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In 1968,
a railway authority purchased a Japanese 60 ton rail crane
for the rescue of derailed rolling stock and for civil engineering
duties. Some years later, the Japanese manufacturer closed
the factory leaving the client with a very expensive and useful
machine but no spares support. Progressively the crane gear
deteriorated, leaving the hoisting, derricking and slewing
functions unsafe at any load. The core units appeared irreplaceable
and scrapping the crane was contemplated. DIAK examined the
clutches, brakes and gear to devise a rescue strategy.
As research
continued, it was noted by a DIAK consultant that the layout
and components looked familiar. Further work uncovered the
fact that the entire gear system was an unlicenced copy of
a British crane of the 1950s, with minor changes to dimensions
and fittings. DIAK commissioned spares for the British crane
and made engineering changes to match the Japanese equipment.
By applying many years of experience and some inventive reverse
engineering, an unexpected solution solved the problem.
In a project
financed by the World Bank, DIAK was retained by an African
tourist authority to equip the technical structure of a new
tourist hotel to be built in a mountain resort. Working with
architects, DIAK specified and sourced the electrical systems,
outdoor lighting, utility support systems and air conditioning
plant. The bulk of the civil engineering infrastructure was
sourced in Europe containerised, and shipped overland to the
hotel site. The containers were then adapted as temporary
office and workshop units during the build.
For briefing on Diesel Engines, see adjacent section marked
"Lifting, Shunting & Diesel"
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