Toshiba Corporation Crane

EC&MW, Inc. was surprised when approached by Toshiba Corporation for a unique project supporting a hydroelectric power facility in Michigan. Like many people, we primarily associated Toshiba with electronics and consumer products, so it came as a surprise to learn that the company is also a global leader in power generation equipment, including hydroelectric turbines and generator systems.

In January 2014, Toshiba selected EC&MW to engineer, design, and manufacture ten custom aluminum gantry cranes, each with a 1,000-pound lifting capacity, for use at one of its hydroelectric installations.

Project Requirements

The customer required ten custom gantry cranes that would:

• Safely lift up to 1,000 pounds.
• Operate on elevated hydroelectric facility catwalks.
• Minimize dead load on existing structures.
• Provide corrosion resistance for long-term industrial use.
• Support generator installation as well as ongoing maintenance and repair operations.

Custom Lifting Solution

Each crane was specifically engineered to operate on the facility’s elevated catwalks. Because these catwalks had limited load-bearing capacity, aluminum was the ideal material for the application. Its lightweight construction significantly reduced the dead load placed on the structure while still providing the strength, rigidity, and corrosion resistance required for a demanding industrial environment.

The cranes were designed to safely assist with the installation of Toshiba’s electric generators while continuing to provide maintenance personnel with a dependable lifting solution for servicing components throughout the life of the facility.

Every crane was custom-engineered to satisfy the project’s operational requirements. From engineering and fabrication through welding, assembly, inspection, and load testing, each phase of production was carefully documented to provide complete traceability and ensure compliance with Toshiba’s strict quality standards.

Custom Design Features

Unlike standard off-the-shelf gantry cranes, these systems were built specifically for hydroelectric power generation facilities where structural loading, accessibility, and long-term durability were critical design considerations.

Key design advantages included:

• Lightweight aluminum construction to reduce structural loading.
• Excellent corrosion resistance for long service life.
• Engineered specifically for elevated catwalk operation.
• Custom dimensions to integrate with the existing facility.
• Reliable lifting capability for both installation and maintenance activities.

Quality Assurance & Testing

Throughout the project, Toshiba demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality assurance and manufacturing excellence. A Toshiba representative traveled from Denver, Colorado, to EC&MW’s manufacturing facility in Elko, Nevada, to perform a comprehensive quality audit and witness critical stages of the manufacturing process.

The inspection included:

• Verification and retention of aluminum material certifications for every structural component.
• Review of material identification, tracking, and handling procedures to ensure complete traceability.
• Collection of certificates of conformance from suppliers for casters, hardware, fasteners, and welding consumables.
• Observation of certified welders performing fabrication in accordance with approved Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS).
• Verification of welder qualifications and certification records.
• Visual inspection of completed welds and overall fabrication quality.
• Witnessing and verification of load testing for every completed crane prior to shipment.

The audit was completed successfully, and Toshiba expressed its satisfaction with both EC&MW’s manufacturing processes and the quality of the finished cranes. Their thorough review reinforced the importance of maintaining rigorous quality control standards throughout every phase of production.

Project Summary

This project remains an excellent example of EC&MW’s ability to engineer aluminum gantry crane systems for critical infrastructure applications. By combining innovative engineering, lightweight aluminum construction, documented quality assurance, and extensive testing, EC&MW delivered a reliable lifting solution capable of meeting the demanding requirements of one of the nation’s leading power generation equipment manufacturers.