particularly at its manufacturing plant in Sweetwater, Texas, which had been using a Manitowoc 4600 dragline crawler crane for mining raw gypsum to produce the company's well-known USG Sheetrock panels. However, the aging crane was dragging down the plant's mining momentum and needed to be replaced.
Manitowoc no longer produces the 4600 or a crane similar to it, so United States Gypsum was faced with finding replacement equipment that may not match the 4600’s functionality or remanufacture a similar used 4600 crane. The company opted for the latter option. In order to maintain current mill production levels, a second Manitowoc 4600 was selected as the core machine to be remanufactured, allowing continued use of the company’s current 4600.
H&E Equipment Services was selected to remanufacture the crane. The company is a Manitowoc EnCORE
“This crane is for all practical purposes a new machine – structurally, mechanically and cosmetically,” said Tony Gugliuzza, crane reman manager at H&E's Belle Chasse, La., facility. “Our goal at H&E is to ensure each EnCORE remanufactured crane will provide the owner with an entire new crane lifecycle of dependable service. Our 40 years of crane remanufacturing experience, coupled with support from the Manitowoc EnCORE Team, allows us to provide remanufacturing as a cost-effective alternative and valuable service to our customers. We are very proud of our employees and the quality of their work, as evidenced by the final results in USG’s 4600 crane.”
In addition to the top-to-bottom EnCORE remanufacturing of the 4600, H&E undertook several actions to upgrade the crane:
- Installation of a new generation, programmable auto lube system where all lube lines routed throughout the machine are fabricated from stainless steel, and tubing that eliminates 174 manual grease points over the entire crane;
- Piping of 11 remaining grease points to four separate panels;
- Installation of a new generation, high-volume, self -contained air conditioning unit that is powered by the machine’s new increased-capacity, 24-volt system;
- Addition of a complete on-board, dual-chemical fire-suppression system;
- Assurance of MSHA compliance, with updated handrails, adjustable access ladders, fall prevention guards, bail service platforms,and maintenance access safety steps;
- Installation of side mirrors, a full front cab guard, and three CCVC cameras that allow the operator to monitor the rear and left blind spots of the crane with a 72-degree interior view of the upper machine on a 15-inch split-screen display monitor; and
- A custom, ultra-high-gloss, highly chemical-resistant paint finish in USG’s corporate colors.
“Being sustainable across the lifecycle of our products and operations is an important goal at USG. We actively look for opportunities to reduce, reuse, or recycle resources when possible, and the remanufacturing of the dragline crawler is a unique example of how we are continuously looking for ways to minimize our impact on the environment,” said Jeff Grimland, USG plant manager for Sweetwater.
The remanufacture of the 4600 is the third remanufacturing project of a Manitowoc 4600 completed at H&E’s new Crane Remanufacturing Center in Belle Chasse. USG’s remanufactured 4600 crane was placed into service in late March, and United States Gypsum Company reports that it is performing up to its expectations.
