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Case Studies on Innovative Problem Solving
Complex Gantry Setups Near & Far
05/24/2024
A gantry is a powerful system for moving massive, unwieldy industrial components. Once properly setup and tuned to your heavy lift project, trained personnel can smoothly operate and maintain it with few problems. The two key caveats are proper setup and trained personnel. Engineered Rigging’s experts regularly help our clients solve both of these challenges.
We maintain a team of trained technicians whom we dispatch to customer sites, no matter how remote. For example, last year we provided two technicians to support LM Wind Power, a supplier to GE for wind turbine blades. LM Wind Power had purchased an SL400 Gantry System from our partner Enerpac. The company purchased the gantry to enable it to rotate the turbine blades during manufacturing and then move them onto trucks for transport.
“LM Wind needed assistance with gantry setup and personnel training,” explained John Kuka, Director of Business Development. “Because of our close relationship, Enerpac recommended Engineered Rigging to provide the needed expertise.”
Serving Remote Locations
Two Engineered Rigging technicians flew to Montreal, Canada, in a small plane and drove six hours to reach LM Wind Power’s manufacturing plant in Gaspe, Quebec, at the northeastern tip of New Brunswick. Because of the site’s remote location, tools, material, and equipment required for setup were carefully planned in advance, as the technicians could not travel with these items.
Because of a delivery delay of one critical part, gantry setup was postponed, necessitating that the techs stay another two days. “Our onsite technical support benefits customers by helping them adapt to such unforeseen challenges,” said Kuka.
Our technicians oversaw the setup, which took a day after the delivery of the full system, trained the onsite techs, and performed a test lift. “The test identified some bending of the turbine blade, so they reset the gantry to compensate for the bending and conducted another test,” explained Kuka.
LM Wind Power was pleased with the outcome. “Your guys did a very good job on the installation of our gantries. If there [are] any other needs that arise for similar installations, I’ll definitely have you in mind,” commented Marc-Etienne Lahaie, Site Project Manager at LM Wind Power. “Very happy with the result, and I hope they were happy to work with us.”
Facilitating Complex Setups
When lift conditions are particularly complex or personnel inexperienced, our crews will spend more time onsite with customers. Burckhardt Compression, a manufacturer of gas compressors weighing 100 tons each, purchased an Enerpac SBL500 gantry from us. For this project, Engineered Rigging’s Dustin Reeves traveled to Waller, Texas, to oversee installation and deliver four days of training. He returned two weeks later to oversee the first lifts.
“Burckhardt has a very complex system for rigging its 100-ton compressors,” said Kuka. “Dustin spent several days checking the rigging and ensuring personnel were following correct procedures at every step.”
In addition, many of Burckhardt’s crew were new to gantry operation, so in-depth training was needed. At the customer’s request, Reeves emphasized safety, familiarizing the crew with the gantry’s many built-in features such as emergency stops, alarms, and control system warnings. In addition, training included required maintenance.
Extending Expertise to Rentals
Engineered Rigging’s rental customers receive the same access to expert oversight and training. Faith Technologies, a maker of electrical enclosures, recently rented an Enerpac SL60. Faith had moved to a new facility in Appleton, Wis., and one of its in-place overhead cranes was not yet installed. It temporarily needed the gantry to lift its completed enclosures onto trucks.
Once again, Reeves hit the road. This time, Faith’s crews knew how operate the gantry, however Faith requested assistance supervising the gantry setup. “Dustin stayed through the testing phase. He make sure they adhered to the layout drawings, and stayed to make sure the system operated as they expected,” reported Kuka. The process took about a day and a half.
If you have questions regarding gantry installation and training, contact our heavy lifting experts below.
Gantry Installation Considerations
There are several considerations when planning a gantry install. Here are 5 questions that your should factor into your installation plan.
- Is the installation permanent or mobile?
- Is 480V power available?
- Will you need special precautions to contain hydraulic fluids (clean room)?
- Are track sizes and header beams standard, or do you require customization?
- Is space available to stage the gantry equipment when it arrives?
