Kestävyysnäkökulmat ja vertailu kantopyörien liekkikarkaisun ja induktiokarkaisun välillä : case: Konecranes Finland Oy

Sustainability concerns on businesses strategies have been growing to be more central topic lately due to the regulations, public and also economic pressures. Konecranes as a global company is following this current development and utilizing methods for more sustainable business. Konecranes is using flame surface hardening on crane travel wheels. Study about the sustainability of this method is on Konecranes annual plan 2025. Study includes possible alternative method as induction surface hardening and environmental, social and economic aspects of flame hardening and induction hardening. Three main research objectives are the setpoints for this study; 1. Provide sufficient data and research for possibility for substituting flame hardening with induction hardening. 2. The potential benefits and challenges of induction hardening from Konecranes production perspective. 3. Comparison between induction hardening and flame hardening from a sustainable and economical standpoints. To research these questions four test sample travel wheels were manufactured and subcontractor induction hardened them for Konecranes laboratory to test the test samples. Among the test samples, literature research and interviews with flame hardening operator and Konecranes development manager about flame hardening and induction hardening equipment suppliers were conducted. Test results reveal that it is not possible to replace current flame hardening with induction hardening since hardness requirements are not fulfilled. If the requirements could be fulfilled near future, there would be benefits and challenges as well on replacing current flame hardening. Purely on sustainable perspective it would be beneficial to replace flame hardening with induction hardening. Study results suggest that more detailed quotes from multiple induction hardening equipment vendors must be conducted for more insightful economic consideration of replacing current flame hardening.