The Evolution of the AIST Cranes Technology Committee: Ambitions, Membership and Collaborations

50 Technical Article

The Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers was organized in 1907. In October 1909, Technical Report No. 6 was adapted, originally titled “The General Crane Specification,” as a bidders’ specification for electrical overhead traveling cranes. From this 107-year history, the AIST Cranes Technology Committee has successfully maintained a healthy membership and traveled through constantly changing technological advancements. The evolution, ambitions, membership and collaborations of this group will be revealed.

Author t the turn of the 20th century, also the lowest-cost producer and Charles A. Totten the United States became the the future demand for steel seemed sales engineer, A T&M Equipment Co., dominant world steel market sup- inexhaustible. In 1901, it became Leavenworth, Ind., USA plier, providing more than 40% of United States Steel Corporation. [email protected] the world’s steel. At Carnegie Steel, The Association of Iron and people found that, by installing Steel Electrical Engineers, AISEE, electric overhead traveling (EOT) was organized in 1907. In October cranes, they could speed up produc- 1909, the “The General Crane tion, therefore boosting the capacity Specification,” as a bidders’ speci- of the mills. This steel company, the fication for electrical overhead largest in the U.S. at the time, was traveling cranes was created and

Figure 1 AIST.ORG I

Crane trolley built to Technical Report No. 6 specification. IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY

JUN 2018 This article is available online at AIST.org for 30 days following publication. 51 approved. It was six pages long, including the cover Collaborations – Technical Report No. 6 sheet, plus three sheets for bidders’ data information. The Carnegie Steel Company Crane Specification Since 1910, AIST and its predecessors have sponsored was the basis of this new document. The goal of a series of empirically and technologically advancing this document was to become the standard for steel specifications for electric overhead traveling cranes mills and ensure each bidding crane manufacturer for steel mill service. Such specifications have been was quoting the equivalent machine in all its char- required since it has long recognized that steel mill acteristics and design features. This effort continues cranes must be of strong, rugged construction for today as the first priority of the current AIST Crane 24-hour service, 7 days a week. It was required that two Technology Committee (CTC), and in Technical Report complete sets of detail drawings of the “as built” crane No. 6, “Specification for Electrical Overhead Traveling be delivered to the customer before final payment Cranes for Steel Mill Service.” is made. These specifications, which were originally In 1917, the first record of a formal crane committee issued in 1910, have been reissued in 1916, 1919, 1929, was listed as AISEE Standardization Committee with 1938, 1942, 1949, 1968, 1969, 1991 and 2005. six divisions, and Division 5 — Cranes was included. In 1918, the divisions were changed to subcommit- 1919: Crane Specification — This specification further tees and the subcommittee on cranes was created. modernized crane data by including strength of mate- In 1936, the AISEE was renamed the Association of rials, factors of safety, rolled or forged steel wheels, Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE). This renaming was diametrical pitch for gearing, box-type girders, mag- due to the natural development of the organization netic shoe brakes and magnetic controls. into a more comprehensive and expanded coverage of the entire steel industry and the specialized divisions 1929: Association for Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers — of manufacturing that are included. Electrical Overhead Traveling Crane Specifications — This During 1968, as had happened in the past, the specification included details and information sheets crane subcommittee was broken up into various com- for the purchaser for a uniform proposal. Safety items ponent subcommittees for standardizing of compo- were added and provision for using anti-friction bear- nents. Eventually, three sections became the practice: ings included. electrical, mechanical and structural. These groups further mastered the development of the crane’s design of components, equipment and structure. On 1 January 2004, the AISE joined with the Iron & Steel Society (ISS), another steel-dedicated organization and the new consolidated organization is now Figure 2 named the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST). The crane committee was named the Cranes Operating Committee. In November 2008, the name was changed to the Cranes Technology Committee and remains so today. The mission of AIST is “to advance the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel.” There is the vision “to be a global leader in networking, education and sustain- ability programs for advancing iron and steel technology.” Today, the organization has a formal annual internal review with all its Technology Committees and Member Chapters, called the AIST Leadership JUN 2018 Conference, to evaluate the goals and processes are

currently up to date to insure it evolves so it is the best I the organization it can be. IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY This Association is a non-profit organization with 18,000 members from more than 70 countries, with 30 Technology Committees and 22 local Member Chapters. AIST represents an incomparable network of steel industry knowledge and expertise. I AIST.ORG

First Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers (AISEE) meeting proceedings. 52 JUN 2018 I IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY I AIST.ORG 1949: Association for Iron and Steel Engineers Specification Specification Engineers Steel and Iron for Association 1949: vice came up to see if it could be applied when setting when it applied setting could be if up see to came vice Technical No. Report 6 Technical Article wheels and sheaves. These three were adapted since since were adapted three sheaves. These wheels and to meet its actual load. Consideration of these items items of these Consideration load. meet actual to its was 135 section the lb./yard Also, revision. last the crane for couplings, solid of standards addition the bore included avariable tables roller bearing the to included anew,tion improved for procedure specify the crane specification project has been assigned a assigned been project has specification crane the ing motors was introduced and has been extensively extensively been has and introduced was motors ing set by either a on a minimum based gears crane ing for Electrical Overhead Traveling Cranes for Steel Mill Mill Steel for Traveling Cranes Overhead Electrical for revised. This method was based on characteristic on characteristic based was method This revised. 1949 specifica this and specification, the to revision control manufacturer. the to given be have to will more information means motor select to the motor attempts of the and curves a1942 No. was There 6. Standard AIST of Directors, Service — AIST Standard No. 6 — No. Standard — AIST Service going over the specification, the question of crane ser of crane question the overgoing specification, the added for crane usage, and the 105, the and 135 175 and usage, foradded crane lb. was There old specification. the to addition an as sections were now available. Anew of select method were now available. sections revisions Major requirement. or durability strength standard number and adapted by the AIST Board Board AIST bythe adapted number and standard Figure 3 In March 1947, when the Crane Committee was was 1947, March In Committee Crane when the specification, 1949. specification, For the first time, time, For first the - - - - 1968 estimated as a completion date. Three working working acompletion Three as date. 1968 estimated 1 May 1969: 1969: 1 May American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) pub (AISC) Construction of Steel Institute American In 1963, the progress of the committee was noted as noted as was committee of the progress 1963, the In J&L Steel agreed to continue this work with an April April an work with continue to this agreed Steel J&L various parts of the crane. This 1949 crane specifica 1949 crane This crane. of the parts various varied and were based on casual observations. Before Before observations. on casual were and based varied Committee continued year by year working on the on the working by year continued year Committee was a somewhat pragmatic basis — if it works, fine; if if fine; it works, —if basis pragmatic asomewhat was tion was the basis for manufacturing many cranes cranes many for manufacturing basis the was tion were investigated, as it was evident most crane prob crane most evident it was as were investigated, that was available to go on, and those estimates widely widely estimates go those on, to and available was that per actually is how service much crane was tion were established and were in charge of reviewing their their of reviewing were charge and in were established someone carry to engage to efforts made Committee was also explored and the adapted report was pub was report adapted the explored and also was tive to use new and stronger materials such as shafts shafts such as materials stronger new and use to tive to get information from the industry on current crane crane on current industry the from getto information Canvassing specification. next-issued of the part be to up bridge motor horsepower requirements. The ques The motorup horsepower requirements. bridge until the 1950s, the design of the overhead cranes overhead of the cranes design the 1950s, the until he retired in 1965. In 1966, the new chairman from from new chairman the 1966, 1965. In in he retired by the producers. The AISE staff and the Research Research the and staff AISE The producers. by the of manpower available slow lack due the to very being individual crane classes could be adapted, it was sug it was adapted, could be classes crane individual impact, but also created stress concentrations and and concentrations stress created but also impact, welded was first problems. The caused pened that information on wheel failures and welding problems welding and on wheel failures information More accomplished. was experienced problems being decided 1954 in was Committee Wheel pleted bythe revised with a new specification for 20 years. for years. 20 anew specification with revised lems in this period were related to the welding pro welding the were to related period this in lems lished new specifications for structural design, which which design, for structural new specifications lished 1962, the In Proceedings. Annual 1960 the in lished necessitated redoing much of the structural section. section. much redoing structural of the necessitated currently operating in the United States and was not was and United States the in operating currently more than 50% of the ingot capacity of the United of the capacity ingot of the 50% more than covered survey this involved and became companies crane specification items with the goal of updating of updating goal the with items specification crane capacity, span and speed to the point it became attrac point it the became to speed and span capacity, in increase an second The itemend was connections. girder as of such things analysis stress the complicated of horizontal effect the increased This more rigid. cranes made which of rivets, instead construction cess. The plan for introducing an AC Cranes section section AC Cranes an for introducing plan The cess. eral years worked on accomplishing this update and and update worked this on accomplishing years eral of U.for had Steel sev S. work. Mr. Livingston out this States steel industry. This crane service data repre data service crane This steel industry. States gested that a crane survey be performed. Eleven steel performed. be survey acrane that gested all man’s was each time, Until that estimate formed. groups — Electrical, Mechanical, and Structural — Structural and Mechanical, — Electrical, groups and gears in order weight keep in to the down. gears and a component fails, beef it up. Then two things hap things it up. beef two Then a component fails, a new edition. Work on wheel standardization com Worka new edition. on wheel standardization sents a rational approach to logically designing the the designing logically approach to arational sents After the 1949 specification was issued, the Crane Crane the issued, was 1949 the specification After Technical Report No. 6 No. Report Technical Up —Up (Tentative) ------53

Figure 4 class limits. The allowable design stresses, which formerly were based on American Association State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), had been revised to conform with AISC. There are several reasons for this approach. In the past, failures were not typically the result of inadequate allowable stresses, but rather were attributed to poor analysis and fatigue details. With finite element techniques and computer analysis design, methods have improved. Also, several items contributing to the consideration of AASHTO do not apply to the crane environment. These can be defined as future (a) (b) code changes due to legislative Technical Report No. 6 specification, 1968 (a) and 1969 (b). action, lack of maintenance control in the public section and a difference in exposure such as road salts. The Mechanical Section was specific sections and come up with any needed revi- also revised to allow more decisions to be made sions for the next Technical Report No. 6. based on duty cycles. Examples of this are options in At the AISE Annual Convention of June 1968, a rope fleet angles, rope drum and rope sheave diam- paper covering the three sections of the specification eters, and other areas. Crane hook design is based was presented. All the items that had been worked on on infinite life, unless the owner specifies finite life. for the past 20 years were included in the specifica- Considerable information on method of analysis of tion, as well as allowable wheel load tables, crane limit trapezoidal-shaped hooks of both fish-hook and sister- switch and motor selection methods. hook configuration was added to the commentary. The crane wheel and crane rail section was expanded 1991: Technical Report No. 6 — September 1991 was with allowable wheel load guides for both heat-treated the next issue of Technical Report No. 6. AISE had and case-hardened wheels. Tables with speed modi- been contacted many times that the report needed fication factors and proposed service factors (based to be updated, but progress was very slow. Leading on load cycles) to determine maximum wheel loads up to this time the committee was organized and were added. A special note was made (3.7) that crane divided into three sections that met separately. These bridge wheel flange/rail lubricators are essential for were working group (WG) #1 (Electrical), WG #2 long wheel and rail service life. The commentary (Mechanical) and WG #3 (Structural). Frequent meet- included descriptions of various available technolo- ings were conducted at different plants and off-plant gies for heat treatment of steel crane wheels. The sites to finally complete the update. bumper section had the addition of a crane bumper This updated 1991 specification allowed for a crane end force example. It showed the option to reduce to be designed from a selection of four service classes. end forces by increasing bumper stroke. JUN 2018 It provided owners, engineers and manufacturers with The Gearing Section now included more defini-

a comprehensive and rational approach to the design tive metallurgical specification and classifications. A I and construction of steel mill cranes and other cranes figure depicting depth of effective case at pitch line IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY having a related or similar usage. was now shown. This specification was divided into four main sec- Finally, the commentary amplified the descriptions tions: General, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical, of infinite and finite life and their relationship to and their relative commentaries and appendices. crane service life and failure modes. The commentary In the Structural Section, fatigue provisions had continued to include the summary of conditions that I been expanded to include four service classes based affect the fatigue strength of machinery components. AIST.ORG on an equivalent cycle equation, as a means for fine- The Electrical Section followed the same design tuning a design with intermediate values between approach used in the 1969 (tentative) specification. 54 JUN 2018 I IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY I AIST.ORG A mission statement was established for the Cranes for Cranes the established statement was A mission for Technology &Steel Iron governance. Association These subsections included equipment selection, safe selection, equipment included subsections These Technology Committee: Technology The gear design service factor table was modified modified was table factor service design gear The It included a commentary that supplemented that and It included acommentary It is a comprehensive and rational approach to the the approach to It acomprehensive is rational and Overhead Traveling Cranes for Steel Mill Service,” Service,” for Mill Steel TravelingOverhead Cranes Technical Article with the electrical equipment requirements for all equipment for all requirements electrical the with dealt that Section Electrical the in were 12 subsections ty requirements and good manufacturing practices. practices. manufacturing good and requirements ty the intervals of slow speed operation, the control to the of slow operation, speed intervals the design the possible as accurately as define to time were There anumber of areas Section. Electrical the tained; also, to promote new technologies and com and promote to new technologies also, tained; main and installed properly designed, be can that named for newly the standard of the issue first the 2005: 2005: the travel drives by allowing gear motor-type drives. drives. motor-type gear byallowing drives travel the seen has Section Mechanical The unchanged. tively overdesign without application of the cycle duty the well. Four distinct as environments industrial other to low- reliable, dependable and safe, so plant the in tions be used, the ambient temperature, the emergency the ambient the temperature, used, be procedures for design. However, latitude was provided provided However, forprocedures design. was latitude important that the supplier and the owner take the the take owner supplier the and the that important input the for from greater called that section this in is the third update since the 1991 edition. This is is 1991 the since This update edition. third the is ing the crane and increasing its manufacturing costs. costs. manufacturing its increasing and crane the ing reviewed and updated to the current state-of-the-art state-of-the-art current the to updated and reviewed nance practices through networking for continu the networking through practices nance of of classes of cranes used or required in the steel industry. steel industry. the in or required used of cranes classes operating requirements, the normal supply voltage supply voltage normal the requirements, operating cycle, duty severe repetitive most the such as criteria, of of portions application and basis the explained equipment design without over design. It is very It very over is without design. equipment design equipment the adequate to owner supplier ensure to essential properties, maintenance-friendly designs, cranes.” improvementous industrial of heavy mainte and operational efficient more municate cranes that have related or similar usage. or have similar related that cranes quality These norm. the are cranes maintenance-cost for even more advanced provenfor even techniques. more advanced fication. This gives the purchaser a method to match match to a method purchaser the gives This fication. have proven and applicable recognized are features design and construction of steel mill cranes and other other and cranes of steel mill construction and design and flexible and practical options for various applica for options various practical and flexible and appropriately. The crane rail section title blocks were blocks title section rail appropriately. crane The swings and the acceleration requirements. There There requirements. acceleration the and swings some changes to allow more competitive designs in in moredesigns competitive allow to some changes speci bythis now are listed of cranes classes service All of the information in this specification was was specification this in information of the All The goal of this latest document is to outline proven outline to document is latest of this goal The The General and Structural Sections were rela Sections Structural and General The “To develop specifications for dependable cranes for dependable cranes “To develop specifications “Specification for Electric Electric for “Specification No. 6, Technical Report Technical Report No. 6 No. Report Technical The June 2005 issue issue June 2005 —The ------Part 1. The latest solid-state controls, DC to DC Static Static DC to DC controls, solid-state 1. latest The Part Technical No. Report 6 DC control has been modified to enhance this type type this enhance to modified been controlDC has Control has been added to provide proper application proper application provide to added been has Control to reflect a more life cycle approach related to crane crane to approach related cycle amore life reflect to Anew Table Section. added been 4.1 has Appendix the Table moved been data 4.1 to has service crane typical type of brake issues and protection Brake fastest. the evolving is where is technology This new edition. the turer’s names. The rail sections will be identified by identified be will sections rail The turer’s names. based on percent time-on. Wireless control systems on control systems Wireless on percent time-on. based deviation angular wheel axle to precise in resulted has includes commentary. In Motor Size Selection, the the Selection, Motor In Size includes commentary. interaction of the bridge wheel flanges with the rails rails the with wheel flanges bridge of the interaction previously identified by the steel company manufac bythe identified previously rail size only. The recognized and unwanted abrasive abrasive unwanted and only. recognized The size rail control by specifying the use of dynamic braking and and braking of dynamic use the control byspecifying voltage Adjustable or shunt on motors EOT cranes. series power DC –DC to DC control using of static 8 ICS NEMA to for conformance specified are cranes effort. this in clarity very ensure to heat treating after wheelof rims the accurate measurements can be performed. Additional Additional performed. be can measurements accurate should be used to select the Electrical Service Class Class Service Electrical select to the used should be Tables motors. when selecting 4.4 4.5 and class service sketches were added and Fig. OIS-1 was modified for modified was sketches were Fig. and added OIS-1 for machining requirements Included are standards. Figure 5 The Electrical Section has had the most changes in in changes most the had has Section Electrical The specification, 2005. specification, - 55

Figure 6 other features of this drive type. An entire new section on Operator Interfaces has been added to identify the application of various styles of operator interfaces following established regulatory guidelines and general industry practices.

Summary of Technical Report No. 6 — Technical Report Iron & Steel Technology No. 6 is a work in progress. There have been many previous editions and most likely there will be more in the future. As the world gets smaller and smaller and more international standards are developed, it is likely a universal crane standard will emerge and be accepted. We believe many of the qualities and fea- 2016 AIST President tures in this document will prevail. Wendell L. Carter Many thanks to the large membership of the Cranes Technology Committee (past and present), who have dedicated their time and knowledge to review, revise,

improve and upgrade this edition. There are too June 2016 many to name.

Collaborations: Technical Papers Presented at Annual Vol. 13, No. 6 Conventions and Then Published in the Proceedings and in Iron & Steel Engineer, Now Iron & Steel Technology

On 1 January 1923, the Iron & Steel Engineer maga- A Publication of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology zine was commissioned to publish information about Iron & Steel Technology magazine, June 2016, which featured the steel industry. Cranes were featured in some material handling technologies. prime articles such as:

• 1952: “Crane Wheel Tread Contours.” • 1955: “Taper vs. Straight Tread Crane Wheels.” circulation of crane developments and happenings • 1956: “Correct Crane Runway Design — continues today since the June issue of Iron & Steel Minimizes Maintenance.” Technology magazine is dedicated to material handling • 1958: “Bridge Drives for Overhead Traveling subjects, which usually has a crane or related build- Cranes (A-4 design commissioned).” ing/runway paper included. One might notice crane • 1958: “Standardized Component Parts for wheels seem to get a great deal of attention. Much of Heavy Duty Mill Type Cranes.” the controversy still exists from the very beginning • 1959: “Application of Cushioning Material arguments. Under Crane Rails.” In the 1950s and early 1960s, there was a surge of • 1960: “Crane Bridge Wheel and Drive work done on crane designs, and these items were Combinations.” presented at conventions; as they were published, the • 1960: “The Selection of Crane Wheels.” discussion by questioners was included in the pub- • 1962: “Crane Rail Lubrication.” lished article. This practice continued until the early

• 1966: “Research on Shelling of Crane Wheels.” 1970s. Several of these papers had “discussers” who JUN 2018 • 1971: “Prediction and Analysis of Crane Wheel were members of the 1949 specification crane com-

Service Life.” mittee. This was a period of risk-taking new designs I

• 1977: “Newest Methods Applied to Crane and innovation and it included the drive arrangement IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY Wheel Calculations in Europe.” called the A-4. Today this A-4 drive arrangement is the most commonly used drive on new cranes. This Over the years, there were many more technical was also the time when the steel companies had gener- papers authored on cranes and published in the ated their own company specifications with references magazine. AIST has a “Reference Handbook for to Technical Report No. 6. They were confident in the I EOT Cranes” available with a collection of previously knowledge that the Technical Report No. 6 designs were AIST.ORG published papers. One edition is for Electrical and now demonstrating to be very reliable and could stand another for Mechanical papers. This priority of public up to the conditions in the steel plants. 56 JUN 2018 I IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY I AIST.ORG AISTech or at the Annual Crane Symposium. At the the At Symposium. Crane Annual AISTech or at the changes Innovative CTC. bythe sponsored Award, Steel Technology. Steel The Material Handling Division, Division IX, has one has IX, Division Division, Handling Material The In 1992, the subcommittee arranged what was called called was what arranged subcommittee 1992, the In fac for load the basis order developIn to arational Holiday Inn in Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. This first sympo first This USA. Pa., Pittsburgh, in Inn Holiday 220–230 attendees. The symposiums have evolved symposiums The attendees. 220–230 Technical Article Design and Construction of Mill Buildings members members Buildings of Mill Construction and Design Crane Subcommittee No. 6 and Subcommittee No. 13 No. Subcommittee 6and Subcommittee Crane Iron & Iron in published then typically winner’s is paper was developed. The scope of the work was to create an an create to work of the was scope developed. The was tures in the early 1990s, a proposal composed by the bythe composed aproposal 1990s, early the in tures for cost-effective the operations of crane effect the for codes representing AISE the in used be to tors the spring meeting supporting his nominee. Then nominee. Then his supporting meeting spring the trolley drive arrangements, to hoist drives, safety and and safety hoist to drives, arrangements, drive trolley held Airport at the It was Symposium. Crane first the crane, forces bythe applied dynamic the determine to ing the system and also the enduring tenacity to to tenacity enduring the also and system the ing of challeng characteristic leadership the has person interesting work was performed by this task force. task bythis performed work was interesting bythe transferred are that skewing crane including nee, with the responsibility to give a presentation at apresentation give to responsibility the nee, with Collaborations – Annual Crane Symposium Crane –Annual Collaborations Task Force Interacting —Crane/Building Collaboration Year the of Innovator Award –Crane Collaboration consequences that must be overcome. Selecting the overcome. the must be consequences that Selecting have some unintended will end, often which cessful This advocate. change the is this needed; is change occurs at the next Annual Crane Symposium. The The Symposium. Crane next Annual at the occurs winner. This the conducts vote determine asecret to crane to the supporting mill building structure. Very structure. building mill supporting the to crane Symposium and the average these days is closer to to closer is days these average the and Symposium fall CTC meeting, three candidates are nominated nominated are candidates three meeting, CTC fall fall protection, and a multitude of other pertinent of other pertinent amultitude and protection, fall and bridge to wheels, the items: mechanical from design of future development of mill building struc development building of future of mill design do not just happen — someone must recognize a do not —someone happen just must recognize accept responsibility to take the innovation to asuc to innovation the take to accept responsibility award winner starts with the paper presented either paper at the with starts winner award Year of the Innovator Crane the is that and award award has been given annually since 2007 and usually usually and 2007 since annually given been has award attendance in committee entire the meeting at this volunteer, champions three and one for nomi each a Roundtable Discussion on crane wheels. This was was This wheels. on crane Discussion a Roundtable program test field correlating and method analytical subjects like structural items such as crane runway runway crane such as items structural like subjects wheels. crane subject: asingle had sium Nearly every year since there has been a Crane a Crane been has there since year every Nearly ------Crane bridge in manufacturing shop. Overhead TravelingElectrical Reference Handbook. Crane innovation that is developed is covered on the crane developed covered is is crane on the that innovation proven heat work condition whatever reliable, and in exists, DC contactors. Each new crane-applicable new crane-applicable Each contactors. DC exists, girders and new technology electrical items like newly newly like items electrical new technology and girders developed DC–DC solid-state drives and long-time long-time and drives solid-state developed DC–DC Figure 7 Figure 8 57 symposium schedule. One example of this is the flash- proposal to have associate memberships composed of butt welding of crane rails, which was introduced in assistant superintendents was denied. 1985. Today, nearly every steel plant and aluminum These producers were dealing with all the electrical plant has decided this is the best joining method and issues in their various Pennsylvania-area plants, which, uses this process for re-railing crane runways. This of course, were very similar. Of high concern was the was railroad technology that was brought into the disastrous number of accidents and fatalities of the steel industry by crane people. Today, crane rail joint times, which were concentrated in the iron and steel breaks are a thing of the past. A large load of main- industry, and cited in Allegheny County, Pa., USA. tenance manpower making short-lived, repeating These fatalities often involved arc lighting systems repairs, to rail joint breaks on the runways has ended. as produced by multiple manufacturers and typically Another example of gaining industry-wide acceptance powered by 1,100 volts. Electrical overhead traveling was the use of the permanent bearing lubricant in cranes were just a part of their coverage responsi- wheel assemblies called polyoil. Again, this has been bilities, but important, since a high percentage of shown to increase reliability and reduce maintenance accidents were contributed to the cranes and their man hours on cranes. loads. Selecting crane operators, their “floor hookers” Over the years there have been more than 4,000 on and utilizing “torpedoes” on runways, and watch- registrants at these symposia. There are too many men in the cabs were all practiced procedures. People presenters to name all that have been contributors. were hurt from items dropping off the cranes, such as The 25th Crane Symposium in the U.S. is occur- gear pinions and wrenches. Much credence was given ring this month in Pittsburgh. There have been three to the accidents being related directly with produced international Crane Symposiums as well: in Kosice, tonnage. Slovakia, in 2008, and two in Rosario, Argentina, Probably in the 1940s, when many stand-alone tech- in 2014 and 2017, as a joint event with the Instituto nical reports, including Technical Report No. 6, were Argentino de Siderurgia (IAS). being written, the organization decided that it was This initial 1992 event was the beginning of educa- necessary for EOT cranes to become a focused section tional conferences on many of the steel mill subjects of the AISE. Its name became Subcommittee No. 6 on as compiled by the AISE committees. Today approxi- Electrical Overhead Traveling Cranes for Steel Mill mately 15 of these two- or three-day training courses Service. The subcommittee membership was tightly are held each year sponsored by the various AIST controlled as a producers’ organization, with individu- Technology Committees. als as members, but now did accept manufacturers (cranes) membership as individuals. The 1949 specification was inspired by 20 high-level Collaborations – Maintenance, Inspection and Repair plant management personnel from 19 steel plants. Handbook Also included, perhaps for the first time, were non- producers — there were crane manufacturers’ sup- In 1997, a goal was established for the CTC: to put port of 13 personnel from 11 companies. together a manual that would benefit new employees The 1991 Technical Report No. 6 committee members coming to work on steel mill cranes and at the same consisted of 12 producer members from eight steel time capture the experience of retiring professional companies. There were six members from four crane crane people. In 2016, after nine years of meetings, manufacturers. There were 11 members from 11 engi- the final edits of the handbook were completed and neering and consulting services companies. There the book ready for publication in 2017. The ambition were eight members from eight different product/ is for this training manual to be in every steel plant, equipment suppliers, three from drive controls, three contributing to the development of a highly qualified from wheels and gears suppliers, and two from rails crane person’s knowledge even before he/she boards and rail clips. an electrical overhead traveling crane. JUN 2018

Today I

Membership IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY In the last 35–40 years up to 2017, the steel industry has Based on the Proceedings from 1909, the origi- suffered several economic downturns, consolidations, nal members of the Association of Iron and Steel reduced capacity and plant shutdowns throughout Electrical Engineers were a very exclusive group of the United States, Canada and the rest of the Western 29 steel mill plant executives from 19 different com- world. At the same time when the integrated steel I panies with only three job positions: electrical super- mills have been damaged, a new mini-mill steel indus- AIST.ORG intendents, chief electricians and engineers. The try has prospered and become very dominant. The membership of the Cranes Technology Committee 58 JUN 2018 I IRON & STEEL TECHNOLOGY I AIST.ORG the original reason for com the reason original the No. 6, Technical Report There is a wide range of competing crane component crane of competing range awide is There vice companies, machining, lubrication, safety glass, glass, safety lubrication, machining, companies, vice Technical Article were 53 producer steel 15 from members different There producers. being 30% 193 with members was the four meetings each year. each four meetings the to very few, if any, and the responsibilities for steel few, any, responsibilities very the to if and as serving terms in some slight differences are there membership, and allowed are non-producers and tion hoist drums, sheaves, bearings, radio controls, spe controls, radio sheaves, bearings, hoist drums, brakes, harder rail and clips, solid-state controls, AC controls, solid-state clips, and rail harder brakes, in the 1980s. This CTC is still aproducer organiza still is CTC This 1980s. the in plant EOT CTC members is now expected to be upon be to now is members expected EOT CTC plant products, such as enhancements for wheels, gears, for enhancements gears, wheels, such as products, larger scope of responsibilities than just updating updating just than of responsibilities scope larger lifting equipment, that did not exist in earlier times times earlier in not did exist equipment, that lifting new features or functions on new and existing cranes. cranes. existing on new and or functions new features non-producer deliver to members these on the relying ness provided. For regular meetings, usually about 30 about 30 usually meetings, For provided. regular ness busi do overlap the companies in of these Some nies. than larger and much is different and this, reflects or department heads, and their skilled workforce to workforce to skilled their and heads, or department members are present. It is required to attend one attend to of It present. required is are members engineers attending meetings is limited normally normally limited is meetings attending engineers number of steel company electrical The chief mittee. compa service crane different seven from members 10 are There equipment or product manufacturers. different 46 werefrom members There 65 companies. or consulting engineering 15 from members different were There 18 companies. manufacturing ent crane differ seven from members were There 36 companies. membership CTC 2017 January The official officers. more precisely controlled, safer, controlled, more precisely faster, more efficient but maintainable, and reliable as just cranes make cialized sensors, automation, inspection/repair ser inspection/repair automation, sensors, cialized give expectations, ideas and needs, and then often often then and needs, and ideas expectations, give and at lower life cycle cost. cost. at cycle lowerand life designers and owners crane now way are the and below-the-hook and power collector systems, DC, and steel mill frontline crane maintenance supervisors supervisors maintenance crane frontline steel mill The AIST Cranes Technology Committee has a has Technology Committee Cranes AIST The ------crane is overdesigned and results results and overdesigned is No. 6crane Technical Report shows there are several levels of design levels of design several No. are 6shows there Report The greatest ambition of the Cranes Technology Cranes of the ambition greatest The ways for the benefit of the users of steel mill cranes. cranes. of steel mill users of the for benefit the ways leader and ajustifiable be constantly to is Committee well-designed crane that is full of features that make it make that of features full is that crane well-designed Ambitions Ambitions technician. technician. outages unplanned zero to close as in result and tive the crane is in the plant, the maintenance and repair repair and maintenance the plant, the in is crane the for special to its built should be and can crane the the world. the a and runway, and crane on the maintenance total having well-developed procedures and practices cov practices and procedures well-developed having basic requirement for the skilled crane maintenance maintenance crane requirement for skilled the basic be relative and connected and forward looking to the the to looking forward and connected and relative be is to always be a guiding principle to follow, to principle thus and a guiding be always to is effec and efficient should be crane on the processes once that knowledge the also is There function. ized of Technical review Closer crane. a“goldin plated” needed improve as updated regularly be it to needs in the new issue. Overall the steel personnel are are steel personnel the Overall new issue. the in part of the entire American steel industry the best in in best the steel industry American entire of the part ering all the work that is performed on the crane is a is crane on the performed is work the that all ering workforce of the safety the Also, possible. as occurring easy to maintain. It has been said by some who think a bysome who think said been It has maintain. to easy a in results specification the using that confident incorporated be need to and recognized ments are maintaining ever-changing requirements for cranes and their run their and for cranes requirements ever-changing developed communication system to help make this help to this make system developed communication This devotion of the CTC has matured from only only from matured has CTC devotion of the This The specification is always the first priority and and priority first the always is specification The Conference Proceedings. Conference andExposition,Nashville,Tenn., USA,andpublishedinthe This paperwaspresentedatAISTech 2017—TheIron&SteelTechnology to now No. 6to includeTechnical Report F - - - - -