Konecranes was chosen for a $58.6 million modernization project for a major power utility in the United States (names were not disclosed). The utility has two polar reactor cranes in two different facilities that are in need of upgrades due to plant extensions, and is looking to increase lifting capacity and update the controls to variable frequency drives for smoother travelling motion and better load control. It also wants new operator cabs with joystick controls for better ergonomics. The order was booked in December 2021.

Konecranes successfully uprated two of the utility’s polar cranes in 2002 from 125 ton to 140 ton when it purchased heavier replacement reactor heads for its two units. Konecranes provided extensive work to the polar reactor cranes inside of containment utilizing its work platform.

This project has a total completion time of seven years. In that time, Konecranes will replace all four polar crane trolleys with complete eight-wheel equalizing trolleys with 150-ton standard capacity and 180-ton special rated capacity for occasional use. They company will use a trolley installer which has been successfully deployed more than 22 times in the past 15 years. The installation team will draw on the knowledge gained from being the only company to have successfully replaced polar crane trolleys in an operating nuclear power plant.