ROURKELA, OCT 22
The Crane Maintenance Department of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has successfully completed a major repair on Converter Charging Crane No. 2021 (03), a crucial 250-ton crane in the converter charging bay of Steel Melting Shop-II (SMS-II). This impressive work has enhanced the equipment’s availability, reliability, and operational efficiency. The crane is one of three essential 250-ton hot metal handling cranes vital for the plant’s smooth functioning.
On October 18, Alok Verma, ED (Mines) visited the site to congratulate the team. He was accompanied by RN Rajendran, CGM (Mechanical), and other senior officers.
During routine maintenance, a structural issue was discovered in the crane’s main girder, where cracks had formed at the connection between the girder and the end tie. The damage, located near the main balancer bogie, posed significant challenges due to its inaccessibility for repairs without removing the balancer.
Taking advantage of a shutdown at Blast Furnace-5, the team scheduled a 12-shift crane shutdown starting October 15, 2024, to conduct the repairs. They erected a 26-ton jacking structure made of 400 mm diameter pipes, measuring 4,500 mm square and 26 meters high, underneath the main girder. After carefully jacking up the girder, the team successfully removed the main balancer, gaining access to the damaged area. The cracked section was then repaired, reinforced, and the balancer was replaced with a new unit.
This complex and critical repair was completed safely and on schedule, thanks to the dedication and technical expertise of the Crane Maintenance team, under the supervision of S Panka, GM In-charge (Crane Maintenance), and with the guidance of RN Rajendran.
Other supporting departments that contributed to this achievement included SMS-II, FM(M), RCM, and Safety Engineering.
