DRS Crane Wheel Block Case in a South Korean

A comprehensive industrial group in South Korea, whose business scope covers chemical engineering, food processing, precision manufacturing and other fields, faced three core pain points during the crane equipment upgrade at its multiple factories. First, the poor adaptability of traditional wheel sets made it impossible to meet the customized installation requirements of different workshops. Second, it had to tackle the dual challenges of harsh environments: high temperatures (reaching over 300°C in some areas) in chemical workshops and strict hygiene standards in food workshops. Third, frequent equipment maintenance led to prolonged production line downtime, which affected productivity. After multiple rounds of selection, the group finally adopted the DRS wheel blocks, which fully cover load scenarios ranging from 2.75 tons to 40 tons and achieve efficient adaptation across multiple workshops.

Application Scenarios and Solutions

1. High-Temperature and Heavy-Load Scenario in Chemical Workshops

The chemical reactor hoisting and material transfer section of the group’s Ulsan factory requires stable operation in high-temperature environments below 350°C, and the wheel sets must resist corrosion from chemical media. The DRS high-performance high-temperature wheel system was selected for this scenario. Its fully enclosed design (without exposed ring gears) effectively isolates dust and chemical contaminants, preventing gear jamming. Combined with a customized stainless-steel wheel housing, it meets the corrosion resistance requirements of the workshop. Meanwhile, with a maximum load capacity of 40 tons, the wheel sets precisely match the hoisting needs of reactors (each weighing 32 tons). Their high-temperature adaptability ensures continuous trouble-free operation, solving the problems of deformation and short service life that plagued traditional wheel sets under high temperatures.

2. Hygiene-Critical Scenario in Food Processing Workshops

The food cold chain warehousing and production line material handling operations at the Gyeonggi-do factory must comply with the hygiene standards of the South Korean food industry. The wheel sets are required to be easy to clean with no hygiene dead corners. The DRS customized stainless-steel wheel sets were deployed here. Tailored via AutoCAD drawings to precisely fit the dimensions of the workshop’s existing crane rails, these wheel sets feature a 316L stainless-steel housing with a seamless design that eliminates residual contaminants. Additionally, they enable easy installation and disassembly—all connection points can be quickly taken apart for cleaning, meeting the workshop’s daily high-temperature washing and disinfection needs and ensuring no cross-contamination risks during food production.

3. Light-Duty General Working Condition (Incheon Spare Parts Warehouse)

The small spare parts transfer cranes in the Incheon warehouse (with a load capacity ≤ 6.5 tons) prioritize cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance. The DRS universal economical wheel sets (DRS 112-200 size series) were chosen for this application. Their modular design simplifies the assembly process for engineers, allowing quick adaptation to the warehouse’s existing equipment. Equipped with a complete spare parts system (including replacement wheel hub inserts and other components), maintenance does not require disassembling the entire wheel set—only the damaged parts need to be replaced. This reduces maintenance downtime from the original 4 hours to just 30 minutes, significantly improving warehouse turnover efficiency.

Project Summary

With its customized adaptability, resistance to harsh environments and efficient maintenance features, the DRS crane compact traveling wheel system has successfully addressed the diverse and high-demand crane upgrade needs of this South Korean comprehensive industrial group. From the high-temperature and heavy-load conditions of chemical workshops, to the strict hygiene standards of food workshops, and the cost-effective and efficient requirements of general warehouses, the system has not only enhanced the operational stability and safety of the equipment through precise product positioning and performance implementation, but also helped the customer achieve the core goal of cost reduction and efficiency improvement, making it a benchmark case for crane wheel set upgrades in South Korea’s industrial sector.