STEPHAN, a renowned Swiss company specializing in structural steelwork, facades, and lifting equipment, recently sought a robust winch solution for biomass-fired power stations handling wood chips. With a long-standing partnership of nearly three decades, STEPHAN turned to Verlinde, a trusted supplier of lifting equipment, to meet their requirements.
Established in 1902 and based in Fribourg, Switzerland, STEPHAN boasts over 120 years of experience and expertise in delivering top-notch solutions to its customers. With a workforce of nearly 130 employees and a vast site spanning 140,000 square meters in Givisiez, STEPHAN is synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation. Their commitment to excellence is evident in their continuous investment in cutting-edge production facilities and their adherence to the highest quality standards.
Biomass energy production, utilizing organic waste or local raw materials like wood chips, is rapidly gaining traction as a renewable and CO2-neutral energy source in Switzerland. Recognizing the potential of this sector, STEPHAN embarked on a project to construct an overhead travelling crane for a customer involved in biomass energy production. This crane would facilitate the distribution of wood chips during the drying process, ensuring efficient operations throughout the production line.
The challenge for STEPHAN was to find a winch capable of handling sustained output over long distances and at high speeds within the confines of their facility. The hall housing the production line presented layout constraints, including height limitations, necessitating a specialized solution. Leveraging their partnership with Verlinde, STEPHAN opted for a winch from the PDW range, renowned for its high performance and reliability.
Verlinde’s PDW winch proved to be the ideal choice, meeting the rigorous demands of the application effortlessly. With lifting capacities of up to 10 tonnes and impressive speeds of 80 m/min (front to back), 50 m/min (right to left), and 30 m/min (lifting), the PDW winch excelled in handling the transportation and lifting requirements of the biomass production process. Notably, the winch achieved a FEM M7 class of use rating as standard, eliminating the need for extensive engineering development and saving costs for STEPHAN.
Mr. Chevalley, STEPHAN’s Industry Manager, expressed satisfaction with the integration of the PDW winch into their overhead travelling crane, citing its exceptional performance and cost-effectiveness. The successful implementation of the PDW winch not only met the specific criteria of the project but also positioned STEPHAN as a reliable partner for future ventures in the burgeoning biomass energy sector.
In conclusion, Verlinde’s PDW winch emerged as a robust and high-performance solution for STEPHAN’s biomass-fired power stations, underscoring the value of collaboration and innovation in addressing complex industrial challenges.
Visit : www.verlinde.com