50
ACT
APRIL 2014
PRODUCT FOCUS
SPMTs
28 linesof SLEs, thevesselwas transported
to the client’s launchbeam system for
launching. Eight PPUswereusedaswell.
Themove involved setting theSPMTs in
a transversemanner so thevessel could
be rolled sidewayswith theSPMTs fitting
easilybetween the launchbeams.Ground
conditionswere soggydue to twodaysof
rainbut the teampressedon to complete
theproject on time.Once at the launch
way, thevesselwas lowered to thebeams
and theSPMTswere removed.
Potty trip
PSCCrane&Riggingwas recently
awardeda contract toperformanunusual
project involving the relocationof a
restroom structure in its entirety through
amanufacturing facility. The structure
weighedapproximately180,000pounds
withoverall dimensionsof 14 feetwide
by60 feet longby26 feet tall.Originally,
theplanwas todemolish the structure
inside thebuilding in itsoriginal location.
But thisposedmanypotential problems
and extreme costs thatwouldaffect
production.
Thequestionwas raised: “Could the
structurebemoved inonepiece?”
Althoughmany said it couldn’t bedone,
includinganother company that bidon
the job, PSChadadifferent answer to the
question. The twomain challengesPSC’s
crewswouldhave toovercomewould
be supporting the structure ina fashion
soas to limit the amount of deflection
so it didn’t fall apart during its journey
through the factoryandalsophysically
maneuvering the structureout of the
building, inwhich several 90degree turns
wouldhave tobemade.
After careful reviewandanalysis, it
wasdetermined that the structure could
bemovedwith theuseof PSC’s 6-line
Goldhofer SPMT system.
“Onceweproved toour customer
it couldbe accomplished, itwas time
toplan thework sowe could safety
PSC Crane & Rigging, using its 6-line
Goldhofer SPMT system, relocated a 180,000
pound restroom structure in its entirety
through amanufacturing facility. The
structuremeasured 14 feet wide
by 60 feet long by 26 feet tall.
and efficiently execute the removal of
the restroom structure ina12-hour
window,” saidRandySever, executivevice
president. “With theuseof theSPMT,
PSCwas able todrive inunderneath the
structure, properly support the steel beam
infrastructure andbegin the long journey
out of thebuilding.”
At times therewasnomore than5/8 inch
clearancebetween thebuilding columns
and1/2 inch clearanceoverhead, Sever
explained. Theproject finishedabout four
hours aheadof schedule and theprocess
was flawless, Sever said.
Refinery obstacles
HeavyTransport andBraggCraneService
recently combined efforts tomove and
install four towers at theChevronRefinery
inEl Segundo,CA.
Itwasdetermined the lengthof the
towerswould require somethingmore
maneuverable thanaprimemover and
Goldhofer trailer combination.Heavy
Transport’s teamdecided touse two, six-
lineunits–oneGoldhoferTHPHandone
ScheuerleSPMTwithbolsterson each– to
move the towers throughmultipleunits in
the refinery.
The choice touse theSPMT combination
provideda level ofmaneuverability for
HeavyTransport thatwasotherwise
unattainablewith traditional pushor
pull tractor configurations. Themost
difficult turn forHeavyTransport’s SPMT
operatorswouldbewithinChevron’s
PetroleumCokeUnit, inwhich therewas
very little room for tail swingandmaking
the90degree left hand turn. But the fully
articulatingaxle linesof theSPMTsmade
the turnmuch easier tonavigate.
■
Heavy Transport’s team used two, six-line
units – one Goldhofer THPH and one Scheuerle
SPMTwith bolsters on each – tomove towers
throughmultiple units in a refinery.
Berard Transportationmoved the
Taylor
James
, a 2,600-ton offshore supply vessel,
to its launch point using 52 lines of ESE’s,
togetherwith 28 lines of SLEs. Eight PPUs
were used aswell.
