STAHL CraneSystems GmbH

Soaring gas prices, geopolitical conflicts between Russia and the transit countries and the increasing demand for natural gas have led to a real boom in liquid gas in recent years. The new exportation methods have enabled additional gas sources to be opened up and states to join in the international gas business which were previously barred from this market on the basis of their location. Gas-rich countries, particularly in the Arabian and Asian regions, have been investing in liquefaction plants and port terminals for some years. The major LNG exporters are at present Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria. Importing countries – particularly Japan, India and South Korea – are constructing LNG terminals and regasification plants on their coasts en masse to take in the gas from overseas and feed it into their existing pipeline systems.

A growth market for explosion-protected crane technology

A challenging industry is behind the LNG boom. Gas liquefaction is complex and working with the easily inflammable gas is always hazardous. As technology leader for explosion-protected crane technology, STAHL Crane Systems supplies suitable lifting technology for all sectors of LNG technology.
The products range from small explosion-protected chain hoists for day-to-day maintenance work up to heavy, double-safety LNG wire rope hoists which guarantee maximum safety during work in the liquid gas tanks. In the last two years alone, STAHL CraneSystems has supplied LNG crane technology to the value of many millions of Euros and now achieves 11% of its total turnover in this market.

Pump maintenance at  –161 °C

So that the gas will remain liquid, it is stored in special cooling tanks at –161 °C. Pumps feed the cold liquid into a pipe system through which it is finally transported to the specialised tankers. Up to five times a year, these pumps must be lifted from the bottom of the 70 m high tanks and moved into the open for maintenance work – a tricky business in which mistakes must be avoided. If a broken wire rope caused the pump to fall and be damaged, in addition to the material damages a long and expensive production down-time would be caused. The LNG wire rope hoists from STAHL CraneSystems have been specially developed for such applications: explosion-protected in compliance with ATEX and IECEx, equipped with two rope drums, two ropes, two gears and two motors. If a rope should break, the valuable load is taken up by the second hoist, work can continue without a break.

Design without hooks

Off-standard ropes are required for the extreme conditions prevailing in the tank. These ropes are connected permanently to the pump and remain inside the tank. For maintenance work, both ropes are connected to the wire rope hoist by means of rope clamps, so that no hook is necessary. When the pump is raised, only one rope acts as hoisting rope, the second rope runs slack alongside as a backup. The ingenious point of this design: in an emergency at load change a rocking suspension allows the whole hoist to “tilt” so that the centre of gravity of the load lies centrally under the wire rope hoist again. The off-standard suspension absorbs the shock from the load change and relieves the stress on the suspension at this critical point. Thanks to their redundant design and rocking suspension, the LNG wire rope hoists from STAHL CraneSystems are deservedly regarded as the safest hoists on the market.

The world is opting for LNG

More and more LNG terminals are being built in European ports too so as to become independent of Russian gas imports. Milford Haven in Wales as the largest LNG port of importation at present covers approx. 20 % of the British natural gas requirement with its capacity. France, Italy and Spain have already built several LNG terminals, others are at the planning stage. The first LNG terminal in the Netherlands is to open in Rotterdam in 2011, STAHL CraneSystems will supply the LNG wire rope hoists required before the end of 2010.  
In spite of the effects of the global economic crisis and the current development to extract gas from non-conventional sources the international LNG market is still on the threshhold of intensive development: the gas requirement in the Asian-Pacific region is expected to double between 2005 and 2020. In conjunction with small modern power stations, natural gas is regarded as a “true bridging technology” during conversion to decentral regenerative power generation. Market researchers estimate that between 2010 and 2015 over 140 bil. dollars will be invested in LNG exporting plants.
Analyses such as this estimate that the USA could soon overtake Japan as regards LNG imports, Australia will presumably overtake the current export champion Qatar. However the market develops – STAHL CraneSystems offers the right solution for every application related to explosion-protected crane technology.

Information on the company

STAHL CraneSystems is world market leader for explosion-protected hoists. The company, based in Künzelsau in South Germany, employs 650 staff at 11 locations spread around the world. Over 100 years’ experience in crane manufacturing and the results of decades of fundamental research and development into explosion protection coalesce in STAHL CraneSystems.
All wire rope hoist components are from STAHL CraneSystems’ own production: from motor and brake to controls and switchgears. In this way STAHL CraneSystems can guarantee optimum explosion protection.
Possessing approvals from the Federal Physico-Technical Institute (PTB) and many international test authorities, STAHL CraneSystems occupies an exceptional position in this specialist field. The strict ATEX regulations on mechanical explosion protection are naturally complied with. As of 2010, all explosion-protected hoists are also available with the internationally sought-after IECEx certification.

	Picture 1: Maximum safety level for pump maintenance in liquid gas tanks: if a rope should break, the load is shifted to the second hoist, normal operation continues.
	Picture 2: Double safety for hazardous areas: off-standard hoist for maintenance work in liquid natural gas tanks. Rocker suspension.
	Picture 3: Arduous working conditions in Qatar: dust, sand, heat and saline atmosphere have no adverse effect on the wire rope hoists.
	Picture 4: The hoist can travel along a rail system.
	Picture 5: Double safety for hazardous areas: off-standard hoist for maintenance work in liquid natural gas tanks.
	Picture 6: Double safety for hazardous areas: off-standard hoist for maintenance work in liquid natural gas tanks.
	Picture 7: LNG tankers conquer the waves. Trade in liquid natural gas will continue to increase in coming years.
	Picture 8: From land to ship: thanks to liquefaction technology, more and more countries are able to market their gas resources internationally.