The new anti-collision system was installed in the Mineral and Commercial docks' cranes. The security plan for cranes keeps developing in all Ternium Argentina plants.
The team in charge of the project was conformed by people from Automation, Maintenance, and Operations.
It is a system based on sensors that are placed in each extreme of the cranes, and allows to check the proximity between each other, or other objects in the area. “The sensors communicate by radio-frequency and act according with the crane control”, Claudio Peruchena, Automation Projects Engineer, commented. The system has an automatic control of the crane's trajectory, in order to avoid trespassing the allowed distance. “These systems will prevent possible collisions between cranes, saving us from security incidents and equipment damage,” Daniel Colandre, Project Manager, highlighted.
“If they are about to come into contact, at a certain distance, the crane will decelerate and send an alert to the operator. In case that they are really close to each other, the trajectory in that direction is interrupted, in the same way that occurs when the system presents a failure,” Peruchena explained.
In the Mineral dock, cranes UC2, UC3, and UC4 are moved in altitude to deposit the minerals and coal from the ships’ vaults. There, the anti-collision system functionality appears in an HMI screen in the operator’s booth.
In the merchant dock, where cranes Man 1, 2, and 3, load and download slabs and coils, the system is visible due some LED lights. “When the yellow light is on, it means “warning,” and the cranes move at a slow speed, if the red light is on, it means that the crane stopped, and the green light means that is operating with normality,” Peruchena explained. In this occasion, being above the floor, prevents the possibility of hitting other equipment, like buses or elevators.
Gaston Buratti, ETM Chief Supervisor, tells how was the start and what aspects were taken into account when installing it. “Assembling and testing it required a lot of coordination, since cranes are needed all the time. We took advantage of downtimes and planned maintenance to make progress.”
Rogelio Tecco, Logistics Analyst, reveals how the system impacted the sector: “It gives us relief and allows us to work in a safer environment. It gives more efficiency when downloading raw material.”
In Ternium Argentina, there are now 112 cranes that count with anti-collision systems and they are working according with Ternium’s integral security plan for cranes.
Crane’s Safety Plan Progress
“It is an innovative system that gives more safety to the operator and protects the equipment. Since the port cranes has certain characteristics, the technology used in them is different than the technology in other facilities”, Juan Galindez Peña, Automation Director, concluded about the initiative’s objective, which it came to reinforce the 12 security points in cranes.
It is necessary to mention that Ternium Argentina has now 112 cranes that count with anti-collision systems and they are working according with Ternium’s integral security plan for cranes since its implementation.