Domestic articulated boom crane revolutionises lifting work on railways – the machine modernized by Kreate is known to be the only one of its kind
A much-needed reinforcement has arrived for demanding and heavy lifting tasks in the railway environment, as infrastructure operator Kreate has developed and built a completely new type of articulated boom crane. The rail crane with a folding boom and a lifting capacity of up to 108 tons is the only one of its kind in Finland and, as far as we know, in the whole world. Not only does it improve the efficiency of track work, but it also provides additional manpower for clearing up accidents that have occurred on the track.
Development and construction work at Kreate’s engineering workshop has been completed, test runs have been carried out, inspections have been passed, and the first lifts at the railway construction sites have been successfully completed. The new articulated boom crane was created to meet the needs of railway professionals for a versatile machine for demanding lifting tasks where traditional mobile cranes are not sufficient.
Until now, there has been no crane on the market that is strong and versatile enough for track use, and European alternatives are too expensive for many contractors. There is clear demand for this type of articulated boom crane with extremely high lifting capacity, and no comparable solution has been available from other operators in the industry. says repair shop manager Eero Heikkilä from Kreate.
The base of the Kreate’s folding boom crane is a modernized four-axle chassis, on which a completely new crane with boom, rotating superstructure, and all hydraulics and electrical systems has been built. The machine is equipped with a Stage V emission class diesel engine. In addition, the machine has an electric motor that allows it to run completely emission-free.
A special feature of the new articulated boom crane is that it can also lift while driving. When driving with the machine, the lifting capacity is 26 tons at 16.2 meters.
The lifting capacity with support legs at 4.6 meters is up to 108 tons.
The folding boom is an advantage in tight spaces
The unique articulated folding boom also enables lifting in confined spaces. This is a clear advantage over rigid boom or telescopic arm mobile cranes, especially when working under overhead lines.
“The device operates on the pick & carry principle, meaning that it can lift a load and drive it directly to its destination, which speeds up the replacement of large railway switch assemblies, for example. Heavy elements, such as railway yard switches or railway bridge components, can be assembled and constructed before the railway traffic interruption and moved during the interruption using a crane, making the work considerably faster and more efficient than before.”
Heikkilä says that the machine’s lifting capacity with support legs at 4.6 meters is up to 108 tons. When driving with a load, the lifting capacity is 26 tons at 16.2 meters.
“In a recent accident in which a locomotive derailed at a railway yard, the cleanup took more than three days. We estimate that our new crane could do the same job in about 12 hours,” Heikkilä calculates.
Sensors and movement restrictions increase lifting safety
The development and construction process for the rail crane proceeded at Kreate’s engineering workshop in Hyvinkää. The construction and electrical and hydraulic work was carried out under the supervision of Eero Heikkilä and installer Mikael Viskari, who work at Kreate. Enmac Oy, now Prevas Oy, was responsible for mechanical design and strength calculations.
Special attention has been paid to the safety of lifting operations. For example, sensors installed on the machine and movement restrictions in the software ensure safe operation in the track environment and prevent possible collisions with, for example, power lines and adjacent tracks.
“The driver also has access to comprehensive displays that provide extensive information about the machine’s operation and load,” explains Heikkilä.
The beginning of July saw the debut of Kreate’s rail crane when it was time to move on to lifting the transition plates during the repair of the Äväntjoki railway bridge. Everything went smoothly there.
Iron Lady Eerika lifted at Rantarata
The rail crane has already demonstrated its true capabilities at Kreate’s rail construction sites. The machine, named Iron Lady Eerika, has been used to lift bridge transition slabs on the railway section between Riihimäki and Lahti in Kärkölä, as well as at bridge construction sites on the Rantarata railway line in Piikkiö and Karjaa.
“There are no similar articulated boom cranes available on the railways, and it is a unique case in Europe and even on a global scale. The crane will be made widely available to external subscribers,” Heikkilä promises.
In its strategy, Kreate has identified railway and road construction as one of its growth areas. The rail crane reinforces the already determinedly reinforced track construction, which emphasizes strong professional skills and the utilization of the expertise of Kreaten’s various units.
“Our rail crane brings a new competitive edge, offering efficiency, flexibility, and savings for rail projects that often have tight deadlines, for which we now have even more versatile specialized equipment. I believe that Eerika will also attract interest outside Finland,” says Timo Leppänen, Director of Railway Construction at Kreate.
Kreate’s rail crane Eerika’s key figures
Lifting capacity with support legs:
- 108,000 kg at 4.6 meters
- 19,200 kg at 22.3 meters
- With fixed extension booms, a reach of 28 meters can be achieved, with a lifting capacity of 5,600 kg.
Lifting capacity when driving with the machine:
- A load of 26 tons can be supported at 16.2 meters
- Boom parallel to the track, +- 1 degree deviation allowed.
Masses:
- Operating weight when moving the machine on rails: 60 tons
- Working weight, i.e. boom, additional axle, and counterweights installed on the machine: 90 tons
Other:
- Maximum speed: 5 km/h.
- The main power source of the machine is a diesel engine. It is also possible to drive it completely emission-free with an electric motor.