Why there's a bigantic crane at Essar Steel Algoma (450-ton update)

Noon Thursday update:

Since this story appeared Wednesday night, SooToday has been advised that the crane mentioned is actually a Liebherr 1750LR, rated for 750 tons, not 300.

"The smaller crane we had onsite a month ago was rated for 275 tons, that's where the confusion may have come from," a source close to the job advised us. Contacted by SooToday this morning, Essar Steel Algoma confirms that our source is correct.

Aug. 23 original story:

SooToday readers have been asking about the large crane that's appeared in recent days at Essar Steel Algoma.

"It is actually a 300-ton conventional crane that has been brought in to assist with all of the heavy lifts associated with the rebuild of one of No. 7 blast furnace’s stoves," says Brenda Stenta, Algoma's manager of corporate communications.

"While on site the crane was also used to replace the exhaust stack on No. 6 boiler," Stenta tells SooToday.

The four stoves, which provide hot air blasts to the No. 7 furnace, haven't been updated since their original installation more than 30 years ago.

The rebuild is considered a major maintenance project.

It will take several months and is expected to adversely affect Algoma's cash flow over that time, even though the blast furnace will continue to operate while the stove is inactive.

Algoma's steel production will be reduced by approximately 78,000 tons during this period.

That's expected to lead to a decrease in revenue of $60 million and a loss in profits of $25 million.