Safety is the number one priority for Suwit Chaichumras, Maintenance Supervisor of the BlueScope Lysaght Factory in Khon Kaen. Konecranes Thailand is committed to safeguarding this for him by providing maintenance, inspection and certification services for the factory’s 4 single-girder 6.3 ton overhead cranes.

“We’ve been 17 years without a major accident at this plant and we intend to continue this record. Our concern for the employees at BlueScope Lysaght makes this our first centre of attention. Along with safety comes good quality and Konecranes Thailand is able to ensure this too,” says Mr Chaichumras.

The Khon Kaen factory’s roll forming operation is responsible for manufacturing and supplying metallic coated and painted flat steel products such as ZINCALUME, Clean COLORBOND, TRUZINC and GALVASPAN steel, typically used for steel roofing, wall cladding, structural floor decking, high tensile purlins and sandwich panel systems.

“Konecranes shares our concern to create a culture of safety, as well as our determination to continue our unblemished accident record. As well, it’s an advantage to us to use a provider who has an extensive branch network, including a maintenance team based right here in Khon Kaen,” Mr Chaichumras says.

“Their responsiveness is indicated by their willingness to be at our plant within hours if needed, rather than the next day, if they had no local branch. Their team has been known to work right through the night to fix a problem and ensure we remain operational and in production. That’s the kind of service that BlueScope Lysaght requires.”

All inspection services at BlueScope Lysaght are based on the Konecranes ServMan crane inspection and service program. Provided to the client within 2 weeks of the inspection, the report consists of the following information:

  • The working condition of the cranes
  • The safety condition of the cranes
  • Any actions required to improved the cranes’safety
  • Any actions needed to improve the operator and productional hazards
  • Kor Por 1 Certificate signed by a 2nd Degree Thai mechanical engineer
The Konecranes maintenance, including Condition Monitoring (CM), consists of the following services:
  • Cleaning of the crane
  • Checking oil levels
  • Measuring brake wear
  • Changing linings
  • Measuring the condition of all motors
  • Checking the wire rope
  • Visual inspection of crane and wheel alignments
  • Full condition monitoring report
“That report is very useful to us. The previous service provider who did our maintenance didn’t provide this,” Mr Chaichumras says. “We’re also very impressed with the professionalism of Konecranes’ RailQ crane rail and alignment service. It’s very good technology, very high tech, and saves us the possible costs of future breakdowns."

RailQ ensures the correct operating geometry of overhead cranes, on the premise that precisely aligned runways and rails ensure the best operation now and in the future. The Konecranes’ proprietary tool utilises laser equipment to measure straightness, elevation, rail-to-rail elevation, and span of the rails.

Mr Polpakdee of Konecranes Khon Kaen says, “We’re proud of our ability to win inspection and maintenance contracts against competition because of our superior reporting abilities and having staff available where and when the client needs them.”