WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2/2020

Double hoist unit solution provides
additional flexibility and improves
handling rates
LOGISTICS
The paper industry is a key sector for process crane
technology. The corresponding cranes and hoists have
to perform a wide range of tasks, from precise
positioning of paper machine rollers to fully
automated stores for paper rolls. Laakirchen Papier AG
is a good example of the potential that can be
achieved.
Laakirchen Papier AG is an important part of the local economy
in the Laakirchen municipality in Upper Austria. As part of the
Heinzel Group, the company produces paper for packing and publication
purposes on the two PM 10 and PM 11 paper machines at
this location. Following the conversion and modernisation work,
paper machine PM 10 specialises in the production of lightweight
corrugated base paper made from waste paper for environmentally
friendly packaging solutions. This provides a not inconsiderable
increase in its production capacity. At the same time, the company
has extended its production capacity for SC paper used for magazines,
catalogues and printed advertising material on paper machine
PM 11. The resulting investment in a new paper-roll shipping
store is an important part of the growth strategy pursued by Heinzel
Group, which has set itself the goal of becoming the most competitive
and eco-friendly paper factory in Europe.
Loading times cut by 30 per cent
Two process cranes (33 m spans) supplied by Demag handle the
rolls of paper in the shipping store. The store can accommodate
some 8,870 tons of paper when filled to a capacity of 80 per cent.
The store is filled around the clock in 24/7 operation. Besides the
limited area for storage of the paper rolls, the loading times, which
are limited to five working days, also posed a challenge. Particularly
at the beginning of the week, when the roll store is largely full, the
trucks that collect the product need to be served very quickly. “To
clear the order peaks in the paper store, we initially placed emphasis
on reducing the number of crane travel operations. This was
achieved by installing two crabs on each crane”, explains Markus
Otto, Demag Process Cranes Sales Director.
The open winch units are equipped with vacuum lifting devices,
which can be used to store and retrieve the unpacked rolls of paper
16 WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2020