Hitachi Rail Europe
The Challenge
Hitachi Rail’s manufacturing and assembly plant in Newton, Aycliffe, County Durham, has been developed to support the DFT-lef Intercity Express Programme and future Hitachi Rail projects.
Following an £82m investment, the factory has the capability to produce high-speed, commuter, and metro trains for use across the UK and Europe.
Hitachi Rail required safe and reliable overhead cranes as part of its production process, to support the manufacture of up to 35 vehicles every month.
These cranes had to be supplied and installed within a specific timeframe, ensuring the factory’s construction programme was not delayed.
The Solution
As the contract was “time critical”, Street worked closely with the main contractor, Shepherd Construction, to manufacture and deliver the cranes within the required delivery schedule. This meant installing the crane beams before the roof was added to the building and ensuring they were protected from the elements.
Street supplied and installed two special 40-tonne overhead cranes for offloading train carriages, which are made off site. The carriages are fitted to high-lift bogies, which enables them to be safely and easily moved around the factory.
Street also supplied fixed gantries along the production lines, so that technicians can easily access the carriages for fitting out.
A further seven cranes with the capacity to lift 10 or 15 tonnes have been fitted to bring materials and components to workstations around the facility.
The Benefits
Loading levels of reliability and safety:
- Optimised crane speeds ensure efficient product flow, load safety and stability.
- Where multiple cranes share the same track, anti-collision systems have been fitted.
- All cranes feature Street’s ZX electric wire rope hoists, which have been designed to maximise safety and reliability, and minimise maintenance.
Durable
The cranes sited outdoors feature an all-weather paint system and fully enclosed canopy over the hoists providing extra protection against the elements.
"Street worked in partnership with our architects during the pre-construction stage of our rail vehicle manufacturing facility to design bespoke cranes matched to the specific requirements of our operation. Delivered and installed on time, and in line with our construction schedule, the Street cranes are an essential part of our train manufacturing process. They play a vital role in ensuring carriages are built as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible."
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