Replacing new equipment before fully assessing and utilizing your current equipment can become extremely costly.
THE OPPORTUNITY
St. Marys Cement reached out to UCEL Inc. to help with an issue on one of their current competitor permanent manlifts. It is a 7,000 lb. capacity 150 foot/min hoist used for maintenance and material movement. The base was defective from age and rust, along with the mast walls deteriorating due to operating conditions.
St. Marys had been told by their maintenance contractor that the unit was no longer safe to operate and recommended replacement with a completely new unit. The quoted replacement cost would be well over $1M.
THE UCEL SOLUTION
Following a site visit and thorough assessment of the hoist, the structure, and measuring the masts’ wall thickness, UCEL determined that the machine’s lifespan could be extended by replacing the base and an additional bottom section. Providing this alternative solution gave St. Marys a 1-year extension to prepare for the eventual complete replacement.
The UCEL experience provided a cost-saving solution, but would it be safe enough to perform? UCEL collaborated with Burrell Engineering, a well-known tower crane and hoist engineering firm in the GTA, who reviewed and approved the UCEL proposal and verified that the concept was structurally feasible, sound, and safe. The engineering drawings allowed UCEL to recommend ‘hanging up’ –suspending- the existing mast, car and counterweight and remove the worn and rusted base and lower tower section, and replace it with new components. Was it a cost-effective solution? Electrical Maintenance Manager, Kevin Hodgins of St Marys Cement responded “The elevator in question is critical to our ability to complete our annual shutdown work in a timely and cost-effective way. When the elevator was originally removed from service we were told that the only option was a complete replacement. UCEL’s proposal provided us with an option to get the elevator back in service in time for our annual shutdown saving us time and money. This proposal also gave us the time to complete the engineering necessary to replace the elevator entirely in time for the following year’s annual shutdown. UCEL completed all of the work on time and on budget.”
IN CONCLUSION
The life of the unit was extended for another year, the customer was extremely pleased with the out-of-the-box solution and ultimately UCEL gained another loyal customer at the time of complete hoist replacement. Most recently, UCEL completed a similar cost-effective repair for St. Marys on a second hoist tower at their Bowmanville plant.
UCEL Inc. supplies new STROS man & material hoists, parts and service, and unique cost savings solutions exclusively for various industries throughout the U.S. and Canada. Contact UCEL today!
