Weldex crawlers adapted for LEZ

Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) with engines between 37 and 560 kW in London, UK, has to meet Stage IIIA exhaust emission standards to operate in the Low Emission Zone central area.

To operate in the Greater London LEZ Weldex, the UK’s largest crawler crane rental company, fitted three of its cranes with Continuously Regenerating Trap (CRT) diesel particulate filters. UK manufacturer Eminox supplied the emission control exhaust systems for this retrofit application.

Stage IIIA compliance is a minimum requirement and in the Central Activity Zone, or the Canary Wharf area, the equipment has to meet Stage IIIB, as a minimum requirement. From 2020 all development sites in Greater London will be required to meet Stage IIIB, and central London and Canary Wharf will need to meet Stage IV.

Prices for fitting the CRT to cranes start at UK£5,000 (US$7,500), Eminox said. It can be done on site to minimise disruption. Spare filters can be supplied to allow operation to continue with one filter while another is away for cleaning.

Garry Jeffrey, Weldex service manager, said, “Weldex and our clients are very happy with the DPF exhaust systems, professionally installed by Eminox. The systems are working well and have been trouble-free. We have found the CRT retrofit to be an effective and efficient solution to control exhaust emission levels on engines working in central London.”