As part of the expansion plans, three tanks and a furnace were to be installed, the heaviest of which was 40t. The first problem was to install the four units in a straight line within a 2.5 metre-deep pit used as part of a heat treatment process.
“Restricted access, due to the close proximity of the building’s roof support columns, meant that it was impossible for vehicles to offload all the units in the main building,” says Bob Hamilton, LGH Megalift.
In the first phase of its engineering study, LGH Megalift used their alternative lifting expertise to devise and supply a solution that involved utilising two jacking systems. One would be used to offload the units into an adjacent building, overcoming the access problem, and the second to manoeuvre the units into position in the pit.
A 4400 type Megalift jacking system was erected around the pit, comprising two 20 metre track lengths running down either side. The jacks were connected with 10 metre beams enabling them to span the 8 metre wide pit. A second 4100 Megalift system was erected in an adjacent building to offload the units from the transport. A skate system was used to pull them through the wall and position them under the larger Megalift using Tractel Tirfor wire rope tensioners, provided by Lifting Gear Hire.
The second problem was the installation of the furnace, which was the largest of the four units and as a result had to be put at the far end of the pit. However, because of a delay in its manufacture it was the last unit delivered to the site.
Under normal circumstances, such a delay would have resulted in a postponed installation. But LGH Megalift overcame both problems and kept the installation running on schedule.
It devised a solution to overcome the late arrival of the furnace. The smaller tanks, which were already onsite, were installed in position in the pit first. The completed furnace was then delivered to the site and had to be offloaded from the transport using a mobile crane and placed on skates. A mobile crane helped the 4100 Megalift manoeuvre the Furnace in position under the 4400 Megalift, which was then installed in the pit.
The 4400 system was fitted with four 15t capacity chain blocks, which were supplied by Lifting Gear Hire, to overcome the problem of restricted headroom.
