Electric spider crane converted for ATEX Zone 2
Ex-Machinery has converted a battery electric spider crane for use in ATEX Zone 2 gas atmospheres, so that lifting work inside a classified area no longer requires that part of the plant to be isolated and purged first.
The ATEX electric mini crane, type Ex-M C6e, is based on the Hoeflon C6e: a tracked mini crane with a lifting capacity of 3,000kg, a maximum lifting height of 16m and a transport width of 0.77m, so it passes through a standard doorway and along walkways. Ground pressure is 0.79kg/cm² on rubber tracks, which keeps gratings and finished floors intact.
Because the base machine is electric, the usual ignition sources of a crane, the diesel engine, its exhaust and hot turbocharger, are absent. The rest of the machine has been converted and certified by Ex-Machinery to ATEX category 3G. Typical jobs are installing and removing pumps, valves and motors in plant rooms, tank farms and process areas. Customer-owned machines can be converted to order.
The same conversion approach is applied by RAMTEC, Ex-Machinery’s sister company in Ridderkerk, to standard industrial robot arms and cobots for hazardous areas.
