Protecting Crane Electrics in Corrosive Environments

Industrial crane systems are typically built to handle heavy loads and constant use. But in certain environments, the biggest challenge isn’t just the lifting work, it’s the damage caused over time by the corrosion from acidic fumes and harsh conditions in the atmosphere.

Here at Corbetts, we’ve taken steps to tackle this by making a substantial capital investment into a new crane system, featuring advanced protection from Igus. This is designed to protect key electrical components from acid exposure and harsh atmospheres. In factories such as ours, airborne contaminants, moisture and corrosive conditions can quickly wear down cables and electrical systems. Over time, this can lead to breakdowns and costly repairs. The Igus system helps prevent this by protecting and guiding cables using durable, corrosion-resistant materials, guarding against acidic vapours, moisture and corrosion, as well as long term wear.

Unlike metal components, these materials do not rust or degrade when exposed to aggressive conditions. This means better reliability, less maintenance and a longer lifespan for the crane’s electrical systems. As a result of this investment, we are expecting to reduce electrical breakdowns by up to 80%. This is a significant improvement that will not only minimise disruption to operations but also improve overall productivity, reduce maintenance costs, and create a more dependable working environment.

The use of Igus technology highlights a growing trend in industrial engineering. It’s all about being proactive rather than waiting for systems to fail, and these are the solutions businesses like Corbetts are now investing in and installing, to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.