Pedestrian tunnel Antwerp: Removing and reinstalling the elevator motor
The pedestrian tunnel in Antwerp and its elevator installation are protected heritage sites. The motor cannot simply be replaced by a new model. Therefore, the decision was made to restore both motors, on both the Left and Right Banks. Transpico was asked to safely remove the rotor (the moving part of the motor) from the machine room and extract it, allowing a specialized company to carry out the restoration.
In the machine room of the elevator motor, there was very little room to maneuver, just as there was relatively limited space outside the building to position a crane. Therefore, we started with a thorough preliminary study to determine which of our cranes was best suited for this job.
After various measurements and simulations, it was clear that our truck crane was the best solution. This allowed us to reach horizontally into the building and remove the heavy, 3,000 kg rotor in a controlled and safe manner.
Before we could completely remove the rotor, we first dismantled the other components. Once the rotor was clear, we moved it outside step by step, completely controlled and without any risk to the installation or the surroundings. After that, it was sent on to the restorer.
After the restoration, we reinstalled the rotor perfectly, ensuring precise positioning and alignment. This restored the reliability of the elevator installation without compromising the heritage character of the site.