GL approves Goltens crankshaft repair process

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 — Germanischer Lloyd has given the Goltens Worldwide Group of companies approval of its repair process for the in-situ annealing of medium speed four-stroke diesel engine crankshafts. This certification follows a formal review by GL of the crankshaft annealing process and related governing documents and procedures.

The approved procedure is designed to reduce excessive hardness in damaged crankshaft journals through annealing (heat treatment) of the crankshaft with a minimum amount of material removal.

The process is specifically targeted at salvaging crankshafts that would otherwise be condemned and require replacement due to the severity of the hardness exceeding engine maker specifications.

Goltens’ experience has demonstrated that this hardness can be significantly reduced to within acceptable limits and that, after annealing, finish machining can restore the machinery to service with significantly less loss of crankshaft diameter as well as the avoidance of costly shaft/equipment removal and replacement.

“This certification is the culmination of years of R&D and successful applications across a wide range of engine makes and models in the field and in the workshop by our technical teams,” notes Paul Friedberg, President of Worldwide Services for Goltens. “Obtaining Germanischer Lloyd approval is validation that our process is safe, repeatable and effective in repairing crankshafts that would otherwise likely have been condemned. Further, the fact that approval covers our global network of stations and not one location demonstrates the value of our investments in consistent tooling and repeatable processes”