 |
| |
Press Release
Bosch Rexroth Awarded 5 Year Contract for Welland Canal Modernization Project
|
|
|
|
After the successful completion of a two year pilot project, Bosch Rexroth has been chosen to complete the modernization of the remaining locks of The St. Lawrence Seaway’s Welland Canal over the next 5 years. Bosch Rexroth’s complete engineered hydraulic and controls solution will provide the Seaway with more efficient and reliable locks.
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, also known as Highway H20, is the main artery for shipping in North America. It covers a distance of 3700 km and is one of the world’s busiest inland waterways connecting the mid-West with the Atlantic Coast. The Welland Canal, a vital part of The St. Lawrence Seaway, provides safe passage around Niagara Falls. It overcomes a 100 meter height difference between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie via eight locks over a distance of 44 kilometers. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) needed to find an economical, safe, reliable and environmentally-friendly solution to replace the existing 70 year old electromechanical drives, gears, chains and steel cables. The 9m deep and 33m wide locks of the Welland Canal have to be renovated and commissioned during the Canadian winter at an average temperature of -18° C. This task must be accomplished in a 3 month timeframe when there is no shipping along The St. Lawrence Seaway System. The canal must be re-navigable, without restriction, prior to the end of March each year.
When the opportunity by The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation was presented, Bosch Rexroth Canada took on the challenge and proved how well Rexroth’s worldwide application experience is interlinked on large-scale projects. A Bosch Rexroth international team from Canada, Germany and the Netherlands was established. The Rexroth Centre of Competence for large Civil projects in Lohr, Germany, helped to create a solution specific to the needs of the Welland Canal based on their vast experience. Rexroth in the Netherlands provided their cylinder technology expertise, while Bosch Rexroth Canada provided project management, detailed design and supply of the hydraulics and electrical controls. Rexroth’s Simulation Group applied their skills to model and validate the proposed system design.
In May of 2002 Rexroth was awarded the contract for a two year pilot project. The first part was completed in the winter of 2003/2004 when two Mitre gates and four Taintor Valves were upgraded at Lock 6. Last winter (2004/2005) Bosch Rexroth Canada personnel ventured into the cold once again to modernize Lock 7 with one Ship Arrestor, six Mitre Gates, and six Taintor Valves. To power and control the new hydraulics, Rexroth supplied seven hydraulic power units, forty-five PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controller) and electrical control panels, as well as the PLC and HMI (Human Machine Interface) programming. The Rexroth solution provides drive and control through hydraulic cylinders and without additional mechanical elements. The new system, constantly monitored through the PLC, lets the operators monitor all essential parameters, and facilitates the fine tuning necessary for positioning accuracy, speed, and power. The Taintor Valves (measuring 4.3m x 4.3m) and the Mitre Gates now open and close with greater control and offer the possibility to extend the navigation season of the Seaway. The custom hydraulic power units use standard Rexroth components to combine high efficiency and reliability. A standard ISO grade 15 mineral oil allows the system to run in the temperature extremes encountered during the season. The custom hydraulic cylinders include a Ceramax II rod coating, protecting them from corrosion and abrasion, and permitting operation in this Canadian climate where design ambient temperatures ranged from -30° C to +38° C. Bosch Rexroth’s new contract to complete the project for The St. Lawrence Seaway’s Welland Canal spans 5 years, 2005-2009. The work will be divided into four equal amounts of work over the following time period:
2005-2006; East side of the Flight Lock 4, 5, & 6
2006-2007; West side of the Flight Lock 4, 5, & 6
2007-2008; Locks 2 & 3 2008-2009; Locks 1 & 8
Over these 5 years Bosch Rexroth will supply 73,000 litres of oil, 366 electrical panels made up of PLC, motor control, operator and terminal stations, 131 hydraulic cylinders (with diameters to 300mm (12 inches), strokes to 5240mm (17.2 feet), our longest cylinder with a special rod extension is 11,043mm (36.2 feet) and 44 hydraulic power units, creating a total of more then 5,000 horse power. In addition to the custom built hydraulic and electrical systems, Bosch Rexroth will be providing PLC and HMI programming, electrical, hydraulic and programming support, engineering and design, in shop component and system testing as well as on site start up, commissioning, and installation support.
Bosch Rexroth Canada is the Canadian partner company of Bosch Rexroth, the worldwide leader in “Drive & Control”. Bosch Rexroth AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, achieved sales of approximately 4.1 billion Euros in 2004 with 26,400 employees. Under the brand name of Rexroth the company offers all relevant drive, control and motion technologies: from mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics through to electronics and the associated services. The global player is a competent partner to around 500,000 customers in over 80 countries.
Contact:
Bosch Rexroth Canada Corp.
Karen Park
3426 Mainway Drive
Burlington, ON L7M 1A8
Phone: (905) 335-5511 ext. 372
Fax: (905) 335-4184
karen.park@boschrexroth.ca
|
|
|
|
