A Europont bridge crane from Verlinde for maintenance of Brussels tramways

CFE is a construction and public works group quoted on Euronext Brussels, of which the Vinci Group holds 47% of the capital. It is organized around several activity sectors: construction and renovation of civil engineering and building infrastructures; dredging and environmental de services; marine engineering services; multi-technical services.

Since September 2007, CFE Brabant has undertaken the renovation of the tramway depot of the STIB (Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles) in Woluwé-St.-Pierre. This classified historical site hosts the Brussels Urban Transport Museum, or Tram Museum, next to the active depot. The roofing containing asbestos is replaced and the roof is also insulated over the museum, after repair and reinforcement of the authentic wooden roof structure. The facades are restored and the operations building and museum with the “1941” annex are renovated, preserving their historic character. CFE Brabant is also modernizing the depot, which is remaining active during the works. A few new maintenance pits have been created and a new social building and spare parts store are planned in the depot. The renovation works will be finished in early 2009.

It was in the STIB depot that Verlinde’s Europont bridge crane was installed. “The Verlinde equipment proposed by Europa Levage, distributor and integrator for Belgium, offer very good reliability as well as the best cost effectiveness on the market,” says Mr. Rychter, Special Techniques Engineer at CFE. With a hoisting capacity of 1.6 tons, it will service track 21 in the middle of the American pit equipped with catwalks running along both sides of the track. The bridge will be used for handling elements on the tramway roof (catenaries, auxiliary converters, etc.) in the train servicing and maintenance programs.

The bridge’s longitudinal roll ways are suspended on gantries that support these catwalks on columns. All the movements of hoisting/lowering, longitudinal or transverse motion are in continuous speed variation between the minimum and maximum limits (slow, fast) noted below. The frequency variators that control these motions allow gradual starting and stopping, while the switch from minimum to maximum speeds and vice versa is controlled by a speed ramp to be programmed in the variator. The requirements at the level of electromagnetic compatibility will be complied with.

The bridge crane is radio-controlled. A suspended button box can also be used either from the catwalk or from the ground under the bridge beams. This suspended control is used only as a standby control. The box pushbuttons and radio controls have to be pressed twice.