Electric Rope Winches in Industrial Applications – Precise Belt Tension at VKG Estonia

Table of contents

1. Introduction: Custom-Built Electric Rope Winches for Demanding Industrial Applications
2. VKG Estonia Project: Electric Rope Winches for Web Tension Control
3. Technical Implementation: SB 313 Electric Rope Winch
4. Electric Rope Winch for Extreme Environmental Conditions
5. A Complete System Solution from a Single Source: More Than Just an Electric Rope Winch
6. Benefits of Electric Rope Winches in Plant Engineering
7. Conclusion: Electric rope winches as a key component of industrial processes

Custom-designed electric rope winches for demanding industrial applications

In modern industry, particularly in plant engineering and mechanical engineering, reliable and precise lifting and pulling solutions are indispensable. An electric rope winch plays a central role in this context: It tensions, positions, moves, and holds heavy loads—often under extreme environmental conditions and with the highest demands on safety and synchronization.

An impressive example of the successful use of a custom-designed electric rope winch is the case of a project at VKG Estonia. This application demonstrates how custom-designed electric rope winches can efficiently and reliably solve complex industrial tasks.

VKG Estonia Project: Electric Rope Winches for Web Tension Control

Initial Situation and Task Description

At a VKG Estonia industrial facility, the task was to precisely and synchronously tension and secure a conveyor belt at two points over a distance of up to 50 meters. Such applications place high demands on:

• even force distribution
• Precise synchronization of more ropes
• High cable capacity in the case of limited installation space
• reliable operation in the case of extremely low temperatures

This is precisely where the strength of a custom-designed electric rope winch compared to standard solutions.

Technical Implementation: SB 313 Electric Rope Winch

For this project, a SB 313 electric rope winch was used for this project, which was designed precisely to meet the system’s requirements.

Key Technical Specifications of the Electric Rope Winch:

• Drive: 5.5 kW electric motor
• Tensile force: 2 × 22 kN
• Rope speed: 7 m/min
• Rope capacity: 2 × 200 m
• Cable routing: 4-strand lay
• Drum: Single-layer design

The single-layer rope winding was absolutely necessary to ensure precise synchronization of both ropes. Because of the relatively small rope diameter, the long rope length required a large-diameter rope drum, which was specially designed.

Electric Rope Winch for Extreme Environmental Conditions

Industrial facilities do not always operate under ideal conditions. In Estonia, the electric rope winch must have functioned reliably even in the case of temperatures as low as –35 °C.

So, the winch was equipped with:

• an open, monitored drum brake
• a protective cover between the transmission and the engine

equipped with. This design significantly increases the operational reliability and service life of the electric rope winch—an important factor for continuous industrial use.

A Complete System Solution from a Single Source: More Than Just an Electric Rope Winch

Another benefit of this project was its comprehensive implementation. In addition to the electric rope winch, the following were also included:

• Pulleys
• Axes
• mechanical components

fully co-developed and manufactured. This systems expertise is important, particularly in plant and machinery engineering, to avoid interface issues and ensure optimal operation of the entire system.

Benefits of Electric Rope Winches in Plant Engineering

The VKG Estonia project highlights the key benefits of modern electric rope winches:

• High precision in the case of synchronized movements
• Customization to accommodate cable lengths, forces, and installation conditions
• Reliability even under extreme environmental conditions
• Durability because of a robust industrial design
• Integration into complex plant designs

The electric rope winch is an indispensable component of modern industrial facilities.

Conclusion: Electric rope winches as a key component of industrial processes

Whether in heavy plant engineering, material handling, or mechanical engineering—the electric rope winch is far more than simple lifting equipment. It is a high-precision, safety-critical, and customizable component that makes a major contribution to the efficiency and availability of industrial plants. In the case of VKG Estonia, it impressively demonstrates how customized lifting equipment can make a major contribution. electric rope winches “Made in Germany” can reliably meet even complex requirements