Twiflex puts the brakes on shiplifts

Twiflex has won a RMB 5 million (GBP 430,000) contract to supply an advanced braking system for the Geyehen second stage Shiplift, Hubei, China.

Twiflex has won a RMB 5 million (GBP 430,000) contract to supply an advanced braking system for the Geyehen second stage Shiplift, Hubei, China.

Twiflex has previously supplied safety brake systems for the Geyehen first stage Shiplift in 1999 and the Guilin tourist Shiplift in 2001.

The Geyehen Shiplifts are located on the Qing Jiang River, a major tributary of the River Yangtze in Hubei province.

The second stage Shiplift will hoist ships weighing up to 300t over a height of 82m.

The total load of the tank of water and ship is a staggering 1495t.

The Twiflex safety brakes will provide a total braking torque in excess of 10MNm.

It has four 90kW drives each fitted with a Twiflex VCS 22 spring applied, hydraulically released working brake and eight 3.5m diameter hoists each fitted with 2 off VMS 2, spring applied, hydraulic released, safety brakes acting on a 4.4m diameter brake disc.

The working brakes and safety brakes will be precisely controlled by a single 250 litre hydraulic power pack, also supplied by Twiflex.

The powerpack with its advanced dual circuit control offers both emergency braking control and parking brake control under normal operating conditions.

The contract was won against fierce, international competition from Seigerland Bremsen (Sibre), Germany and Svendborg Brakes, Denmark.

Both Sime-Stromag, France and Bubenzer Bremsen, Germany declined to bid.

The selection committee of the Geyehen second stage shiplift chose the Twiflex bid on the basis of its superior technology and experience in Shiplift braking systems.

Shiplifts are a clever and convenient way of allowing ships to navigate along the river system despite the presence of huge hydroelectric dams.

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