E-Crane Poland Makes Its Largest-Ever Investment
E-Crane Poland Makes Its Largest-Ever Investment
Two new horizontal boring mills will substantially expand our capacity to machine exceptionally large crane components
Recently an order was placed for two new TOS horizontal boring mills for our production facilities in Poland. This represents the largest investment ever made at E-Crane/E-Towers Poland and marks an important step in the continued development of our in-house manufacturing capabilities.
Building large E-Crane components requires more than heavy fabrication expertise. After welding, critical surfaces and pivot points must be machined with exceptional accuracy. This calls for equipment capable of combining very large working envelopes with the precision required for dependable crane operation.
Some of the largest components used in our cranes weigh almost 100 tons. Certain pivot assemblies can be up to 3.500 millimeters long and 800 millimeters in diameter. Machines capable of handling components of this scale are rare. Facilities that can combine heavy fabrication, precision machining and painting under one roof are even rarer.
Replacing and expanding essential capacity
Several of the machines currently used at our Polish facilities have reached the point where replacement is necessary. In the first phase of the investment program, two existing horizontal boring mills will be replaced by new TOS machines: a WRD 150 and a WRD 160.
Both machines will be equipped with the latest-generation HEIDENHAIN TNC7 control system, combining advanced machining functionality with modern digital process control.
The dimensions of the new machines illustrate the exceptional scale of the investment. The WRD 150 will provide 9 metres of longitudinal travel and 3 meters of vertical travel. The larger WRD 160 will offer no less than 19 metres of longitudinal travel and 5 meters (!) of vertical travel.
Machining pivot points up to 39.5 metres apart
The two boring mills will be installed in line at E-Logistics, with a distance of 11,5 metres between them. This carefully designed configuration will allow both machines to work on a single large component in one setup.
As a result, pivot points located up to 39,5 metres apart can be machined without repositioning the crane component. Keeping the component in one setup offers an important advantage: it supports extremely accurate alignment between widely separated pivot points while also reducing handling and production time.
This combination of size, precision and flexibility will give E-Crane exceptional machining capabilities for both current and future generations of cranes.
Preparations are already underway
Installing machines of this size involves much more than bringing new equipment into the workshop. The accuracy and long-term performance of a horizontal boring mill depend heavily on a correctly engineered and constructed foundation.
Preparatory work is therefore already in full progress to enable installation in December. Fortunately, a significant part of the existing foundations can be reused. These foundations will be adapted and extended where required to accommodate the new machines and their configuration.
Exceptional cranes require exceptional capabilities
Manufacturing exceptionally large crane components requires exceptional people, equipment and infrastructure. By investing in these new machines, E-Crane is not only replacing essential production equipment but also strengthening its control over quality, accuracy and delivery performance.
Our ability to fabricate, machine and paint large crane structures at a single location sets E-Crane apart. This investment ensures that we can continue to offer that unique, fully integrated capability for many years to come.
Both photos show the extension of the existing foundation for the former Škoda machining centre, in preparation for the installation of the new TOS WRD 160 horizontal boring mill.
