Lift-Rite Engineering Services, a Newcastle-based industrial lifting and testing company, has developed a bespoke solution to test capstan winches following their installation at a UK naval base. The winches, integral to supporting the mooring of naval vessels, require thorough testing of both their foundations and performance before full commissioning.
To meet the specific needs of this project, Lift-Rite created a custom testing system featuring an internal temporary anchor point. This anchor point was designed to maintain pulling loads on the winches during both static and dynamic testing, enabling a comprehensive analysis of their performance and durability in various operating conditions.
“This was a complex job that required us to design, develop, and deliver a solution to load-test capstan winches at a naval base of great national importance. Getting it right was critical, not only because of the project’s scale, but also due to the tight time constraints and its national significance,” said Paul Hodgson, operations manager, Lift-Rite.
“We’re very proud to have been chosen for this task and are thrilled to have delivered a solution that sets a new industry standard, one that could be applied across both the naval sector and other industries that rely on similar equipment.”
Lift-Rite’s contract covered everything from the initial design of the temporary anchor point to its installation and testing. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, all Lift-Rite personnel were granted the necessary security clearances to operate on the naval base.
The company, known for its industrial lifting, rigging, and testing equipment, operates in highly regulated environments, with employees trained and cleared to work in hazardous settings such as DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres) zones.
